Bicknell's Thrush Trip- |
From June 4-6th 1999, I had the good fortune of leading a wonderful group of 16 participants including top lepidopterist Bill Murphy, and botanist Rick Mellon, on a field trip to the breeding grounds of the Bicknell’s Thrush in the Adirondacks. What was billed as Bicknell’s and Boreal Species, soon turned into Bicknell’s and Butterflies, as Spruce Grouse, Black-back and Three-toed Woodpecker’s proved to be elusive, and 27 species of butterflies were far more co-operative.We began in the Lake Placid area, where we visited areas of mixed deciduous and evergreen woods with pockets of boreal habitat in the lower elevations, along Floodwood Road. Amongst the 11 species of warblers seen or heard, which included a Canada and Black-throated Green’s, the most numerous were Blackburnian’s . The most memorable sound was that of the Olive-sided Flycatchers’ last two notes of its quick-three-beers call. It wasn’t long before it was located at the top of a dead tree. A pair of Evening Grosbeak’s at a feeder rounded out the day. Bicknell’s at this time of the year sings only in the pre-dawn hours and at dusk. Sometimes as birders, we experience a magical moment in the field and few things could top the dawn chorus at 4000 feet in habitat known as krummholz (an area of stunted conifers near the treeline ) towards the top of Whiteface Mountain, at 4:30 am. At 3400 feet the Swainson’s Thrushes that could be heard in the lower elevations had given way to Bicknell’s, and as we walked higher through the krummholz having the whole mountain to ourselves, Bicknell’s songs were punctuated by White-throated Sparrows and the explosive song of the Winter Wren. Once we reached an elevation of 4300 feet, we found a singing Bicknell’s patrolling its territory. It wasn’t long before the bird was flying around us and finally showed itself for all to see clearly as the sun rose above the horizon. By 5:45 am all Bicknell’s were silent. Mission accomplished ! Breakfast was spent keeping an eye on a smoking van. At least we got through breakfast without the van catching fire. Enough said ! Then it was onto Oregon Plains Road in Vermontville where we had Purple Finches, a co-operative family of Gray Jays, a not-so co-operative Boreal Chickadee and numerous warblers including Nashville. Around the corner was a vast area called Bloomingdale Bog. Here we enjoyed unbelievable views of a calling Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, we saw Rusty Blackbird, Palm Warbler and the butterfly of the trip, a lifer for all, the Jutta Arctic at the very southern end of its range. Lunch was a little quicker this time at McDonald’s. After the excitement of the armed bank heist the previous day, things had returned to normal. Why McDonald’s again ? Well some of us didn’t get to see the Harvester the day before ! On to the Ferd’s Bog area about 80 miles south east of Lake Placid, still short a few Woodpeckers and Mellons’ nemesis, the Spruce Grouse. The afternoon was spent searching Brown’s Tract without any luck. Dawn the next morning was spent at Ferd’s Bog, which is a wonderful 100 acre bog surrounded with spruce and tamarack trees. However, all we were able to find was a lone Yellow-bellied Flycatcher and an exquisite Lincoln Sparrow singing its heart out. There was more excitement at breakfast when word of the birds we were in search of, were actually being seen. Alas, we searched Moose Plains River, Helldiver Pond and several other areas in vain. Just more skirting views of Boreal Chickadee’s. We all finished with Alder Flycatcher and Chestnut-sided Warblers singing, as we found a Mourning Warbler, that would not stay within anyone’s sight. It was not long before luck was on our side and we found another one that showed well. Our 97th species for the trip, and a great bird to finish with. Adrian Binns ~ |