Indigenous People’s Common Grackles

Klarisse and Christopher decided to run to the Turkey Mountain trailhead. We got there before them, waited briefly for a spot to open up and then walked down the road to intercept their jog from the bike path. South of the road that leads to the trailhead, beyond a crumbled rock wall and twisted wire fence, grasses and young trees slowly reclaimed the expanses of an unmaintained golf course. As we neared the halfway point from the trailhead to the intersection with Saw Mill River Road, which runs parallel to the bike path, sporadic squeals and chuckles reacted to us from the beyond the embankment. When I let my eyes focus into the stand of trees south of the road I could see they were filled with Common Grackles. I climbed up the embankment to take a video of the colony of Grackles roosting in the field. I few of them flushed from my noisy approach to the twisted fence. Then many of them followed and when a large wave of them lifted off the trees and field a noise like the revving of a large machine followed them. The way spread and thickened, staying low, slicing through the threes where Saw Mill River Road and the road to the mountain intersected. The Grackles began settling in the trees to the north with an occasional wave pealing off the field and streaming over the trees rapidly losing their autumn leaves. Judy and Scott said the collection of birds was the largest they had ever seen. My uncle Eldon witnessed the massive movement of Grackles also. We compared the experience to scenes from the movie The Birds by Alfred Hitchcock. A large pickup truck came up the road as a wave of Grackles created an black curtain over the bottom of the hill to the trailhead. When the man packed at the bottom of the road and exited his car, he said that was the most birds he had ever seen in one place. We agreed with him. Christopher and Klarisse then came jogging across Saw Mill River Road and then up the hill. I took a video of the Grackles streaming by overhead.  The sound of the flock was an continuous squeaking. We turned back up the hill, a few minutes behind Chris and Klarisse who were glistened with sweat. They jogged through the flock but never broke stride. We hiked at a conservative pace the two mile loop and only saw two Grackles on our was back down the trail. 

Inwood Hill Park 1.10.2021

woke up with a slight headache and fell back asleep until 840. Around 900 I walked into Kuro and asked for a cold brew. Me and the two baristas were confused after that. It was pretty cold again but less windy than Saturday. I counted birds in the clearing on Dyckman west of the Payson Building. A few ring-bills, mallards, a herring gull or two. I walked up Dyckman fields and counted a few sparrows in the far north fields - white-throated/song. A dense little collection of ring-bills were feeding just south of the Amtrak bridge. I took a piss near the west side of the footbridge and walked the east side of the fields back down to Dyckman where I bumped into Danny. We passed the woman with the three-legged dog and Danny said jokingly he wanted to ride in the dog's pushcart, to the woman. Danny and I checked the marina dock again. We looked closely at a cedar and some grasses (sedges) along Dyckman Street for potential Finch food (seeds). He said also that Nathan had the GHO this morning in the Clove. We got a brown creeper near where the red trail connected to the main road. We checked the screech owl cavity near the fire hydrant. Dan lit a cigarette as we walked up to the overlook. Dan split off to head into the Clove. I circled around the north ridge and hung out at the parapet. I circled down in the clove and got a few pictures of male and female hairy woodpeckers. When I was near the "structure' I could hear House Finches singing loudly above. I recorded some audio but they didn't come out great. At the marsh restoration enclosure while I was photographing a Swamp Sparrow I saw Danny again. He told me a GHO had taken up a perch in the white pines where the barred owl had been. Then he directed me to a peregrine perched up on the stadium lights. It was 1:30pm. I headed home to watch football. After working out a bit and drinking two beers I went back to the park to look for the GHO. There were a lot of people at the Pines so I didn't get close enough to find an owl and walked to the north ridge. 

Nest Scouting (All Over Town)

Between April 1st and yesterday (4/5) I covered a lot of territory on my bike, scouting for raptor nests. After stopping at my work in Englewood NJ I stumbled upon the Tenafly woods which are divided from the Greenbrook Sanctuary by the Palisades Parkway. I leaned my bike on a tree in the woods just below as slope to the grade of 9W and followed a northbound trail marked by blazes and flagging. The trail bedding was soft, not overly eroded. Observing the under-story I could appreciate the obvious lack of invasive plants. All the flora was still brown or gray accept for some mosses. Tenafly woods: Golden-crowned Kinglet, Northern Flicker, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, etc. The trails of the park lead me in a loop within the perimeter of the woods. When I reached my bike again I had walked about 1 miles distance. Passing the fake-tree cellphone tower on 9W I stopped to view the top of the tower through binoculars. The nest at the top seems to be constructed of large sticks. When I got back on my bike I spotted an Osprey perched nearby. Now I believe this nest to be an Osprey nest. When I arrived at the headquarters for Palisades Park, for the first time I headed south along the cliff-top trail. From the lookouts and ruins above the Alpine Marina I spotted a Peregrine perched below the cliff edge, on a hanging snag. Farther south the Peregrine Nest Box juts out into view, about 30 ft below the cliff-edge. The ruins area and south towards Greenbrook provide good habitat from Great Horned Owl nests and nest sightings have been reported there in the past. The woods withheld all evidence of owls from me, on this day. I paid close attention to the cliff faces when I had views. GHOs are known to nest in cliff habitat. The scouting lured me further south. The edge of Greenbrook alluded me and I had to turn around at about 4:45pm. The River Road Bald Eagle nest nest held a small eaglet. The eaglet stretched wings and hopped about the nest as the mother Eagle flew about to different perches within sight of the nest. Was the mother displaying the possibility of flight to her eaglet? South in the Greenbrook, southern section area on River Road a Peregrine perched below the cliff edge, within view from the lower road. I made it up to Riverdale around 7pm to check on the potential GHO nest I had discovered the day before. With full darkness setting in, no owl activity observed, I biked back to Inwood and walked south, up Clove Road. At the second intersection from the north I heard the GHO call descend from the treetops on the east ridge. I looped back to the east ridge road and located the owl. The GHO changed perches three or four times, calling in different directions, mostly into the Clove while also swiveling his head at sights and sounds coming from the surrounding city. The owl called vigorously for over an hour. Exhausted and satisfied from being in the presence of the owl I left as the continuing hoots faded into the darkness. On Saturday I scouted Van Cortlandt Park with the group of volunteers organized by Parks. Katie Leung shared some info on previous Woodlawn GHO nest sight. No new nests discovered by the groups in Van Cortlandt. I biked back to Riverdale Woods. No GHO activity observed, though the pellet from Thursday looked weathered, leading me to believe on Thursday it was fresh. Yesterday (Monday 4/5) I checked the hollow again. Maybe there were more feathers but can't confirm. I felt on the back of the hollow a faint reflection could be seen, cast by the owls brown feathers. I might be reaching. Two rangers came up the road as I was leaving. They were en route to check the potential nest. "It's a very deep cavity." 

Around Inwood, Spring Birds Arriving - 3/31/21

 The GHO returned this weekend. Saturday I started the day relatively early at the Hudson River around Dyckman Street, using the Ft-Wash Greenway to check on the Red-Tail nest in the Henry Hudson Median. Red-Tails at that time were not showing any nesting behavior. The Red-Tails displayed some interesting aerial moves, torpedo-ing upwards. Two Peregrines and a pre-adult Bald Eagle flew over while I walked back north on the path. As I was passing the canoe club, two Red-Breasted Mergansers landed in the waters just south of the sailing dock. I met Michael Waldron on the pier. Up on the soccer the eagle made a few low passes and an adult made an appearance higher up near the overlook. Golden-Crowned Kinglets fed in the trees on the fence-line of the northern fields and in the woods along the northwestern path in the forest. Up on the ridge some Phoebes and a Pine Warbler foraging low between the two sets of pines on the center path. Four men explored the forest floor with metal detectors and small trowels (technically illegal in this park). I talked to James and Joe and met Diane. Later in the Clove I saw the GHO in the vine covered day-roost and encountered Danny nearby. People passed by in steady clusters on the road so I didn't hang out long. Saturday evening I returned to the park and found the GHO perched high in the Clove, approximately 100ft up. I observed from the east road above the Clove. He flew off to the ridge and I and others (the GHO was reported with location on eBird and Twitter) lost him on the north ridge. Also found the GHO on Sunday morning (raining heavily) and evening. Monday morning the GHO was in his vine covered, day-roost. I saw a loon, I think, flying north on the river. Monday afternoon I began work on English Ivy on the southern slope. I cut some gaps in the ivy attacking five or six trees - Oaks, hackberry and black locust. Later around 6:30pm I had the GHO perched about 100ft up in the Clove again. The owl stretched and released a pellet. After about 45 minutes he took off towards the north ridge. I caught him on video flying above Clove Road. In Englewood I've had a few good migratory encounters. Lots of house finches, a few Northern Flickers, many Red-wing blackbirds and Grackles. On my way in one morning I heard a Pine Warbler singing at the southern edge of the west side parking lot. 

Around Inwood, Nest Scouting - 3/26/21

 After a day or two of moist weather today strong sun and broke through with high winds and a humid feel. High puffy clouds sailed through the sky. I biked down Dyckman to Ft Washington Park and to check on the Red-Tail nest. It was my first time viewing the nest from below. It took some time to find. The views from the lower path are pretty good. A Red-Tail in the area performed in the wind and chirped. The flight style was spectacular. The raptor kited off the edge of Ft. Tryon and then stooped into the wind. The force of the wind lifted the raptor up into the air and it shot straight up into the air, missile shaped until they crested and dove and opened up their wings again. They performed the torpedo fall and rise like a stitching of thread and then sunk into the canopy. There was a lot of human activity on the bike path too. The fishing area was crowded and two men were drinking beers and gardening the thin strip of land between the fence and the Amtrak fence. I saw a man’s bare ass who was drying off after swimming in the river. I saw the riverside artist working diligently with sticks and trash, wearing a pink zip-up hoodie. I biked up to Dyckman Ball fields. The lot in front of the pier was packed with cars. I hung out at the top of the fields, only able to see Gulls and a solitary Canada floating against the wind. I continued around to check on the Screech Owls. On Screech was visible in the small side whole. There were several female RWBB in the soccer field. A dozen or so song sparrows ventured out of the Marsh Regeneration area to feed in the fields along with the two Swamp Sparrows. Up in Marble Hill I watched the male Peregrine perch on the north tower of Broadway Bridge for a while and then zoom around in the persistently gusty winds. Hundreds of European Starlings flocked and perched on the lower trusses of the bridge. 

Palisades Park 3/25 (GWB north to Alpine Section)

 Warm with sun fighting through dispersing fog. Bike north on 9 from CNBC. Spotted sticks or nest in top of cell antenna. No visible nest occupants. Locked bike at park headquarters and hiked north on cliff side trail. Saw a few black vultures perching. Scared a raven off of Bombay Hook perch. South of the Bombay Hook a bald eagle was perched in the canopy below the cliffs. Up near the big cliffs I found a Peregrine perching. It flew off towards The New York side of the river, the town north of Yonkers. Turkey vultures, ravens, crows. Not many passerines. Saw an blue, iridescent beetle on the trail. On the road down to the Alpine Marina I spotted a nest box up on the cliffs side, about twenty feet below the cliff edge. The box was three sided. Made of wood or composite material and had whitewash descending onto the rock face below. Some lady with a big lens chatted me up about the Eagle nest by Greenbrook Falls. I saw the female eagle in her nest. I saw another Peregrine and two more eagles in the southern section of the park. Also got my first Northern Flicker of the season. One of the eagles perched on the west tower of the GWB, only momentarily. Also a Canada Goose was sitting at the edge of a cliff over the road down to Ross Dock. It was funny to see the goose surveying the river from a cliff perch like a raptor. It honked a few times as well. I left the park around 7pm, making my visit there last over four hours. The only Red-Tail I saw was perched in the woods of Fort Lee park. 

Palisades Park, NJ 3/19/21

The wind blew from the northwest intensely at the Dyckman Street Pier. The sun illuminated the cliffs on the western shore before raising high enough to reach down onto the Hudson River surface. Gulls flew into the wind just over the pier, frantically hovering in place. The wind pushed the iron gate over the latch and I had to bend it back through to get off the pier. I walked around the norther tip of the park and ran into Danny near the marsh regeneration area. We saw a Merlin fly across the northern edge of The Clove. After work I picked up some fig bags, a Snickers and vegan jerky at CTown. I laid on the couch and looked at the map of the Palisade Park. Around 3:00pm I got on my bike and road the Greenway South to 170-something Street. The nest between the Ft Washington Greenway and the main Greenway appeared to have new sticks on it. The wind blew very hard across the bridge. Around 4:30pm I took my first break from pedaling, north on Hudson Drive in the Palisades. A high pitched chipping sounded from somewhere east of the road. A Brown Creeper appeared on tree trunk. A little further up something zipped north along the cliff face that looked like a small falcon. About five minutes later a two Peregrine Falcons circled over the road, swinging at each other and then flying off in separate directions. High up the slope under the canopy along the cliff base a Red-Tail perched with it's very bright buffy chest standing out against the diabase backdrop. The woods were quiet except for about eight Juncos and the occasional American Robin. A man passed me on an electrically powered bicycle and then doubled back to ask about hawks he had seen from his apartment on Cabrini Street in Manhattan. He told me he had an owl perch once on his fire-escape and that also he let his cat outside to eat birds. His cat eats just the heads off the birds. Then he said he had seen a coyote on Hudson Drive a few days ago. The wild animal was walking down the road in front of his bike and then veered off into the forest after about a minute. To end the conversation I said, "Alright, I'd like to get to this eagle's nest before dark." He replied, "Ah, yes. You and Hitler both. Eiglar Hitler." Then he sped off to the north. I stopped at the Eagle nest and took some photos, ate some snacks and then spotted some Wild Turkeys perched in a tree to the west of the road. A brief squeal came from the Eagle nest and I went back to see the male had arrived at the nest. He arranged some nest material and snacked on a fish that was draped over the side of the nest. I continued on to the Alpine Marina, scanning the river edge and the cliff faces from below. A Great Blue Heron flew up over the cliffs. The bathrooms at the marina were open. I stood inside to warm up for a few minutes. Darkness fell on the woods below the cliffs. I walked up the hill from the marina and caught some faint hoots of a Great Horned Owl. I was able to hear the call three more times, very faintly. I think there may be a nest in this area. While I was waiting to hear more calls or get a sense of the direction they came from I heard some light steps hitting the leaves in the woods. Then I heard some yelping and tussling sounds come from the woods above the road. As I scanned the woods I heard two quick barks from the road. When I shined my headlamp down the road I hit two eyes low to the ground reflecting back at me. I skipped a rock off the ground in the direction of the eyes. The animal, likely a coyote, climbed up into the woods. I biked south back down Hudson Drive towards Englewood Cliffs Marina, careful not to hit a rock or anything. Around the EC Marina I heard an Eastern Screech Owl calling from the trees just over the road. I made it home after 9pm. 

Franconia Ridge (Flume, Liberty, Little Haystack, Lincoln Lafayette)

David, Julia, Michael and Zachary convened at the Lafayette Campground in Franconia Notch State Park on the evening of Friday, September 26th, 2014. In the morning my old Coleman camp stove leaked fuel and became engulfed in flames. I extinguished it by throwing dirt on it. We must have eaten a cold breakfast. Around 8:30am the next day we departed the campground in Michael's Buick and drove south on 93 a few miles to The Basin pull off where we began our walk on the Pemi Bike Path, south towards the Liberty Spring Jct. We reached the junction around 9am and broke right at the Flume Slide trail junction .6 miles later. We made Mount Flume Summit between 11:30 and 12pm. We reached Liberty a little after 1pm. Michael rolled his ankle coming down Liberty. Michael and Julia and Zachary bailed at the Liberty Spring / Ridge Trail Jct and David and I summited Little Haystack around 2:20pm. Lafayette appeared surprisingly distant from the summit of Lincoln. We reached Lafayette fifteen minutes to 4pm. We left at 4pm to reach the Greenhut at 4:47pm. We passed many people on the way down. A few people passed us but we ended up passing them when they stopped to rest. We passed a party carrying an injured hiker on a gurney. I got some remarkable photos of the foliage in the valley falling southeast off of Lafayette. Dave and I arrived back at camp after 6pm. Dave's father showed up a little later and cooked fish on the fire. Lupo and I drove back to New York the next morning. 

2/4/13 - Big Indian and Fir Mountain

Began at Biscuit Brook Trailhead around 7:20am, passed the shelter at 8:08am and ate a slice of Carmine's Pizza from Brooklyn at the top of Big Indian by 9:40am. All under a few inches of fresh snow so the faint tracks wandering east on the Catskill Divide quickly vanished. That didn't matter because the slight navigational challenge only complemented the beauty of this stretch between B.I.M and Fir. I was towing along Zachary on his first hike in the Skills and following my IPhone compass which I didn't really need yet. We spent about 5 minutes searching for the Fir canister and had another slice here, at 11:16am, before I made a terrible navigational error. Ate the pizza, ate a cookie, pulled out my iphone, did the figure-8 thing, pointed the phone south and walked in the direction I thought was south. About ten minutes later I was admiring Slide mountains bold profile and correctly doubting my choice of direction. I'm not mad at myself for forgetting a real compass or for even using an iphone compass incorrectly and going in the wrong direction for a bit, I'm mad because I stupidly didn't listen to myself when the doubt set in. I knew if I was looking at Slide mountain I was heading east and if the sun was hovering over my right shoulder I was heading east, eh didn't matter. I already slid down a couple hundred feet off snow, ice and rock ledge, so I was just going to walk until I hit that little road in the distance. When I started seeing houses and a river I thought 'oh this might be Frost Valley's facility' and continued building false hope until we read a mailbox on the main road and saw 'Oliverea'. We were on Oliverea road around 1pm and informed by a man in a van we were ten miles from the Biscuit Brook Trailhead. Ouch. It's okay, someone will give us a ride. Nope. 3 hours, fifteen minutes and 9 miles later back at the car, debilitated by the pavement. D'oh! Back in Brooklyn by 7:20pm and at work by 9pm. My supervisor says, "You look disheveled."

Kaaterskill High Peak (attempt), Catskills, NY

January 13th 2013

(via northern, Long Path, approach or from rt 28)

Victoria and myself. Trouble finding the Long Path blazes, parking. Turned around 3 or 4 times on the road. Lost the map somewhere early on the ascent after shedding layers. Feet got wet and cold. Started around 10:30am, reached Ella's Ledge at 11:25am. Used Yak Tracks and Microspikes. Feet got wet and cold. Snow was slushy. Air was warm at times, stripped down to T-shirt. Watched fog moving from above fog. Saw blue skies. Hiked down inside of fog. Maybe we made it to Buttermilk Falls, where we ate lunch, changed Victoria's socks. We headed back around 1:45pm and got back to the car around 4pm. We drove up to the first set of falls and took pictures before driving back to the city.  No distance or elevation numbers.. lost map. We didn't see the snowmobile trails or the summit, obviously.