On Saturday, October 25 Allan Michelin saw a Great Cormorant next to a Double-crested Cormorant in Wappinger Creek across from Reese Sanctuary in the hamlet of New Hamburg in the town of Poughkeepsie.  Allan had a good view to compare these cormorants.  Keep your eyes open this winter for Great Cormorants on the Hudson River.

Also on October 25 Barbara Butler saw a Rough-legged Hawk over Stony Kill while she was there picking up her bird seed order.  Keep an eye out for this hawk this winter.
 

On Monday, October 27 four Barnacle Geese with a huge flock of Canada Geese were reported to Chet Vincent from the farmer at Domin Farm on Mountain Road.  Chet went over and found the 4 geese in the field behind the barn.  On the 28th Chet saw the Barnacle Geese with Canada Geese at Traver’s Pond off Freedom Road in the afternoon.  They have been seen by several observers and photographed by Bill Case and Alan Peterson.  The last sighting was on November 10 at Baird Park by Chet.   Thanks Chet for calling on this unusual and exciting sighting of the Barnacle Geese. Also on October 27 Kristin Smith and Barbara Butler had the first reported Fox Sparrows for this fall.  Thanks for letting me know.  Keep your eyes out for this beautiful sparrow through November.

Barnacle Geese at Domin Farm Photo by Alan Peterson

On November 4 a Blue-phased Snow Goose was seen by Carena Pooth and Herb Thompson across the road from the Plankenhorn farm on Gretna Road in Pleasant Valley.  The goose was last seen by Chet on November 10th. Thanks Carena and Herb for calling.

As the cold weather of winter come upon us, this may be a good winter for winter finches.  Please call me, Barbara Butler or Carena Pooth if you have any winter finches visit your feeders, so other club members may have a chance of seeing them if they stay in you yard long enough.  Your calls keep club members informed to rare birds visiting Dutchess County.  Thank you all for all your calls this past year.

Do have a wonderful holiday and good birding to you all.