The Upland

Plover
Publication of the North Country Bird Club, Inc. Since 1948
July / August 2018 Volume 59 No. 4

FIELD TRIPS - 2018 Season

Annual Picnic (Brouse Preserve): Sunday, July 8 - 1:00 pm
Marlowe Camp, Beartown: Saturday, July 21
Perch River WMA: Saturday, August 25
Montezuma NWR: Saturday, September 29
We meet for all field trips, except the Limerick Cedars evening
trip and the Annual Picnic, at 8:30 am in the parking lot of the
Arsenal St Wal-Mart, across the entry drive from Red Lobster.

ANNUAL PICNIC: AT THE BROUSE’S (Watertown)
Sunday, July 8th - 1:00 PM (rain or shine)
Dick and Marion Brouse have again generously offered
to host the Club’s annual picnic at their home on
Hazelhurst Avenue in Watertown. The property
includes extensive lawns and gardens, woodlands, and
a marsh along Kelsey Creek, which flows through the
grounds. As many Club members are aware, a great
variety of birds of all types find their way to the
Brouse’s remarkable preserve.
We will eat at 5:00 pm. You are invited to arrive at
any time between 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm for birding
and socializing. Please bring a dish to pass and a
chair. Tableware and beverages will be provided.
Hazelhurst Avenue runs eastward from Bradley St (NY 12) on the
north side of Watertown, near the city line. The Brouse’s is the last
house on the street.
FIELD TRIP: MONTEZUMA NWR
Saturday, Sept 29 - Meet at Arsenal St Wal-Mart - 8:30 am
Our fall trip to the Montezuma region will include, along with the
National Wildlife Refuge, several other sites in the area. This is an
excellent opportunity to observe waterfowl and shorebirds, as well as
songbirds. Reservations are required before or at the September
12 Club meeting.
FALL MEETINGS
Remember to note the dates of our fall meetings on your calendar.
We meet at 7:00 pm at NNY Community Foundation (131
Washington St, Watertown). Meeting dates are:
Wednesday, September 12 Wednesday, October 10
Wednesday, November 14
SNOWY OWL AMONG THE DANDELIONS
Chaumont - May 23, 2018 Photo by Lynn Chavoustie
FIELD TRIP: MARLOWE CAMP (Beartown Road)
Saturday, July 21st
Meet at Arsenal St Wal-Mart at 8:30 am
We will travel to Club President Corky Marlowe’s camp in the
Town of Croghan for a second time this season. On this trip we
will look for butterflies and dragonflies, as well as warblers and
other songbirds. This event, which includes a moderate walk
along a gravel road, will last into early afternoon, with lunch at
the camp. Please bring a dish to pass. Salad, dessert, and
tableware will be provided.
FIELD TRIP: PERCH RIVER WMA
Saturday, August 25th
Meet at Arsenal St Wal-Mart - 8:30 am
During late August, the public is allowed access to restricted
areas of the Perch River Wildlife Management Area. Perch
River WMA, located eight miles north of Watertown, includes
over 7800 acres of wetland areas, woodlands, and fields,
providing habitat for a wide variety of birds. We will spend a
Saturday morning taking advantage of this opportunity to bird in
areas of the Refuge not normally accessible to us. Join us as
we explore the largest WMA in Jefferson County.
SPRING BIRD CENSUS
Please return your Spring Bird Census form to the
Editor as soon as possible. Forms may be mailed to
Bill Haller, PO Box 6, Dexter, NY 13634, or sent
electronically to haldex@twcny.rr.com.
 OFFICERS SUMMER PROGRAMS AT INDIAN RIVER LAKES CONSERVANCY’S
President REDWOOD HILL PRESERVE (Stine Rd, Redwood)
Corky Marlowe Thur, July 5 - 7 pm: Pollinator Survey Training (Steve & Vici Diehl)
315-782-4705 Thur, July 12 - 6:30 pm: Native Americans & the Land (Laurie Rush, Fort Drum)
Vice-President Thur, July 26 - 6 pm: The Lives of Adirondack Loons (Scott Sutcliffe, Cornell)
Bill Haller Sat, July 28 - 9 am: eBird Orientation (Scott Sutcliffe) WHITE ADMIRAL
Thur, August 2 - 6 pm: Water Quality Assessment: Monitoring Stream Health Beartown - June 16, 2018
Secretary
(some programs require registration - info at http://indianriverlakes.org/events/) Photo by Lauren Eggleston
Christine Bourquin
WHERE ARE ALL THE GRASSLAND BIRDS? WAYS TO HELP THEM SURVIVE
Treasurer
Kathleen Killeen Sunday, July 29, 2018 - 10 am to 12 noon - White Caps Winery, 11544 Cty Rt 125, Pt Salubrious
Over time, many common species of birds at White Caps Winery/Cedar Grove Farm and elsewhere in
DIRECTORS the area have declined dramatically, leaving us wondering what happened!
Richard Brouse To 5/2020 Sponsored jointly by Ontario Bays Initiative and White Caps Winery, this free program, led by Senior
David Prosser To 5/2019 Field Ornithologist Jerry Smith and Lee Ellsworth, Vice Chair of OBI and Land Steward, will explore some
Mike Shepard To 5/2019 of those vanishing birds, celebrate those still to be found on the farm, and help us understand what we
June Walker To 5/2020 can do to promote their preservation. There will be a presentation in the Winery’s new pavilion, followed
Robert Walker To 5/2019 by an optional walk on Cedar Grove Farm’s trails. Cedar Grove Farm was a regional participant for
nearly nine years in the St. Lawrence Valley Land Owners’ Improvement Program, aimed at stabilizing
Field Trip Coordinator bird populations at risk in our area. Join us for this insightful discussion on our local birds.
Richard Brouse
315-788-6778 SNOWY OWL REPORT
Census Coordinator This has been a fascinating year for Snowy Owls in the North
Country, although there has been both good and bad news.
Bill Haller
Reports of Snowy Owl sightings have been far too numerous to
Historian catalog here. The several locations where the Owls were seen
Robert Walker regularly this season were given in the previous issue. While
Newsletter Editor Snowy’s have nearly always left this area by early May in past
SNOWY OWL years, this year several remained here well into June. The last two
Bill Haller Lyme Town Barns - May 23, 2018
315-639-6848
reported were “hanging out” together around the Town of Lyme
Photo by Lynn Chavoustie
barns / Lyme Central bus garage just north of Chaumont. The
On The Web: combined observations of Lynn Chavoustie, Robin Booth, Corky Marlowe, and Bill Haller provided a
NORTH COUNTRY nearly daily check on these two birds. Lyme bus drivers discovered on the morning of June 6 that one of
this pair had been electrocuted on a pole near the bus garage sometime during the previous night. While
BIRD CLUB the other remained for a few days, it was last seen on June 13, by Bill at about 6 pm, then by Lynn at
ON FACEBOOK about 8 pm. For Snowy’s to extend their usual stay here by nearly six weeks is certainly most remarkable.
For detailed info about birds, Bring insect repellent and water on all field trips. After all local field trips, participants are
visit the website of A field trip may be cancelled due to weather. invited to join for lunch at a nearby
the Cornell Ornithology Lab restaurant, if their schedule permits.
and of Cornell’s renowned Call Dick Brouse at 788-6778 with any questions These gatherings are always most
Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary about our field trips. enjoyable (and entertaining).
http://www.birds.cornell.edu A beautiful set of bird-themed notecards is given to a member or members of the Club by random
Track bird migrations at the selection each time the Plover is issued, to provide incentive for members to keep memberships in good
Cornell Lab’s http://birdcast.info standing. Our congratulations to Lynn Chavoustie of Three Mile Bay, selected as this issue’s recipient.

EASTERN BLUEBIRDS
Checking out one of
the nesting boxes
along Rt 11
north of Watertown
being monitored
by Corky Marlowe
for the New York State
Bluebird Society
June 10, 2018 AMERICAN ROBIN NESTLINGS
Photos by Sherry Makuch Cape Vincent - June 16, 2018
Photo by Robin Booth 2
 FIELD TRIP REPORTS
Otter Creek Preserve - May 5: On Saturday, May 5, a sunny spring day with temperatures in
the 50’s and 60’s, 13 members of the Club travelled to 1000 Island Land Trust’s Otter Creek
Preserve near Alexandria Bay. We then moved on to Indian River Lakes Conservancy’s
Redwood Hill Preserve. The highlight of our day was a good view of a Yellow-throated Vireo
at Redwood. We also sighted seven species of Warblers, the first of the season for most of
the group. We concluded with an excellent lunch at Miss Laura’s Diner at Cooper’s Corners.
Over the course of the day, 38 species were observed. We sighted Canada Goose,
Trumpeter Swan, Ring-necked Duck, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Bald Eagle,
Northern Harrier, Cooper’s Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Virginia Rail, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker,
Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Great Crested Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Vireo, Blue YELLOW WARBLER ON THE NEST
Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Glasier Trail, Rodman - June 2, 2018
Brown Creeper, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Gray Catbird, European Starling, Yellow Warbler, Photo by Kathy Killeen
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pine Warbler, Palm Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler, Ovenbird,
Scarlet Tanager, Eastern Towhee, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted
Grosbeak, Red-winged Blackbird, and American Goldfinch.
Red Lake - May 19: On Saturday, May 19, 10 members of NCBC joined in the Club’s annual
trip to Red Lake, outside of Theresa. The day was overcast, with temperatures in the 50’s.
Rain moved in mid-morning, but not before we had put in some very good birding. Highlights
included a close sighting of a Virginia Rail and the calls of a Black-billed Cuckoo and a Sora.
The trip concluded with our second lunch stop this season at Miss Laura’s Diner, where we
again had a fine meal, good conversation, and much hilarity.
30 species were observed during the trip. We sighted Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Bald NORTH COUNTRY BIRD CLUB
Eagle, Virginia Rail, Sora, Mourning Dove, Black-billed Cuckoo, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy AT THE RODMAN TRAILS FIELD TRIP
Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Great Crested Flycatcher, Murray Trail, Rodman - June 2, 2018
Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, Common Raven, Wood Thrush, Gray Catbird, Photo by Kathy Killeen
Brown Thrasher, European Starling, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Black-and-
White Warbler, American Redstart, Northern Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, Song
Sparrow, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Red-winged Blackbird, and Baltimore Oriole.
Limerick Cedars - May 30: On the evening of Wednesday, May 30, 15 members of NCBC
gathered along the Ransom Road in the Limerick Cedars. Skies were clear, with
temperatures in the 80’s. The area had record temperatures that day, with a high of 91 (the
previous record was 87). Probably due to the extreme temperatures, the evening was
unusually quiet (except for the incessant Robins). Even the Towhees were not nearly as vocal
as usual. However, as darkness fell, the songs of both Whip-poor-will and Veery sounded
from several directions. 14 species were observed during our visit: Black-crowned
Night-Heron, American Woodcock, Ring-billed Gull, Whip-poor-will, Blue Jay, Veery, American
Robin, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Prairie Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Eastern A WHIP-POOR-WILL SUNSET
Towhee, Field Sparrow, and Song Sparrow. The Cedars once again provided a charming Limerick Cedars - May 30, 2018
setting in which to watch the Sun set on a beautiful, but very warm, spring evening. Photo by Lee Ellsworrth
Rodman Trails - June 2: On Saturday, June 2, 10 members of NCBC walked the trails at DANC’s Rodman Landfill. We were joined by two
members of the Eaton Birding Society of Geneva, here to consult with us as they plan for an upcoming field trip to Jefferson County. A clear
sky and temperatures in the 60’s made this a most pleasant morning walk. Highlights included a Yellow Warbler on the nest (see photo) and an
excellent view of a Golden-winged Warbler. We concluded with a most enjoyable lunch at Gram’s Diner in Adams.
We observed 30 species: Wild Turkey, Turkey Vulture, Ring-billed Gull, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Willow Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe,
Red-eyed Vireo, American Crow, Common Raven, Tree Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, House Wren, Gray Catbird, Cedar Waxwing,
Blue-winged Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird,
Common Yellowthroat, Eastern Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird,
Baltimore Oriole, and American Goldfinch. Also observed were two species of butterfly: Northern Crescent and Tiger Swallowtail.
First Beartown Trip - June 16: On Saturday, June 16, 19 members and friends of NCBC journeyed to Club President Corky Marlowe’s camp
on Beartown Road in the Town of Croghan. This was the first of two Club trips to this bird-rich woodland location this season. Skies were
clear, with temperatures in the 70’s. As usual, we enjoyed a delicious lunch following our birding, with a variety of excellent dishes prepared by
members of the Club. Our thanks go out to Corky for again hosting a memorable event at her beautiful retreat in the Lewis County woodlands.
We observed 30 species during our outing: Broad-winged Hawk, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Northern Flicker,
Eastern Wood-Pewee, Eastern Phoebe, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Blue-headed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, American Crow,
Common Raven, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Winter Wren, Veery, Wood Thrush, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing,
Golden-winged Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Pine Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler, Ovenbird, Mourning
Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, and Red-winged Blackbird. 3
 SONG SPARROW SNOW GOOSE BALTIMORE ORIOLE
Sackets Harbor - May 8, 2018 Sackets Harbor - May 1, 2018 Cape Vincent - May 12, 2018
Photo by Kathy Killeen Photo by Tom McKay Photo by Robin Booth
NORTH COUNTRY BIRD CLUB SIGHTINGS
Please forward notable sightings for the next issue to the Editor by August 15, using the contact info on the last page.
The spring season has brought a variety of reports, as many species view of a male Ring-necked Pheasant crossing the roadway. On June 4,
return to the area. It has been a very good year for birders in Sackets Karen Soule reported that she had heard a Black-billed Cuckoo at her
Harbor. Kezia and Steve Sullivan sighted a Brown Thrasher at their home home in Henderson.
near the lakeshore in Sackets on May 2 and reported that a Warbling Doris Gibson reported that, on May 9 at her home on Keyser Road near
Vireo had been there recently, also. Kezia reported that Baltimore Orioles Perch Lake, she sighted a Great Horned Owl, 4 Brown Thrashers, and a
arrived at her feeders in Sackets on May 11, then both Ruby-throated Black-crowned Night Heron. She also noted that a Rose-breasted
Hummingbirds and Indigo Buntings on May 12. There were 32 species at Grosbeak had been visiting her feeders for several days. On June 28,
her feeders that day. On May 18, Kezia sighted Black-and-White Warbler Doris sighted 3 Gray Catbirds at her home, as well as Mourning Doves
and Pine Siskin at her home in Sackets, Great Blue Heron and Barn with young. Bill sighted a Great Horned Owl along NY 180 north of
Swallow on May 19, and Scarlet Tanager and Cape May Warbler on May Limerick on May 8. Steve Guy reported sighting a Merlin at the Fort Drum
20. As of that day, she had recorded 73 species at her home during 2018 Airfield on May 9 and a Peregrine Falcon in downtown Dexter on May 25.
(her total for all of 2017 was 75). Kathy Killeen sighted a White-crowned
Bald Eagles have continued at the nests along the Lower Pool at Perch
Sparrow in Sackets on May 3. On May 11, Kathy reported that she had
River and on the Moffatt Road. Bill sighted a mature Bald Eagle at the
sighted Bobolink, Northern Flicker, House Wren, and Savannah Sparrow
Perch River nest on April 28, then again on May 19 and May 25, and,
in Sackets during the past few days. Ray Spahn reported sighting
birding with Corky Marlowe, on June 4. Bill saw a mature Bald Eagle on
Bobolinks in Sackets on May 21. He also reported on May 24 that a
the Moffatt Road nest on May 24, then sighted an immature Bald Eagle on
Rose-breasted Grosbeak had been coming to his feeders in Sackets daily
that nest on June 14 and again on June 16.
during mid-May.
On May 15, Corky and Bill, joined by Kathy and Connie Mason, had a very
Tom McKay reported that he and Genie were visited by a Snow Goose at
successful day birding in the Perch River area. Bobolinks were very active
their home along the lakeshore in Sackets Harbor on May 1 (see photo).
on both Dog Hill Road and Cook Road. Also on Cook Road, the group
Dick and Marion Brouse sighted a Snow Goose in a field along Old Rome
heard Golden-winged Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, Blue-headed Vireo,
State Road on June 24. Bill reported seeing several Black Terns at Perch
and Clay-colored Sparrow. In a parking area along Dog Hill Road, a
River WMA on May 17. On May 27, Dick and Marion, birding at Ashland
Savannah Sparrow perched on a signpost and treated the group to a
WMA, sighted a Great Egret, 2 Blue-winged Teal, and several Great Blue
concert and an excellent view. The four also sighted 2 American Bitterns.
Herons.
The first was in the pond at the base of the north overlook on Allen Road.
On April 27, Kezia and Steve, birding at Perch River WMA, sighted several The second crossed Vaadi Road in front of the group and halted in a field
Northern Cardinals, an Osprey, a Northern Harrier, a Bald Eagle, an only a short distance from the road, affording a rare detailed view of this
American Bittern, and an Eastern Meadowlark. Robin Booth reported on beautiful bird. In Limerick, the group found a substantial number of Bank
May 1 that she had seen Pine Siskin, Eastern Towhee, Eastern Phoebe, Swallows nesting at the Brownville Town Barns on Star School Road.
and Chipping Sparrow in Cape Vincent. Bill Haller heard a Field Sparrow
in the Limerick Cedars on May 1. Dee and Lauri Piiparinen reported that
two Baltimore Orioles were at their feeders in Watertown on May 3. Bill
heard the Whip-poor-wills in the Limerick Cedars on May 5. This was the
first report of these favorite songsters this year. He also heard American
Woodcock and Brown Thrasher there that day. Rachel Lewis sighted a
Rose-breasted Grosbeak and a Brown Thrasher in Watertown on May 7.
On May 8, Robin sighted an Indigo Bunting and a Baltimore Oriole in Cape
Vincent. Jim LaPlante sighted 2 Baltimore Orioles and several
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks in Cape Vincent on May 10, a Common Loon
on May 11, and Bobolinks on May 12. On May 24, a Chipping Sparrow
visited Bill’s feeders in Dexter. On May 28, Corky and Bill heard 2 Veery WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW HOUSE WREN
along Old Swamp Road near Three Mile Bay, one on each side of the Sackets - May 3, 2018 Cape Vincent - May 24, 2018
road. Turning onto Burnt Rock Road, they were treated to an excellent Photo by Kathy Killeen Photo by Robin Booth 4
 Henderson Historical Society Bird Walk at Southwick’s Beach - May 12, 2018 SACKETS BIG DAY
The Henderson Historical Society again invited Dick Brouse, our Club’s Field Trip Kezia Sullivan has a home in Sackets Harbor which
Coordinator, to lead a bird walk at Southwick’s Beach State Park. The walk was is in a bird-rich area near the lakeshore. She sees
subsequently scheduled for Saturday, May 12. Temperatures were in the 50’s, with a remarkable variety of species each year. On
overcast skies becoming partly sunny as the morning went along. 15 participants, Sunday, May 6, watching from her deck, Kezia truly
including Dick and seven other Club members, joined to walk the woodland nature trail had a Backyard Big Day, sighting 39 species in one
which extends from the park access road. 34 species were sighted. day, 7 of them First Of Year (+).
Sightings included Canada Goose, Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Killdeer, Kezia’s sightings included Snow Goose, Canada
Ring-billed Gull, Mourning Dove, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Goose, Mallard, Common Merganser, Red-breasted
Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Great Crested Flycatcher, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Merganser, Double-crested Cormorant, Green
Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, House Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Wood Thrush, Heron (+), Turkey Vulture, Osprey (+), American
American Robin, Gray Catbird, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Kestrel, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper (+), Ring-billed
Black-and-White Warbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, Gull, Mourning Dove, Belted Kingfisher (+), Downy
Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Warbling Vireo,
Grosbeak, Red-winged Blackbird, American Crow, Tree Swallow, Black-capped
Brown-headed Cowbird, and Baltimore Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, American
Oriole. Robin, European Starling, Yellow Warbler (+),
Dick was, as always, an excellent guide Yellow-rumped Warbler, Palm Warbler (+), Eastern
and leader. We offer sincere thanks to the Towhee (+), Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow,
Society’s Elaine Scott for organizing this White-throated Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow,
event, for her enthusiastic support of our Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Common
work, and for again inviting the Club to be Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, House Finch,
a part of Henderson Heritage Days this American Goldfinch, and House Sparrow. Our
year. Join us at the Henderson Museum congratulations on a
on Saturday, August 11, for this most most excellent day of
enjoyable event. birding!
DOUBLE-CRESTED
CORMORANT
Cape Vincent
April 28, 2018
Photo by Robin Booth
FUERTES PAINTING
From the State Museum in Albany
Published in Birds of America, 1917
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET
GREAT HORNED OWL & OWLET ON THE NEST BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER
Jefferson County - May 5, 2018 - Photos by Jim LaPlante
For info on Onondaga Audubon events: http://onondagaaudubon.com/
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Dues payable to: North Country Bird Club Send newsletter by:
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Year: 20____ Watertown, NY 13601 (please check one)

PLEASE REMEMBER TO FILL OUT BOTH SIDES OF THE FORM

5
 NORTH COUNTRY BIRD CLUB: A CHARTER MEMBER OF NYSOA
The New York State Ornithological Association began its existence in
1947 as the Federation of New York State Bird Clubs. The first formal
meeting to discuss the formation of a state organization was held in
Rochester on December 7, 1946, with 21 people from 12 interested
organizations attending. One of those in attendance was Minna
Anthony Common, the founder of North Country Bird Club, while the
Watertown Bird Club was listed as one of the organizations present.
(No information about this earlier bird club from our area is known to the
Editor.) An organizational meeting considered the actual beginning of
the Federation was held in Amsterdam on October 27, 1947. As a
result, 1947 is considered the year in which NYSOA was founded. (The
Federation’s name was changed to NYSOA in 2003.)
The first Annual Meeting of the
Federation was held on November
13-14, 1948, at the Rochester
Museum of Arts and Sciences.
Eighteen birding organizations,
including four Audubon Chapters,
became Charter Member Clubs of the
Federation. North Country Bird Club,
founded that year by Mrs. Common,
YELLOW WARBLER was one of these organizations and so
May 20, 2018 remains today one of the Charter
Photo by Lynn Chavoustie Members of NYSOA.
CHIMNEY FLICKER?
Connie Barone, of Sackets Harbor, forwarded this
entertaining story on May 4: Last Saturday we began to hear
a strange “motor-like” sound coming from our fireplace. We
determined it was a small motor trying to start up but failing,
so we called the service provider and described the
intermittent sound. They were baffled. A few hours later we
went outside and looked up to see a Flicker on the metal
chimney pipe at the top grate and cap. He was advertising his
presence to the neighborhood. He continued on-and-off all
weekend. Now he wakes us at 6:30 am every morning, stays
around about an hour, and stops back periodically through
the day. We hope he doesn’t drill a hole in the chimney pipe.
Connie forwarded a sequel to the story on May 30: A few
days ago I saw our neighbor of four doors away, asked him if
he could hear our Flicker down the street at his house, and
described the hammering on our metal chimney. He paused
and said “Is that what that is?” They have been hearing the
same rapid motor-like sound from their fireplace and
presumed it was a circulating motor problem, so they even
turned off the gas to the fireplace. He showed me a video he
took by the fireplace with the sound, to show their fireplace
service technician, who scheduled a service call. We had a
great laugh as we all got fooled by the Flicker. Mr. Flicker still
comes to hammer on our chimney, multiple times a day.

TREASURER’S REPORT from the May 9th Meeting RECEIVE THE UPLAND PLOVER ONLINE
Checking account balance .................................. $1364.36 The e-mailed Plover is the same as the printed version, but in COLOR
Savings account balance .................................... $1610.45 and including an additional section of COLOR PHOTOS!
(viewed with Adobe Reader - http://www.adobe.com/).
Kathleen Killeen, Treasurer
Contact the Editor at haldex@twcny.rr.com to sign up.
To be added to our E-mail Notification List for news
of select sightings and events in the area, please A list of birding organizations and list serves for New York (and other
contact the Editor at haldex@twcny.rr.com. states) is available at http://www.virtualbirder.com/vbirder/
Become a member of the New York State
Ornithological Association (NYSOA). ITEMS FOR THE NEXT PLOVER ARE DUE BY AUGUST 15
Membership includes a quarterly journal and a If you have sightings, photos, or other items for the September/October issue,
newsletter. Details at www.nybirds.org. please forward them to the Editor by August 15.
Contact info: Bill Haller, Editor - Mail: P. O. Box 6, Dexter, NY 13634
E-mail: haldex@twcny.rr.com - Phone: (315) 639-6848 (9 am to 9 pm)
Meetings / Programs: March, April,
May, September, October, November,
(Second Wednesday of the month) NORTH COUNTRY BIRD CLUB MEMBERSHIP
Field Trips: Spring - Summer - Fall Membership is for the calendar year. Dues are per individual.
Spring Bird Census Renewals are due by January 1st. To ensure that you receive Club
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Audubon Christmas Bird Count Name(s): _____________________________________________
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a charter member of the New York State City: _______________________ State: _____ Zip: __________
Ornithological Association, Inc. PLEASE REMEMBER TO FILL OUT BOTH SIDES OF THE FORM
Several of our members have been very active in the photographing of North Country birds this spring. Over 100 photos have been
submitted to the Editor since the last issue of the Plover. Since it is possible to include only a limited number of photos in the newsletter
itself, the photos on this page and the next have been appended to the digital version of the Plover to give a fuller representation of the
skills of our photographers and as a thanks to those who receive the Plover online. The photos are arranged in taxonomic order.

MUTE SWAN RUFFED GROUSE

Three Mile Bay - March 15, 2018 Cape Vincent - May 16, 2018
Photo by Robin Booth Photo by Robin Booth

COMMON LOON SNOWY OWL

Cape Vincent - May 1, 2018 Cape Vincent - May 25, 2018
Photo by Jim LaPlante Photo by Robin Booth

RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER NORTHERN FLICKER

Sackets Harbor - March 24, 2018 Sackets Harbor - May 8, 2018
Photo by Kathy Killeen Photo by Kathy Killeen
PILEATED WOODPECKER AMERICAN REDSTART
Cape Vincent - March 11, 2018 Crooked Creek Preserve - May 13, 2018
Photo by Robin Booth Photo by Lynn Chavoustie

WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW CHIPPING SPARROW

Cape Vincent - May 12, 2018 Cape Vincent - April 21, 2018
Photo by Robin Booth Photo by Robin Booth

COMMON GRACKLE HOUSE FINCH

Henderson - May 12, 2018 Cape Vincent - June 18, 2018
Photo by Joan Darby Photo by Robin Booth