Adirondack Guided Trip

Whiteface Mountain

Some might say that we figuratively had our head in the clouds when we planned our field trip to the Adirondacks with Joan Collins seeking 3 target species of Boreal birds. However, having birded with Joan in January 2025 we knew that she was like the Energizer Bunny with bionic ears. We knew she would do everything in her considerable power to get us our target species and then some. She did all of that and more. Our New York State life lists grew, person to person, from 2 lifers to 8 lifers. WOW!

The field trip was attended by Steve & Lori VanKirk, Holly Nobel, Allyn Paul, and Kevin Armstrong

I think Joan will be calling Eaton Birding Society the "Extremes" (not to be confused with the Supremes) as our January trip was well below 0 Fahrenheit and blizzard conditions to June trip 94 degrees Fahrenheit with 80+% humidity.

 Joan picked us up at the historic Adirondack Hotel (the hotel is a story in itself) at 2:15 AM and we hit the road at 2:30 AM. During the course of the day, she drove us 191.6 miles. My Fitbit tells me we walked a little less than 5 miles. We returned a hot, tired, sweaty, hungry, and elated a little before 5:00 PM.

Sadly, due to climate change, our target Boreal species are rapid decline while the much more common American Robin, Blue Jay, and Black-capped Chickadee, who have never dwelled above the 3500 elevations are becoming more and more common. Joan predicted that, at this rate, in ten years, our high-altitude Boreal birds may be gone from their former habitat.

As it turned out we did have our heads in the clouds, literally. The fog was so thick climbing Whiteface Mountain at 4:00 AM that at times Joan could not see the lines in the road to drive by. That fog lasted, as thick as pea soup, until after 10:00 AM. Poor Joan ran helter skelter trying to locate the Bicknell's Thrush and Boreal Chickadees that we could clearly hear very close by but were invisible in the foliage and the fog. As soon as the fog lifted, we bagged Bicknell's, Swainsons Thrush, Boreal Chickadee, Canada Jay and Pine Siskins in short order.

There were many memorable moments to the trip nestled between two that I will describe here: The fun started on the 22nd with a 'do it yourself' afternoon birding trip that Holly had planned for us. We bagged 14 species in about an hour. I added Olive-sided Flycatcher to my life list on that trip. On our way back to the hotel keen eyed Holly caught a glimpse of a Ruffed Grouse in the high grass alongside the road. Ruffed Grouse would be a lifer for Allyn who was in the car with us. Holly held her breath hoping it was not a pigeon while I whipped the car around in the middle of Rte. 30. It was not a pigeon! It was not one Ruffed Grouse but two Ruffed Grouse. Score for Allyn! The next day was a series of stops from one hot spot to the next. Just about the time that we were all so hot and tired that we were ready to throw in the towel we went to a well-guarded, secret location to observe a wonderful site. Fifty feet away, across a dirt road, and 8 feet up a spruce trunk, a male and a female Black-backed Woodpecker tended to the needs of a chick (or two) who kept peeking out looking for a parent to bring it a morsel. The parents were obliging. For 15 minutes we all stood there in awe and delight watching the rare and wonderful spectacle. What a way to end a great day of birding!

Not counting the Wild Turkey, Turkey Vultures, Osprey, Sharp-shinned and Redtail Hawks that we saw on the road while driving to Long Lake.  On June 22 at Sabattis Circle Road we saw: 

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Ruby-throated Humming Bird

Tree Swallow

Barn Swallow

Turkey Vulture

American Red Start

Yellow Warbler

American Crow

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Gray Catbird

Song Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Red-winged Black Bird    

Ruffed Grouse

On June 23 we visited Little Tupper Lake on Sabattis Rd., Tupper Lake, Whiteface Mountain, River Rd., Floodwood Rd., Sabattis Rd., North Point Rd., and Forked Lake Rd. were we saw and/or heard 62 species:

Canada Goose

Chimney Swift

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Wilson's Snipe

Common Loon (chick riding on the adults back)

Turkey Vulture

Broad-winged Hawk

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Black-backed Woodpecker (both adults tending young in nest cavity)

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

Least Flycatcher

Blue-headed Vireo

Canada Jay

Blue Jay

American Crow

Common Raven (adults with loud juveniles)

Black-capped Chickadee

Boreal Chickadee (At least 9. Great views) 

Tree Swallow

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Cedar Waxwing

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Northern House Wren

Winter Wren

Gray Catbird

European Starling

Eastern Bluebird

Bicknell's Thrush (Lots of singing and calling. 2 viewed)

Swainson's Thrush

Hermit Thrush

American Robin

Purple Finch

Red Crossbill (heard on Whiteface, fly over)

Pine Siskin (flocks on Whiteface)

Chipping Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

Bobolink

Red-winged Blackbird

Common Grackle

Ovenbird

Black-and-white Warbler

Nashville Warbler

Mourning Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

American Redstart

Northern Parula

Magnolia Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler

Blackpoll Warbler

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Pine Warbler

Indigo Bunting