Greetings,

Today on the way up to Coxsackie I stopped at 4 Mile Point. Didn’t see the Screech-Owl or any “good” passerines (wrens, thrushes, etc.). However, while walking a trail on the Scenic Hudson property I did flush a lone BARRED OWL ahead of me. Unexpected, but totally gratifying.

The Coxsackie Boat Launch held over 400 Herring Gulls with a smattering of Ring-billed and Great Black-backed. With my initial scan with binoculars I was able to spot a single nonbreeding adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. This bird was different than the individual that I spotted yesterday (a first cycle bird). The bird stayed long enough for other birders to get on it. It took flight for a short period of time but one of the birders (Jackson) was able to spot it and watch it land again. The bird clearly showed yellow legs, a slightly lighter mantle than a GBBG and all the necessary streaking on the head.

A quick jaunt moving on to River Road from the boat launch yielded the NORTHERN SHRIKE on the first try. Yesterday I made 3 visits throughout the day without any luck, so if you are seeking this bird out, be patient. It was viewed for a minute or two before flying parallel to the railroad tracks away, and away, and away, and away.

Aside from all of those great birds, there are the expected raptors in the area. Today yielded at least 10 Red-tails, 8 Rough-legs (3 dark morph), and about a half dozen Northern Harriers.

Several Savannah Sparrows and Eastern Bluebirds are still persisting on Smith Rd.

Good birds today for sure. Keep em’ coming.
Best,
Chad Witko