| January
2008 Records
Winter did not arrive until mid-January. The first two weeks saw no
snow and above freezing temps, even overnight for many nights. The
temperature reached a record 70 on the 6th and folks were reporting daffodils
up and buds swelling on some trees. The first snow of the season, a
dusting to an inch, fell on the 18th. Abel's Pond froze over by the
19th. Despite the warm weather, there were relatively few half-hardies.
Snow Goose: 2/6 1ad/1juv. field w/Canada's Rt. 376 Fishkill
Pls BAM,TC/RW; 1/21 Round Pond CV.
Canada Goose: 3-4000/21 largest Round Pond CV; 1080/3
Thompson Pond FT; 600/27 SylvanL, 1000/27 Redwing Bkmn CP/HT; many flocks
of 10-several hundred all over.
Mute Swan: 6/12 Overlook Pk ponds CV; 1-4/all same place
JA/KJ; 2/16 & 8/24 Wapp. LK. BJM; 1-2 at 8 other places.
Wood Duck: 1/23 Chelsea Cove pond CV.
American Black Duck: 17/3 Thompson Pd FT; 12/18 Vanderburg
Cove, 16/21 Round Pd CV; also Abel's Pd, Jekoce Lk, Fishkill Cem, Willowbrook
Fm, The Fly, Traver Pd.
Mallard: 75/7 Nuclear Lake Joe & Vi
Woleader; 68/31 Verbank FT; 30/24 Wapp. LK. BJM; 28/18 Fishkill Rural Cem
FH; up to 10 at a dozen other places.
Northern Pintail: 2/3 Mashomack, 14/17 The Fly
CV.
Green-winged Teal: 6/17 The Fly, 2/8&12 Espie's Farm
CV.
Canvasback: 1/7 Conservancy Pond, 1/12 Sylvan Lake CV;
1/27 Sylvan Lake CP/HT.
Ring-necked Duck: 30/27 SylvanL CP/HT; 20/9 Christie Pond,
10/8 25/9 Abel's Pond BB; also some at Thompson Pd, Conservancy Pd,
Round Pd, Stissing Lk, and Verbank.
Lesser Scaup: 1/12 Espie's Farm CV.
White-winged Scoter: 2/13-15 Rhinecliff CP and WFC group,
RJ.
Hooded Merganser: 14/23 Sylvan Lake CV; 15/26-27 Sylvan
Lk CP/HT; 8/24 Wapp. Creek BJM; also at Bowdoin Pk, Jekoce Lk, Nuclear
Lk, Fallkill Pond, Red Wing (Green Haven Rd).
Common Merganser: 56/12 Red Wing (Velie Rd), 22/18 Norrie
Pt CV; 30/24 Wapp. Creek BJM; also at Jekoce Lk, Sylvan Lk, Madam Brett,
Vanderburg Cove,Traver Pd, Round Pd.
Red-breasted Merganser: 1/6 Rhinecliff RJ.
Ruddy Duck: 10/12&23 Sylvan Lake CV; 20/27 SylvanLk
CP/HT; also at Round Pd, Red Wing (Green Haven Rd).
Wild Turkey: 49/22 Domin Farm (Rombout Rd) CV; 30/23 Salt
Point, sev males displaying JAll; also Jackson Fm, WheelerHillRd, BAM yd,
Espie's Fm, FreedomRd, Gretna Rd.
Pied-billed Grebe: 1/27 SylvanL CP/HT.
Double-crested Cormorant: 3/7 River Beacon BAM.
Great Cormorant: 1/7 Beacon Bill & Elaine Case & Carolyn
Plage; 9/12 Bannerman's Island Berna Lincoln.
Great Blue Heron: 7 reported, all before "winter" arrived
on the 18th.
Black Vulture: 2/9 Dover Plains CV; 5/30 Pok, going after
pigeons RJ.
Turkey Vulture: 1 each at New Hamburg, Stony Kill, Clove
Valley, Dover Plains 6th-10th; 2/20 Lagrange yard JA/KJ.
Bald Eagle: good reports along river; also away from river
at Nuclear Lk-3, Lakeside Pk-4, Thompson Pd-3, Tamarack-3, Clove Valley-2
CV,BB,Debi Kral & Binnie Chase had 1 adult & 1 imm locking talons
over her house, Poughquag on 19th.
Northern Harrier: 2/3 Mashomack, 2/21 Downey Rd CV; 1/15
over field Ehmer's farm BJM.
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 7 reported from around county.
Cooper's Hawk: 1/all yd Poughquag CP/HT; 15 others reported,
more than usual for January.
Red-tailed Hawk: 6 each at Mashomack, Nuclear Lk,
Thompson Pd CV; 9/9 Clove Valley/Verbank area BB; 1-4 in many places; albino
still near DC airport.
Golden Eagle: 1/3 FT, 1/17 FT, 2/28 John Burroughs FT
all Thompson Pond; 2/26 seen from Buttercup Sanctuary Larry Federman (likely
the same birds as seen from Thompson Pd).
American Kestrel: 1/13 Crestwood Rd, Red Hook AG; 1/23-24
Salt Point Turnpike & Hollow Road JAll.
Peregrine Falcon: 1/8 Pok, took pigeon mid-air RJ; 1/11
chasing gull at Beacon waterfront HRA; 1/18 Pok RR Bridge with prey CV.
American Coot: 80/12 Sylvan Lake CV; 70/27 Sylvan Lk CP/HT,
1/3&17 Mashomack CV.
Killdeer: 1/12 Espie's Farm CV.
Wilson's Snipe: 1/8 Espie's Farm CV.
Ring-billed Gull: 100/27 SylvanL CP/HT; 50/7 Beacon BAM;
50+/24 Wapp. LK. BJM; 14/16 Morgan Lake SGy; also Thompson Pk, Tivoli N
Bay, Lakeside Pk.
Herring Gull: 15/7 Beacon/River, 1/7 New Hamburg BAM.
Great
Black-backed Gull: 5/18 Norrie Pt CV; 2/14 New Hamb.
PF/JB; also at Norrie Pt, Chelsea, old Dutton Lumber.
Rock Pigeon: 46/31 Verbank FT; 25/14 field Jackson farm
E. Fishkill BJM; also Fishkill Plns, Vassar Farm.
Mourning Dove: 50/17 Vassar Farm FT; 21/6 Robinson Ln.
BAM; 15-25 daily MP; 6-12 KCF,BAM,BB JA/KJ,EBR yds.
Great Horned Owl: 1/18 calling near Cruger Island 11pm
HRA; 1/21 Rhinebeck MP.
Snowy Owl: 1/6 imm. Division St. New Hamburg reported
by Mary Lulu Lamping, seen by BAM, DF,CV, and others.
Barred Owl: 1/12 yd Stormville EBR; 1/28 Sheafe/Cottam
Hill Rds area, calling 40 times Gretchen Leak; 1/28 Thompson Pd Ken Feustel.
Belted Kingfisher: 1/14 Lake Walton PF/JB; 1/14
Hillside Lk. BJM,PF,JB; 1/23 Chelsea Cove pond CV.
Red-bellied Woodpecker: 3/10 StonyKill FT; 1-2 on all
FTs and most feeders.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: 1/9 Clove Cemetery BB.
Downy Woodpecker: 8/10 StonyKill FT; 1-4 on other FTs;
feeders - 4-7 CV, 5-6 CP/HT, 1-4 at others.
Hairy Woodpecker: 2/3 Thompson Pond FT; 1 on StonyKill,
Tivoli, Lakeside Pk FTs; 1-3 at CV, CP feeders; also 1-2 AG,MP,BAM,JA/KJ.
Northern Flicker: 2/10 StonyKill FT; 1/all yd Poughquag
CP/HT; 1 each Arborio Swamp, Norrie Pt, Barrytown, Freedom Park CV; plus
Vassar Fm, BAM & JA/KJ yards.
Pileated Woodpecker: 1/10-31 yd. BAM; 1/all yd Poughquag
CP/HT; reported 4 times Thompson Pd; 8 others.
Northern Shrike: 2/11 Robinson Lane according to owner,
from Debi Kral.
Blue Jay: 20/all feeder BB; up to 10 at feeders and on
trips.
American Crow: 400+/11 near Vassar Hosp/Pok Cem 4:45p
BJM; hoards/13 Rt9/44-55, roost breaking up 7am BB; 200/3 Thompson Pond
FT; up to 59 other FTs; 3-7 in yards.
Fish Crow: 2/11 Marist Boat House, also Dutchess Center,
Pok Yacht Club CV.
Common Raven: pr/28 Thompson Pd John Burroughs FT, plus
other reports from there; 2/9 Nuclear Lk CV; 1/1 Robinson Ln, chased by
crows Laurie Taylor; 1/15 Salt Point Bob Bowler.
Horned Lark: 45-50/20 Greig Fm CV; 40/20 Rockefeller Ln & Budds
Crns Rd Natalie Gilbert; 150/31 Marshall Fm Verbank FT.
Black-capped Chickadee: 19/24 Lakeside Park FT; 13/17
Vassar Farm FT; 12/7 Rombout Rd; 10/all feeder BB; 1-5 in yards and on
field trips.
Tufted Titmouse: 8/10 StonyKill FT; 8/7 Rombout Rd CV;
1-5 at feeders and on trips.
Red-breasted Nuthatch: 1/23 Rt 82 at Moores Mill BB.
White-breasted Nuthatch: 6/10 StonyKill FT; 6/7 Rombout
Rd CV; 3 ea at Thompson Pd, Vassar Fm, Tivoli N Bay FT; 1-2 most yards
and trips.
Brown Creeper: 1/3 Thompson Pond FT; 1/10 StonyKill FT;
1-2 daily yards of CV Lagrange and MP Rhinebeck.
Carolina Wren: 5/10 StonyKill FT; 3/17 Vassar Farm FT;
3/7 Rombout Rd CV; all mo yards of AG,MP,BAM,EBR,CP, KCF; and 6 others.
Winter Wren: 2/7 1/22 RomboutRd CV; 1/17 VassarFm FT.
Golden-crowned Kinglet: 3/11 James Baird St. Pk. KCF;
4/24 Lakeside Park FT; 1/31 Verbank FT.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet: 1/3 Thompson Pond FT.
Eastern Bluebird: 10 at StonyKill, Vassar Fm, Verbank
FT; 8/7 Southlands MP; 1-6 from 12 places.
Hermit Thrush: 1/11 James Baird St. Pk. KCF.
American
Robin: 45-50/21 Sharon Station Rd, 30/7 Domin Fm
CV; 6 at Lakeside Pk, Tivoli Bay FT; only 8 other repts.
Northern Mockingbird: 4/24 Lakeside Park FT; 3/7 1/22 Rombout
Rd CV; 2 ea at StonyKill, Vassar Fm FT, Skidmore Rd;1/15-31 yd. BAM; 8 others.
European Starling: 150/3 Thompson Pond FT; 202/31 Verbank
FT; other flocks of 20-50+.
Cedar Waxwing: 40/9 Dover Plains, 30/13 Arborios, 25-30/21
Sharon Station Rd, also Domin Farm and Tivoli N Bay CV; 5/31 Verbank FT.
Yellow-rumped Warbler: 2/7 Domin Farm CV.
Eastern Towhee: 1 female/15-16 yard CV.
American Tree Sparrow: 55-60/21 Downey Rd, good flocks in
usual spots CV; 2-4 nearly daily MP; 1-3 most days yard JA/KJ; 1 ea at Vassar
Fm, Verbank FT.
Savannah Sparrow: 1/7 Domin Farm CV.
Fox Sparrow: 2/17 Vassar Fm FT; 2/23 Baird Pk. KCF.
Song Sparrow: 8/21 Downey Rd CV; 6/17 Vassar Farm FT; only
6 others reported.
Swamp Sparrow: 2/17 Thompson Pd saw and heard going to roost
CV.
White-throated Sparrow: 27/10 StonyKill FT; 16/17 Vassar Farm
FT; 15/24 Lakeside Park FT; 10-12/all yd KCF; 12 reports of up to 10 ea.
White-crowned Sparrow: 3/21 Downey Rd with Tree Sparrows CV.
Dark-eyed Junco: 50/11 & 30/23 James Baird St. Pk. KCF;
35/10 StonyKill FT; 30/14 Jackson Rd. ball park PF/JB; 28/3 Thompson Pond FT;
30-40/all yd Poughquag CP/HT; 10/11 Sand Dock Rd 2 were very brown CV; lots
more - a good junco winter.
Northern Cardinal: 9/10 StonyKill FT; 8/17 Vassar Farm FT;
3m/3f/1-13 5f/7m/14-31 yd. BAM; 8/19 yard CV; 1-6 in yards and on FTs.
Red-winged Blackbird: 1000/17 Thompson Pd going to roost,
100/3 Mashomack CV.
Common Grackle: 1000/17 Thompson Pd going to roost, 1/19 yard
CV.
Brown-headed Cowbird: 400/21 Willowbrook Fm CV; 50/all feeder
BB; up to 28 at BAM yd; dozs/17 Thompson Pd to roost CV; 9/20 near SGy yd;
2/2, 1/17 yd Red Hook AG.
Purple Finch: 1/13,14 yd Poughquag CP/HT; 1/22 Hosner Mtn
Rd Stormville EBR.
House Finch: 15/10 StonyKill FT; 4-10 at feeders of MP,BAM,
EBR,CP,KCF and other FTs.
American Goldfinch: 11/17 Vassar Farm FT; 8-10/all yd KCF;
1-7 from other yds and FTs; less than usual - CP has none, usually 20-40 in
Poughquag yd.
House Sparrow: 3-8/23-30 neighborhood, Hyde Park
SGy; 2-3/occ yd Poughquag CP/HT; 2/24 Lakeside Park FT.
Other Observations:
Bobcat: 1/17 Lake Rd, 1/21 Strauss Marsh, Amenia CV.
Observers:
JAll - Janet Allison, JA - Judy Atwood, JB - Jean Beck,
BB - Barbara Butler, TC - Tammie Carey, PF - Peggy Facsiani,
DF - Dot Fleury, KCF - Ken & Carol Fredericks, AG - Ann Gilbert, SGy
- Sue Gyscek, FH - Fran Henry, KJ - Karen Jaquith, RJ - Rodney Johnson,
BJM - Barb Michelin’ BAM - Barb & Allan Michelin,
MP - Mona Payton, CP - Carena Pooth, EBR - Edith & Barry Rosen,
HT - Herb Thompson, DAT - Doreen Tignanelli, CV - Chet Vincent, RW - Robert
Willliams
HRA - Hudson River Almanac
Pok - Poughkeepsie
WFC - Waterfowl Count (13th-21st)
Field Trips : 3rd Thompson Pond, 10th StonyKill, 17th Vassar Farm, 20th Tivoli North Bay, 24th Lakeside Park, 31st Verbank
Abbreviations: See
our Key
to Notation.
Compiled by Barbara
Butler |
