Basha Kill - 12th Oct

I decided to spend my birding time this weekend visiting a site someway east in New York State, called Basha Kill. It's an area of wetland in the woods which is well known as a migrant hotspot, and is well-watched by a number of birders. There are a number of access points to the wetland. I started at a boat-launch site just off the south road, then moved on to a road that crossed he centre of the swamp (Haven Rd), and met up with some birders doing a Big Sit. I finished by visiting some fields in the Deli Fields area.

Overall the birding was great. The waterbirds are somewhat disturbed at this time of year due to the number of hunters in the area, but there was plenty else to look at. Possibly the commonest bird was Yellow-rumped Warbler of which there were dozens. Typical swamp bird included 8 Wood Duck, 6 Green-winged Teal and 3 Great Blue Heron. There were plenty of raptors too, Peregrine (1), Merlin (1), Copper's Hawk (6), Sharp-shinned Hawk (1), Red-tailed Hawk (5), Turkey Vulture (4) and Northern Harrier (3) were all seen well. On the edge of the woodlands several flocks of passerines contained plenty of Ruby-crowned Kinglets plus Tufted Titmouse, Blue-headed Vireo (2), Hermit Thrush (5), Eastern Towhee (1) and Hairy Woodpecker (1). A Pileated Woodpecker flying over the swamp was a marvelous sighting.

The fields near the old deli were great for sparrows, with Swamp, Song, Savannah and Chipping Sparrows all present as well as several Eastern Bluebirds and a Palm Warbler.

throughout the morning several flocks of migrating Canada Geese flew over, averaging about 50 birds per flock.

Swamp Sparrow starting to pass through this week.

Savannah Sparrow 

White-throated Sparrow are everywhere at the moment

Hairy Woodpecker 

Yellow-rumped Warbler, probably the commonest bird today.

Common Yellowthroat 

Female Northern Harrier. One of three birds seen today, including a fantastic looking male at long distance

Hermit Thrush 

Black-capped Chickadee 

Cooper's Hawk 

Eastern Phoebe 

Eastern Bluebird 

House Finch 

Migrating Canada Geese