As winter arrives so do some of our winter birds.  Snow Bunting and Horned Larks have been reported for November and December.   Horned Larks were found first at Greig’s Farm in Red Hook by Chet Vincent in November.  In December Carena Pooth and Herb Thompson found the largest number of Snow Buntings -- 300 on Dec. 21 along with 200 Horned Larks at Barton Orchards in Beekman.  Thanks Carena and Herb. A Red-throated Loon was found from November 18th-25th, at the Thorndale farm, Millbrook, by Alan Peterson.  A Common Loon was found at Redwing Lake on December 28-29 by Carena.  It is always nice to find a Loon.

Red-throated Loon in Millbrook Photo by Alan Peterson

Chet found a Lapland Longspur at Greig’s Farm on Dec. 4 with Horned Larks & Snow Buntings.  He also found a female Long-tailed Duck in South Bay, Tivoli with Mallards, Blacks, Common & Hooded Mergansers that same day.  The Long-tailed Duck was not refound.

During the Christmas Count for Sharon Audubon on Dec. 14 Barbara Butler and Dot Fleury found a Glaucous Gull in the Webutuck Creek, a Northern Shrike on Mill Rd., and a Lapland Longspur on Taylor Rd. with Horned Larks in the Town of Northeast.

During our Christmas Count Allan Michelin and Bill Case found a Redhead Duck, not seen in our county very often, at Redwing Lake on Greenhaven Rd. in Beekman.  Carena and Herb went over the next day to find it but it had left.

Carena found a late Pied-billed Grebe on December 23 at Sylvan Lake with 60 American Coots, 13 Ruddy Ducks and 220 Ring-necked Ducks.  Thanks Carena, plus Herb, for keeping a close eye on Sylvan Lake.

On December 30 Dot Fleury found a Greater White-fronted Goose in with a large number of Canada Geese at Rudd Pond.  On January 7 another one or the same one was found in Pine Plains.  Thanks Dot for calling.  Also on December 30 Carena and Herb found a Red-breasted Merganser at Whaley Lake.

Unfortunately any ducks found did not stay long as the arctic blast of cold air came into town the beginning of January and froze most of the small lakes and ponds up.  This was not a good sign for our waterfowl count on January 10.  Details will be in the February issue.  Winter finches were seen by a few members.  Pine Siskins stopped at feeders of Ed Spaeth on Nov. 8, Jeff Lucas on Dec. 9, and Barbara Butler on Dec. 4 & 18.  Purple Finches have been reported from several places throughout the winter.  Carena and Herb had 2 Common Redpolls at her feeder on Dec. 15 and they stayed for about 15 minutes.  Also a flock of Common Redpolls were seen at the Thompson Pond Wednesday walk on Jan. 7th.

So keep your feeders filled and keep an eye out for winter finches. Good birding to all.