Purple Finch and Pine Siskin invasion
Two species have recently flooded the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic according to list serv reports, accounts from friends and my own personal observations – the Purple Finch and the Pine Siskin. The former has been unbelievably abundant in my experience, often being difficult to go outside for any length of time without seeing one in the past month. The latter, while a bit tougher to spot, has nonetheless zipped by in sizable groups and maintained their nomadic feeding habits. Just how massive are these irruptions in our region? I turned to eBird to find out the truth. Here are both...
Read MoreSnowy Owl irruption…underway? Again?!
Yes, my friends, here we are again! Is a Snowy Owl irruption into the southern parts of Canada and the lower 48 states already underway? The answer certainly looks to be a firm yes considering recent list serv reports. The eBird Snowy Owl map below highlights sightings from August 1, 2014 through November 9, 2014. It also says yes… Remember that sightings in the last 30 days are in bright orange. Look how far south some birds have already been spotted! Now let us remember that a certain number of Snowy Owls move to the south every winter. If you live near a major migratory corridor or...
Read MoreSummer Snowy Owls
Here are the eBird Snowy Owl sightings for August and September 2014 only. It seems that there are some birds still lingering since the massive irruption. This year seems to have been another very strong breeding season for the species, albeit further north in some cases. Will they have a large movement south again? We will start to find out the answer in a couple of months. Meanwhile be on the lookout for these unexpected birds…
Read MoreYellow-breasted Chats in New York
Earlier today I uploaded this video of a notorious skulker, the Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens), to our YouTube Channel. The bird was foraging for prey in dense brush and thickets. This behavior is typical of the often hidden species. While it is not necessarily shy – this individual feeling comfortable enough to feed as I filmed shows that much – it certainly knows how to stay out of sight for the most part. It made me ponder the current status of the species as a whole in Western New York and the surrounding region. Back in Connecticut I actually saw several...
Read MoreSnowy Owls, 3.5 days of sightings March 2014
Snowy Owls heading up and out? I can’t be positive but here’s an interesting eBird map for 3.5 days of March 2014 sightings and they certainly look to be further north and clustered even more tightly around some of the major bodies of water. Please keep logging them so we can follow their movement back!
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