December 2009 Records

December was the month of the "Long Night" full moon on the 2nd and the "Blue Moon" on 12/31, the second full moon this month and the first "Blue Moon" to fall on New Year's Eve in nearly 20 years.

There was snow and ice early in the month with many ponds frozen over by mid-month  Temperatures were up and down, with a high of 65 degrees on the 3rd and a chill mid-month.

Notable sightings were a Golden Eagle seen flying over the Pulver cornfields in Pine Plains on the 23rd and a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak who made a brief appearance at a feeder in Mabbettsville on the 25th.

Snow Goose - 60/9 over yd. BJM; 40/12 over Red Hook MHB Shaw; at least 41/13 flying high over Beacon HRA Lake; sev hundred/17 Hudson River, Poughkeepsie HRA, Lenhart
Canada Goose: Many reports. Largest flocks:  716/1, 800/2,8-Ryder Pd, 500/1-Bangal Amenia Rd AMP, 1000/3 Ryder Pd WLS,JP; 500/3 Twin Island Lk WLS; 2000+/5 Noxon Rd JA/KJ; 200/16 Baird Pk FT
Mute Swan: 4/3 Hunns Lk WLS,JP;  11/2 15/16 9/27 17/28 Wappingers Lk KH;  2/1, 2/4, 2/8, 3/10 Haight Rd AMP;  4/4 Hunn's Lk BB; 3/16 Baird Pk, 2/30 Overlook Pk JA/KJ; 2 more.
Wood Duck: 1/3 Hunns Lake WLS,JP
American Black Duck: 1/3 Twin Island Lake WLS,1-2/1-4-Haight Rd AMP, 2/5 DRT; 1/5-Ludlow Rd AMP; 4/12 Abel's Pond BB; 12/25 Cary IES WLS 2/26-Shunpike AMP;2/28 Wappingers Lake KH
Mallard:  20/3 Twin Island Lake WLS;16/16 Baird Park FT;  6/19 Cary IES WLS; 10/12 Abel's Pond BB; 25/30 Madam Brett FT; also at Ryder Pd, Hunn's Lk, Wapp Lk, etc.
Northern Pintail: 8/10 The Fly CV
Green-winged Teal: 2/10 The Fly CV
Ring-necked Duck: 10/1 Ryder Pond AMP 3/3 Twin Island Lake WLS; sm all flocks/8 Wappingers Cr tidewater HRA Lake, 125/27 Sylvan Lake CV
Lesser Scaup: 1/3 Hunns Lake WLS,JP, 1/4 Hunn's Lake BB
Black Scoter - 1/8 river at Chelsea RJ
Bufflehead - 1/15 Valkill Carrie Grey; sev pairs/16 Brockway HRA Lake
Common Goldeneye: 1/15 Hudson, Mills Mansion, 10/27 Sylvan Lake CV;
Hooded Merganser: 5/2 Wapp Lake KH 1/3 Hunns Lake WLS,JP; 3/16 Jekoce Lk. 1m/2f  BJM; 3/21 Stissing Lake, 4/22 Round Pond, CV; 2/28 Wappingers Lake KH
Common Merganser:  12/2 4/16 15/28 Wapp Lk KH,   3/20 Hurley Rd, CV; 18/23 Norrie Pt FT; 6/27 Sylvan Lake, 9/28 Shekomeko Cr CV; 20/30 Madam Brett FT; 4 other places.
Red-breasted Merganser: 2/3 Hunns Lake WLS,JP, 1f/4 Hunn's Lake BB
Ruddy Duck:  1/15 Hudson River at Mills, 5/27 Sylvan Lk CV
Ring-necked Pheasant: 6/4,10- 9/15, 3/17,1/21 Haight Rd, 6/8, 3/29 Shuman Rd AMP
Wild Turkey 18-22 daily Rhinebeck MP, 4m/9 up to 11m most days yd. BAM; 20+/4 Ludlow Woods, 1/13 Taconic (Baird Park), 4/18 tree roost Ludlow DJK; 45/16 Domin Farm, 8/21 Uphill Farm, CV; 4/23 Norrie Point FT.
Pied-billed Grebe: 2/2 Wappingers Lake (Veterans' Mem Park) KH, 1/3 Hunns Lake WLS,JP, 1/4 Hunn's Lake BB; 1/10 Hunn's Lake, 1/11 Travers Pond CV
Double-crested Cormorant:  1/15 Norrie Point CV
Great Blue Heron: 11 reported, all over the county.
Black Vulture 4/5 Fishkill CP/HT, 2/8 over Millbrook light BB, 3/10 Clinton Corners, 1/10 Thompson Pond, CV; 1/12 Beacon HRA Spaeth; 2/10 over yd. AJM ; 2/12 N. Mabettsville Rd. DJK; 10/23 Stanfordville JA
Turkey Vulture: 3/2 Rt.9D near Stony Kill BAM; 2/5 Rt.9 Fishkill BAM; 1/9 over yd. BAM; 1/10 Galleria, 1/11 Alvin Ct. CV; 1/12,24 StonyKill,4/12 Beacon HRA Spaeth, 1/16 over Hi View Rd. BJM; 2/20 Rt.376/DeGarmo Hills Rd. BJM; 1/27 Wappingers Lake KH
Bald Eagle: 2/5-Shuman Rd AMP; 1/8 Nuclear Lake, 2/10 Mashomack CV, 1/12Bontecou Lake DJK; 3ad/1imm/23 Norrie Point FT; 1imm/27 Haight Road DJK; 1imm/30/Madam Brett FT, 2/mid-December-23 Mashomack DK; 1imm/19 Buttercup DK; 1/25 river at New Hamburg KH 1/31 (adult plumage) seen from the train on river near New Hamburg station MP; 
Northern Harrier:  2/10 Mashomack CV; 1/10,15, 2/21-Haight Rd; AMP; 4/19 3/1 "grey ghost" male Thompson Pond DJK; 3/21 Thompson Pond CV
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1/8, 19-yard, 1/17-Shuman Rd, AMP; 1/23 Alvin Ct took a Junco CV; 1/26-N. Mabbettsville Rd AMP
Cooper's Hawk:  1/5,7 & 23 yd. BAM; 1/12, 1/18, 1/25 stalking birds at the feeder, hopping on the ground, jumping on the platform feeder, and even jumping next to the house in the azaleas, MP, 1/13 perched on deck, Lagrange JA/KJ;  1/17,26 Alvin Ct. CV;  8 others.
Red-shouldered hawk:  1/6 and then not seen or heard after (MP); 1/10 Hunns Lake Rd. CV; 1/17 Rombout Rd., 1/18 VanWagner Rd. CV;1/20-23 Cold Spring Rd DK
Red-tailed Hawk: Many reports throughout county. Highest numbers: 4/2 Bontecou Lake DJK; 5/10 Mashomack CV; 4/15 TMR Preserve DF; 4/16 Baird Park FT  4/21 Mashomack CV
Rough-legged hawk, dark morph 1/20 N Mabbettsville Rd. DJK
Golden Eagle: 1/23 mobbed by crows over Pulver's cornfield, Pine Plains DK
Peregrine Falcon - 1/4 flying parallel to Mid-Hudson Bridge Ken McDermott
American Coot: 22/27 Sylvan Lake CV
Gull (sp?) - 3-400/14 Reagan Rd at Webatuck Creek DF
Ring-billed Gull: normal #s KH; 8/5 DRT FT; 1/16 Baird Park FT; 4/23 Norrie Point FT
Herring Gull: 1/2 7/27 Wappingers Lake KH; 2/17 Overlook Pk  CV, 14/22 McEnroe Compost Yd. CV
Iceland Gull:  1/22 Sunset Ridge Farm CV
Great Black-backed Gull: 1/2 Wapps Lake KH; 2/15 Waryas Park CV; 1/23 Norrie Point FT
Mourning Dove: Usual numbers
Great Horned Owl 1/14 2/23-25 3/31 hooting - Ludlow Woods DJK; 2/21 Rhinebeck, HRA, Sperr
Eastern Screech-Owl - 1/24 Coleman Station Rd/HVRT DF
Barred Owl:  2/1, 6, 1/20, 24-all North Mabbettsville Rd. AMP; 2/13, 28 1/18 calling yd. Lagrangeville JA/KJ; 1/24 h 5:20 yd. AJM; 1/29 StonyKill KH
Belted Kingfisher:  1/1-Millbrook School Rd, 1/2-N. Mabbettsville Rd,  AMP,  1/3 Hunns Lake WLS,JP; 1/6-Shuman Rd. AMP 1/8 Nuclear Lake, 1/10 The Fly CV; 1/24-Daheim Rd AMP; 1/23 Norrie Point FT
Red-bellied Woodpecker:  3/5 DRT FT;  4/6 Rombout Rd. CV; 4/12,24 StonyKill  KH; 3/16 Baird Park FT;  3/23 Norrie Point FT; 3/24-Daheim Rd AMP; 1-2 all other yards and trips.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: 1/many yd Stormville EBR 1/all feeder Bog Hollow DF; 3/23 Norrie Point FT; 9 other reports.
Downy Woodpecker: Numerous reports throughout county 
Hairy Woodpecker:  1-4/all yard CV; 2/5 DRT FT; 2/23 Norrie Pt FT; 1-2 at many feeders.
Northern Flicker:  3/12 4/24 StonyKill, 3/15 TMR Preserve DF,  5/16 Baird Park FT; 3/30 Madam Brett FT
Pileated Woodpecker:   2/23 Norrie Point FT; 1/24,29 StonyKill KH, 2/25 Cary IES WLS;  2/31 Rombout Rd. CV; many reports of single birds.
Blue Jay: up to 12 in yards, up to 15 on trips.
American Crow:  Many reports.  Largest flocks  15,000-20,000/8,19th -Nightime Roost Rinaldi Blvd CV, DJK; 200+/1 Overlook/Sleight Plass, 51/2-Bangal Amenia Rd, 40/2-Ryder Pond, 74/21-Haight Rd, 181/28-Shunpike AMP
Fish Crow: 1/7 Walmart (Fishkill) CV; 1/12 StonyKill KH; 2/15 Marist Boathouse CV
Common Raven: 1/4 yard BB,1/12 StonyKill KH, 1/10, 2/21/1/28 Thompson Pond, CV; 2/23 Norrie Point FT; 1/29 chased by 2 crows Top 'O Hill on walk AJM
Horned Lark - 1/14 Coleman Station Rd  DF;some/24 Merwin Rd, Northeast DF; some/24 Depot Hill & Old Rt 22, Amenia DF; 50/10, 75/18, 68/20 Plankenhorn Farm (Gretna Rd) CV
Black-capped Chickadee: 15/16 Baird Park FT; 20/23 Norrie Point FT; about 5-10 in other yards and trips.
Tufted Titmouse:  11/24-Daheim, 10/31-Stringham Rd AMP;  15/23 Norrie Point FT; 4-8 in other yards and trips.
White-breasted Nuthatch:  4/12 5/24 1/29 StonyKill KH; 7/16 Baird Park FT; 6/23 Norrie Point FT; 6/24-Daheim Rd AMP;  5/all yard, 7/26-Ludlow Rd AMP; other reports of up to 4, 2 at most feeders.
Brown Creeper: 1 daily except 2/13, 2/17, 2/19 TSF MP; Daily in yard 1 with exception of Dec 7,9, 16,17,22, &28th., 2/31 in yard, 1/17-Kennels Rd AMP; Almost daily/yd CV; 1/15,2/29,1/30, 2/31 Mills Mansion CV; 1/23 Norrie Point FT;
Carolina Wren:  2 all feeders yd. BAM; 1-2/many yd Stormville EBR; 1 most days yd Lagrangeville JA/KJ;1/3-yard AMP; 1/5 DRT FT; 1/6,16-17 Rombout Rd CV; 1/11 yd. CV; 3/10-Haight Rd AMP, 1/occ yd Poughquag CP/HT, 1/6 yard BB; 1/15 Mills Mansion CV; 1/16 Baird Park FT; 1/17 Travers Rd. CV; 2/23 Norrie Point FT; 6/30 Madam Brett FT
Golden-crowned Kinglet: 1/2 HVRT FT; 1/2 Wapp Rural Cem KH; 1/5 DRT FT; 1/10 Strever Farm Rd. CV;  1/15 Mills Mansion CV;4/16 Baird Park FT; 1/21 Dutchess Rail Trail(south) KH; 3/23 Norrie Point FT;  2/24 1/29 StonyKill KH  1/26-Daheim Rd AMP
Ruby-crowned Kinglet:  1/23 Norrie Point FT
Eastern Bluebird: 10/16 Baird Park FT; 8/17-Haight Rd.AMP;  9/21 Dutchess Rail Trail (south), 1/23, TSF MP; 1/22 Sheffield Hill Rd. CV; 15/23 Norrie Point FT; 2/25 Reese Park KH; 6/25 Cary IES WLS; 1/28 h yd. BJM; 12 other reports of 1-3.
Hermit Thrush - 1/7,9,14 Fishkill yard HRA Spaeth; 1/17 Old Freedom Rd CV; 5/23 Norrie Point FT
American Robin: 45/15 Mills Mansion CV;  42/21 Thompson Pond CV;  40/25 Cary IES WLS;  250/30 Madam Brett FT; lots of reports of smaller flocks.
Gray Catbird:  1/13 Rt 44 at Pleasant Valley bridge B Mansell.
Northern Mockingbird: 2/12 Shaughnessy Rd. BB; 2/16 Baird Park FT; 7/16, 2/17 Rombout Rd. CV;  2/23 Norrie Point FT; 11 reports of single birds.
Cedar Waxwing: 2/9 & 8/23 yd. BAM; 15/10 Willowvale Rd., 6/11 Galleria CV; 40+/14, 20+/15 Freedom Rd DJK,; 12/16 Baird Pk FT 10/19, 30/25 Cary IES WLS, 3/21 Dutchess Rail Trail (south) KH; 15/23 8/27 yard BB; 54/27 Emans Rd. 60/30 Madam Brett FT; 15/30 Rombout Rd. CV
Yellow-Rumped Warbler:  1/16 Baird Park FT; 4/20, 3/30 Rombout Rd. CV
American Tree Sparrow: 2 daily early month, 6 daily late
month Rhinebeck MP; 6/22Sheffield Hill Rd., 12/22 Indian Lake Rd. CV;  3/25 Cary IES WLS; 1/1-8, 2/9-11, 3/12-16, 18, 28th, 7/17, 8/19-27 and 29-31, 8/29-Shuman Rd AMP; 12 other  reports of 1-2.
Chipping Sparrow: 1/1-Millbrook School Rd.  AMP
Field Sparrow: 2/30 Madam Brett FT
VesperSparrow:  1/27 Gretna Rd CV
Savannah Sparrow: 1/12 Shaughnessy Rd BB; 3/22 Sheffield Hill Rd. CV
Fox Sparrow- 1/15-Haight Rd. AMP
Song Sparrow: 6/5 DRT FT; 4/6, 5/16 Rombout Rd, 4/22 Sheffield Hill Rd CV; 4/30 Madam Brett FT; 1-3 in 11 other places.
Swamp Sparrow:  1/22 Mill Rd. CV
White-throated Sparrow: 6-8 all feeders yd. BAM; 6/6,16, 10/31 Rombout Rd. CV; 10/12, 8/24, 9/29 StonyKill  KH; 10/22 Sheffield Hill Rd. CV; 25/23 Norrie Point FT; Avg 13 with high 24 in yard,  16/4, 2/13, 6/15, 5/21 Haight Rd, 53/26 Ludlow AMP; 60/30 Madam Brett FT; 1-5 at other feeders and outings.
Dark-eyed Junco:  31/15 Haight Rd AMP; 30/5 DRT FT; 12/3 Ryder Pond WLS,JP;  35/16 Baird Park FT;  10 daily early month, up to 28/20 Rhinebeck MP, 20-40/all yd Poughquag CP/HT, up 20 at feeders and outings.
Lapland Longspur - 2/24 Merwin Rd, Northeast DF
Snow Bunting - 13/13 Battenfeld Tree Farm in Milan RJ
Northern Cardinal: 8-10 all feeders yd. 5-6m/3-4f BAM; 1-5 daily, 13/19 yd. Lagrangeville JA/KJ;  7/23 Norrie Point FT;  10/30 Madam Brett FT; up to 5 other feeders and trips.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak: 1m/25 yard AMP
Red-winged Blackbird: 52/4-Haight Rd AMP; 100/6, 10, 4/16 Rombout Rd. CV;  2-3000/15 TMR Preserve DF; 100/16 Baird Park FT; sev reports of up to 10.
Common Grackle: 300/6, 100/10,Rombout Rd. CV; 30/9 feeders yd. BAM; 100+/12 yd. Lagrangeville JA/KJ; 2000/16 Baird Park FT; 350/17 Carter Rd. CV;  4 reports of 1-2.
Brown-headed Cowbird: 30/8 incr to 60/31 feeder BB; 4-5 daily, 100+/12 mixed with starlings, 150/6, 100/10, 15/16 Rombout Rd. CV; 150/17 Carter Rd. CV;  500/16 Baird Park FT;  40/24-Bangal Rd AMP; 50/21 Plankenhorn Farm CV; up to 30 sev yards and trips.
Purple Finch: 1/5, 1/7, 2/8, 1/9, 2/10 yd AMP; 1/27 feeder BB
House Finch:  2-12/all yard Lagrangeville JA/KJ;  up to 6 in a dozen other places.
American Goldfinch:  Many reports.  Highest numbers – 22/5 DRT FT;  40/31 yd Poughquag CP/HT.

Other Sightings:
Young buck 1/12 Lagrangeville  JA/KJ
Mink 1/23 Depot Hill Rd EBR
Red Fox 1/25 curled up in the snow and slept there 6 hours, yd. Poughquag CP/HT

Observers:
Ken McDermott, John Askildsen (JA); Judy Atwood & Karen Jaquith (JA/KJ),Barbara Butler (BB), Ken Harris (KH), Doug Koch (DK), Deborah Kral (DJK), Barbara (BJM) & Allan Michelin (BAM), Mona Payton (MP); William and Lisa Schlesinger (WLS), Jeff Pippen, an out of town guest (JP), Adrienne Popko (AMP, )Edith & Barry Rosen (EBR), Dot Fleury (DF), Rodney Johnson (RJ), Carena Pooth (CP) & Herb Thompson (HT), Chet Vincent (CV); MHB - Mid-Hudson Birds listserve, with last name of observer, HRA - Hudson River Almanac, with last name of observer

Field Trips (FT):
2nd Harlem Valley Rail Trail 5th Dutchess Rail Trail, P'ok, 16th Baird Park, 23rd Norrie Point, 30th Madam Brett Park

Abbreviations:   Cary IES: Cary Instituteof Ecosystem Studies; DRT: Dutchess Rail Trail; TSF: SouthlandsFm, Huckleberry Rd is between Morse Hill Rd & Cascade Mtn Rd in the Town of Amenia; Strauss Marsh is in the Town of Northeast on Webatuck Schl Rd.; TMR Preserve is in Dover (TMR - Ten Mile River)

Also see our Key to Notation.

Compiled by Deborah Tracy-Kral