Year 6, Issue 6

***************************************************************************** *       ^^^^^^^^^   ^     ^   ^^^^^^        ^^^^^^^    ^     ^    ^^^^^^^ *           ^       ^     ^   ^             ^          ^     ^    ^     ^ *           ^       ^^^^^^^   ^^^^^^        ^          ^     ^    ^^^^^^^ *           ^       ^     ^   ^             ^          ^     ^    ^ *           ^       ^     ^   ^^^^^^        ^^^^^^^    ^^^^^^^    ^ * * The unofficial electronic publication of the David Cup/McIlroy competition. *    Editor-in-Chief:  Matt Medler *    Assistant Editor:  Matt Williams *    Cup Astrologer:  Matt Young *    Moving Assistant:  Matt Sarver *    Cup Beverage Supplier:  Bill Evans * ****************************************************************************           How many of you have ever gone fishing, let out some line, and then  hooked something?  The fish seems like it is a long ways off, but slowly  but surely, you start reeling it in.  Oh sure, the fish might fight for a  little while, even pulling hard enough that you need to let out some line,  but the end result is inevitable- sooner or later, with enough hard work,  you're going to reel it in.  Why do I bring this up?  Take a look at this  month's Pilgrims' Progress, and compare it with the last issue.  Matt  Williams seemed like he had an insurmountable 11-bird lead at the end of  July, but once Matt moved out of the Basin, back home to western  Massachusetts, Bob Fogg cast his line, and hooked Williams.  He's been  slowly reeling him in over the past two months, whittling away at the once  "insurmountable" lead.  Yes, Matt Williams did make it back to the Basin in  time to see the Piping Plover (which kindly waited for Williams's arrival)  and tick off Black-bellied Plover, but those were just desperate, last  gasps.  The lead is down to four at the end of September, and with a number  of very "gettable" birds remaining for Bob, it seems like just a matter of  time before he catches and passes Matt.  The ultimate outcome seems  inevitable...       While Matt Williams might be stuck inside of Massachusetts with the  Basin Blues, the Basin Birding scene has seen a real renaissance in the  past two months.  After a lackluster June and July in which Least Bittern  and Black-crowned Night-Heron went unrecorded, Cuppers finally added these  birds to the Composite Deposit in August.  Meena Haribal and others were  there at the north end of the Basin to greet fall-only shorebirds like  Stilt Sandpiper, Baird's Sandpiper, and American Golden-Plover.  Hey- even  Ken Rosenberg made it up to Montezuma, and he made his trip worthwhile,  finding a nice Buff-breasted Sandpiper off in the distance at Mays  Point.  The big news of August, though, was of some big birds that arrived  from the *south*.  Cuppers and non-Cuppers alike from across New York State  delighted in seeing the improbable sight of up to 14 Wood Storks(!) at two  different sites in Clyde.       As if 14 Wood Storks weren't enough to kick-start the local birding  scene again, how about adding in the fifth annual Montezuma Muckrace?  Some  guys named Matt (are they really all named Matt?) walked (and biked) away  with the coveted "Golden Boot" trophy given to Muckrace champions.  With a  total of 128, they tied the modern Muckrace record for total species seen,  set by the Cayuga Bird Club team a few years ago.  (They would have broken  the record, if only Matt Medler could learn how to identify those tricky  Hooded Mergansers.)       Still not ready to throw your binoculars around your neck and bird  like crazy?  OK.  How about a Piping Plover at Myers Point?  The Basin's  first Piping Plover in over 30 years patrolled the shorelines at Myers for  a full week, delighting scores of birders, and providing at least a  temporary distraction from the terrible events of September 11th.  Bill  Evans made his usual early fall appearance act in the Basin, encouraging  Cuppers to head birding day *and* night.  The month of September ended with  a sign of things to come (we hope), when Kevin McGowan heard two Evening  Grosbeaks fly over Beam Hill on the 30th.  The birding scene has definitely  picked up some energy over the past two months, and after our own dismal  summer performance here at The Cup Headquarters, we like to think that The  Cup is developing some momentum of its own heading into the last quarter of  the year.  We hope you agree.                               @    @    @    @    @    @                             NEWS, CUES, and BLUES                           @    @    @    @    @    @   CUPPER UPDATES:  What ever happened to Ben Fambrough, the man who  resurrected The Cup two years ago?  Did he ride off into the sunset with  his lovely wife Dianna, never to be seen (or heard from) again?  Nope, he's  actually just six hours to the west of us, out in Cleveland, Ohio, where he  has recently gotten a new job as the head chef at a fancy-shmancy  restaurant.  He was *supposed* to let us know all about his new job, and  all the great birds that he's being seeing in the Cleveland area (believe  it or not), but I guess once a guy sees things like Red Knot and Marbled  Godwit, he starts thinking that he's too good for his Basin roots.  Maybe  we'll hear more from Ben next month. Oh- thanks to a generous Cup deadline  extension (we were always waiting for Ben when he was Editor-in-Chief),  we've just received an update from Ben:   Remember that enthusiastic Basin newbie of a few years back...the one who  helped keep this electronic rag alive, at least for a year after its  creator abandoned it...the one who successfully substituted tireless hours  of dedication to Basin birding when experience was want...the one who  *nearly* took The Cup in 2000 [Dream on, Ben.]...the really good looking  one [OK, now we're just fantasizing.] who played in that great band...the  talented musician who was also chef at Ithaca's finest restaurant...the one  who could do 55 mph with impunity down the homestretch of the wildlife  drive at Montezuma? Ever wonder what he's been up to? Aside from wondering  whether or not he's still subscribed to The Cup (does it still exist?),  he's moved to Cleveland, following that intellectual wife of his. (Moments  ago she sighed with admiration, "Nietzsche was so smart.") Dianna took a  position at John Carroll University, a Jesuit school with a large  philosophy department (surprise, surprise). And I am cooking up a storm.  But I'm getting a bit ahead of myself. After we (Renee, staff and I) closed  the restaurant, Dianna and I drove to Ding Darling NWR (on Sanibel Island,  Florida), followed by a lengthy route through the south to New Mexico  (Cordilleran Flycatcher, Steller's Jay, Western Tanager) spending a few  days in Taos, up through Colorado with several days in Rocky Mountain  National Park (Clark's Nutcracker, MacGillivray's Warbler, White-throated  Swift), back and forth across Wyoming, most of the time in Yellowstone  (Cinnamon Teal, American Dipper, Clark's Grebe), ah, if I could only redo  this past summer again and again.... My favorite part was falling asleep to  the sounds of Whip-poor-wills and Chuck-will's-widows in Tennessee and the  Ozarks of Arkansas. Reality set in when we had problems with the movers and  then I was out of work for weeks. After some time helping out some really  wonderful folks with a great Cleveland area restaurant, I've finally landed  a decent job. I am the chef for a restaurant called Sans Souci ("without  worry" in French). It's a French Provincial/Mediterranean restaurant in the  Cleveland Renaissance Hotel in downtown Cleveland. This job has some  prestige, but I must confess it really translates into very, very long  workdays; so much so that I'm unhappy to report my birding time has been  slashed. Before landing the job I had the luxury of exploring the Ohio Lake  Erie shoreline and assisting with a banding project. Now I get to steal an  hour or two on a day off here and there. On the positive side (cue the  Monty Python theme "Always look on the bright side of life"), birding in  Ohio is top notch. There are some incredibly knowledgeable birders here.  The state gets decent coverage and migration is very productive. I've had  two life birds so far in Ohio: Marbled Godwit, a yearly, albeit uncommon  migrant, and Olive-sided Flycatcher, which eluded me in the Basin; and seen  plumages I've not been familiar with, such as Red Knot in basic plumage  (I'd only seen breeding plumage birds before) and basic plumage Cape Mays,  a common fall migrant here. Want to know more or say hello?  My email is  fambrough@rmrc.net   By the way, if you're in Cleveland and feeling hungry, here are some of  Ben's new additions to the menu at Sans Souci:   Lobster Salad: moroccan spiced quince, frisee, and foie gras mayonnaise   Pan Seared Sea Scallops: pomegranate sauce, kumquats, chanterelles,  watercress and creme fraiche   Roasted Guinea Hen: wild mushroom ragout (I'm bringing in wild mushrooms  from a place in Oregon) and chicken liver mousse croustade   Confit of Mulard Duck: lingonberry sauce, sweet potates with pink  peppercorns and frisee   [Ben, don't you serve anything normal?  Like pizza?]     You've probably already heard too much from me (Matt Medler), but I'm going  to tell you a little bit about myself.  After spending over four great  years working as an archivist at the Library of Natural Sounds at the  Cornell Lab of Ornithology, I decided to return to the classroom at Cornell  this fall as a full-time student.  I'm starting the first semester of a  two-year teacher certification program in the Department of Education, and  at the same time, I'm working as a teaching assistant for the introductory  biology laboratory course.  When I'm all done with the program, I hope to  teach secondary biology and mathematics somewhere in the Northeast.   SUPERWEB:  If you haven't already checked out the Cayuga Bird Club's new  web site, you should.  After reading the rest of the Cup, of course.  It's  good, but it's not *that* good.  Actually, it is.  Lab of O Webmeister and  rising Cupper Greg Delisle has created a great new resource for Basin  birders.  Check it out at:  http://www.birds.cornell.edu/cayugabirdclub/     :>  :>  :>  :>  :>  :>  :>  :>  :>  :>  :>  :>  :>  :>  :>  :>  :>     The Piping Plover   by Anne Marie Johnson     pecking and tracing the water's edge first one way then the other three steps at a time   campers walk dogs throw frisbees launch kayaks oblivious to the star at their feet   up into the air around the people and back down the plover continues tracing the water's edge three steps at a time   scopes appear the oblivious are taught ...not in 25 years... a fabulous bird... no one would expect...   the plover reverses course now heading toward the scopes along the narrow beach three steps at a time   chatter drifts away heads lift from scopes arms slowly raise binoculars only to lower them again jaws drop breathing halts 10 ft...6 ft...4 ft...   the plover turns again retracing three steps at a time   silence evaporates scopers pack up contemplating the exquisite gift   the tiny plover continues pacing and pecking alone on a humble shore three steps at a time     :>  :>  :>  :>  :>  :>  :>  :>  :>  :>  :>  :>  :>  :>  :>  :>  :>         <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<  PILGRIMS' PROGRESS >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>   CUP TOTALS   += + = + = +AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2001 TOTALS+ = + = + = + Compiled by Matt Williams     "...churning and burning they yearn for The Cup..." - Cake   August & September 2001 David Cup Totals   AUG     SEP 224  239 Matt Williams ???  235 Bob Fogg 215  225 Matt Medler 212  222 Kevin McGowan 213  221 Jay McGowan 215  221 Ken Rosenberg 204  217 Pete Hosner ???  215 Meena Haribal 207  213 Jai Balakrishnan 201  212 Bruce Tracey 194  205 Jeff Gerbracht (Wilson's Warbler) 192  201 Susan Barnett (Gray-cheeked Thrush) 192  205 Greg Delisle (American Golden-Plover) ???  199 Allison Wells ???  180 Jeff Wells 151  151 Ben Fambrough 119  119 Jim Lowe ???  114 Tringa (Woof) McGowan ???   88 Martin (Meow) McGowan DNF  DNF Tom Nix MIA  79? Steve Kelling MIA  66? Bard Prentiss     August & September 2001 McIlroy Award Totals   140  142 Jai Balakrishnan 140  141 Ken Rosenberg   93  135 Bill Evans 130  134 Kevin McGowan 124  124 Matt Williams 117  118 Jay McGowan 114  114 Jim Lowe ???  101 Allison Wells   40  ??? Jeff Wells     August & September 2001 Evans Trophy Totals   180  188 Ken Rosenberg 161  164 Kevin McGowan 156  157 Jay McGowan 38?  ??? Bard Prentiss     Yard Totals   121  127 Ken Rosenberg 108  113 McGowan/Kline Family 65?  ??? Nancy Dickinson     Lansing Listers   141  143 Bruce Tracey 120  130 Kevin McGowan 127  128 Matt Williams     Office/Classroom Totals   30 Jai Balakrishnan 17 Matt Williams   1 Pete Hosner     ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ COMPOSITE DEPOSIT & LEADER'S LIST To see a complete checklist of the birds seen in the Basin through  September 30, and to see which of these species Matt Williams missed, go to  the following site:  http://www.people.cornell.edu/pages/mdm2/sept2001cd.html                                          !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!                                    !   KICKIN' TAIL    !                                    !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   The Cup is very pleased to welcome Jai Balakrishnan, this month's leader in  the McIlroy Award competition (limited to the Town of Ithaca).   The Cup:  Hi Jai.  It's great to see you here, Kickin' Tail in the McIlroy  Award.  We've known each other for a while now, but there might still be  some Cuppers who haven't met you out in the field yet.  Tell us a little  bit about yourself.   Jai: I am an Electrical Engineering graduate student at Cornell University.  I came to Ithaca four years back and I started birding just about two years  ago.   The Cup:  Wow.  I knew you had started birding fairly recently, but didn't  realize that it had only been two years.  How did you first get interested  in birding, and how did you get so good so fast? You've gone from seeing  birds for the first time last year to being the first person in the Basin  to see tough birds like Brant and Olive-sided Flycatcher this year.   Jai: I was interested in birds from my childhood days and had done a bit of  backyard birding back in India but never owned a pair of binoculars or a  field guide. Once I came here and found that I could afford to buy  binoculars I started serious birding. Last year I enrolled in the Spring  Field Ornithology course by Steve Kress. The course field trips and birding  with other serious birders has helped me in honing my bird identification  skills. As far as finding the birds, it is just a question of being out  there in the field.   The Cup:  Astute readers of The Cup undoubtedly noticed the appearance of  the nickname "Cape May" Jai in last month's issue.  Could you explain the  story behind that name?   Jai: The story you are referring to happened in early May. I had gone  birding with a friend to Sapsucker Woods in the morning and we found a Cape  May Warbler by the main pond along the Wilson Trail. It was a life bird.  Later in the afternoon I drove over to MNWR and found another Cape May at  the beginning of the auto loop. Perhaps Cape May Warblers have a natural affinity towards me.   The Cup:  You're lucky.  They seem to have a natural aversion to me.  What  are some of your other favorite birds from this year?   Jai: The Golden-winged Warbler and Olive-sided Flycatcher that I  serendipitously found at the Hawthorn Orchards in May. On one occasion I  was biking along the recreation way and stopped to look at a Common  Yellowthroat when I heard the Golden-winged, while the other sighting was  during a leisurely evening walk.   The Cup:  In previous years, the McIlroy Award was the source of some  spirited competition between the likes of Bill Evans, Allison Wells, and  Steve Kelling, among others.  Recently, though, the competition had fallen  upon hard times, and we assumed that Evans would win again this year,  because he seemed like the only person who cared about his McIlroy total at all.  Did you plan on making a big push in the McIlroy competition  this year?   Jai: Actually, I was not serious about the McIlroy Award and was only  aiming to tally 200 species for the David Cup. Since I did a major chunk of  birding during spring migration inside the Ithaca area, especially the  Hawthorn Orchards, I've ended up with the lead for the McIlroy Award.   The Cup:  Now that you're in the lead at the 3/4 way mark, what's your  strategy for the last three months of the year?  What birds could you still  pick up in the Town of Ithaca?   Jai: Based on last year's experience I predict that October and early  November are going to be the critical months. If I manage to get out  regularly to Stewart Park and the lighthouse jetty, I can pick some of the  rarities that might show up. I still need Red-shouldered Hawk, Canvasback,  Redhead and Common Goldeneye among others.   The Cup:  I think you might be able to pick up those ducks, especially since there were over 10,000(!) Redhead on the Ithaca Christmas  Bird Count this year.  Any other easy birds that you should be able to pick  up?  And what about rarities?  Any predictions there? They've been seeing a  lot of jaegers up at Derby Hill recently...   Jai: Other fairly easy birds that I can pick up would be Rough-legged Hawk  and Northern Harrier. I've not been here long enough to be able to predict  rarities. My wish list, however, includes Tufted Duck, Parasitic Jaeger and  Sabine's Gull.   The Cup:  So what do you think about your main competition, Bill  "Silvertop" Evans?   Jai: He is a veteran and knows all the tricks of the trade and is capable  of doing a big push when no one expects it. So I wouldn't be surprised if  he overtakes me when the next issue of The Cup comes out. Anyway, what  chance do I have against someone who ticks off Connecticut Warbler and  Buff-breasted Sandpiper during nocturnal migration?   The Cup:  Oh yes, Bill's veteran "tricks of the trade."  We've been hearing  stories that Bill has been a little, shall we say, lax, in reporting some  of his McIlroy birds from this fall.  Like his Orange-crowned Warbler at  the jetty woods, and his Great Egret at the jetty.  What do you think we  should do about his failure to report this birds?   Jai: Isn't the whole idea of The Cup to foster friendly competition? Does  The Cup ever disqualify participants? How about introducing an amendment to  The Cup rules whereby uncommon birds can be checked off from the list only  if timely reports are posted?   The Cup:  What role has your fellow Indian, Meena Haribal, played in your  McIlroy success this year?  I think she was picked in the Cupper Survey as  "Most Likely to Win the 2001 McIlroy Award," but I believe that she has now  left the Basin for an extended trip to Asia.  Has she passed along any  advice to you?   Jai: Meena is a very inspiring birder and she suggested that I should take  part in the birding competition sponsored by "The Cup". If Meena did not  embark on her trip, she would have been a serious contender. Before she  left, she sent me a mail with 108 tips to beat Bill Evans. Just kidding...   The Cup:  OK, onto the obligatory first-time interviewee questions.  What  is in your CD player right now?   Jai: Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky.   The Cup:  Ooh- it sounds like we have a cultured birder here.  And your  favorite color?   Jai: The colour of Ithaca in fall.   The Cup:  Haven't you studied your old issues of The Cup?  You're supposed  to give a bird color there!   Jai: Oops... How about scarlet red?   The Cup:  Thanks.  Is there anything else you'd like to add?   Jai: Yes. Keep "The Cup" rolling.   The Cup:  Sure thing.  And don't forget:  BEAT EVANS!   To see a photo of Jai, go to: http://www.people.cornell.edu/pages/mdm2/jai.jpg       HIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIH   AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2001 HIGHLIGHTS   LITESLITESLITESLITESLITESLITESLITESLITESLITESLITESLITESLITESLITES     AUGUST 2001 HIGHLIGHTS   Well, even though the birders didn't know about it until late this month, I  may as well start with the big highlight: WOOD STORKS.  Six were seen  eating bullheads in a small pond in downtown Clyde, NY from the 22nd until  at least the 27th.  However, an unknown observer had previously found (and  not reported) 14 birds in a larger, wooded pond north of Clyde.  Finally,  this spot was made public and even those who missed the birds the first  time got to see up to 14 birds there.   The group decreased in size and  they all were gone two days before the Muckrace.  Rumors were flying that  up to 30 Wood Storks(!!!) had been frequenting that pond since July.  Other  rumors say that it was big governmental cover-up involving the DEC and  maybe even the FBI and CIA.  I'm not sure we'll ever know the whole story  but it is certainly impressive that birds like that could go essentially  unnoticed (at least unreported) for nearly a month.  It makes you wonder  what else is out there...   A breeding plumaged COMMON LOON and 12 PURPLE MARTINS were seen on the 1st  by Fred Bertram while on the lake (in a kayak) near Aurora.  On the 3rd,  Sandy Podulka confirmed nesting of the RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS in  Brooktondale when she saw them feeding young.   The two SANDHILL CRANES that were found in July were seen in the same field  on August 4th.  These birds (and maybe other Sandhills) hung around the  northern Basin and were seen until mid-September in that field and along  East Rd.  Many believe that a small breeding population exists somewhere in  the North Basin.   Meena Haribal found a breeding plumaged BONAPARTE'S GULL and 30 CASPIAN  TERNS at Myers Pt. on the 5th.  The day before, she had a calling  RED-SHOULDERED HAWK up near Thatcher's Pinnacles in Danby.  She had another  RED-SHOULDERED over her house on the 13th.  Jai Balakrishnan had a  LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH on Cascadilla Creek on the 8th.   On the 12th, at the  bait ponds along Seybolt Rd, Meena had at least 1 BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, 2  STILT SANDPIPERS and some BLACK TERNS.  Near there, she had a VESPER  SPARROW and at MNWR later, she saw an AMERICAN BITTERN and a CERULEAN  WARBLER.  Pete Hosner went up to Montezuma the next day and saw a  SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER at May's Pt. Jeff Gerbracht went up to Montezuma on  the 15th and stuck around to see “several” BLACK-CROWNED  NIGHT-HERONS.  Bill Mauck saw an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER at Benning Marsh on  the 20th.  On the 24th, Gary Chapin found a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE at May's  Point.  A PEREGRINE FALCON was reported in the area a few times later in  the month.   Back towards the south end of the basin, Meena reported seeing hundreds of  COMMON NIGHTHAWKS in flight over Ithaca on the 22nd.  On the 25th, Bob  McGuire saw a MERLIN cruising around downtown Ithaca.  Jay McGowan found a  GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER along with 13 other warbler species around Beam Hill  on the 29th.  Later, that night he heard SWAINSON'S THRUSHES and a  GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH.   One of the trips to see the Wood Storks resulted in a few people getting  nice looks at a LEAST BITTERN along the Auto Loop.  Amidst all the stork  stuff, some other birds were seen. Other nice birds that were overshadowed  by storks were BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER and another LEAST BITTERN at May's  Point Pool, found by Ken Rosenberg and Jeff Gerbracht on the 30th.       SEPTEMBER 2001 HIGHLIGHTS   In early September, many of the local birders were out preparing for the  Muckrace.  In fact, some of the best reports of the month were from  scouts.  They kept close tabs on the WOOD STORKS, hoping that they would  stay to be twitched on the big day on the 8th (they left 2 days  early).  The area was covered so well that some birds were found  independently by several groups.  The OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER on Galen Rd.  was first seen on the 2nd by two Matts and then found again by Meena and  Jeff on the 3rd.  The latter party also had a juvenile RED-HEADED  WOODPECKER at the same spot.  The two SANDHILL CRANES were seen in the same  field near Livingston Rd. early in the week by Sarver and Williams, however  they proved to be very unreliable, except for during the Muckrace(8th),  when only one team (who didn't even know they were present) saw them.   The shorebird diversity was good at Montezuma with nothing extremely rare  showing up. BAIRD'S and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS were seen quite regularly  and occasionally a SANDERLING or two would show up at May's Point. On the  evening of the 11th, Catherine Sandell found a WILSON'S PHALAROPE at May's  Point Pool. BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER was seen three times this month: on the  2nd at Benning by Tom Burke and Gail Benson (who were up from the city to  see the Storks) and on the 16th by Gary Chapin (who seemed to know just  when to hit May's this fall). The BUFF-BREASTED was relocated on the 17th  by Wes Hochachka, who also saw a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE.  Bob Fogg relocated  the phalarope on the 18th.  Both DOWITCHER species were tough in the early  part of the month but LONG-BILLEDS were reported more frequently in late  September.  Very few dowitchers, if any, were seen on the Muckrace (usually  both species can be seen).   Highlights from the Montezuma Muckrace on the 8th included: SANDHILL CRANE,  RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, LEAST BITTERN, AMERICAN BITTERN, SORA, VIRGINIA  RAIL, BROAD-WINGED HAWK, YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER,  CAPE MAY WARBLER and VESPER SPARROW.   During an evening bike ride to the white Lighthouse Jetty on the 10th, Bill  Evans, Sarver and Williams turned up two RUDDY TURNSTONES (a very good  McIlroy bird).  On the 11th, Meena went to Mundy and found it  “not...dripping but drizzling” and had a PHILADELPHIA VIREO and an  OSPREY.  New Basin birder Colby Newman turned up MOURNING WARBLER and  NORTHERN PARULA that day as well. On the 14th, Pete Hosner found Mundy  “dripping” with 1 BLACKPOLL WARBLER, 2 BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS and 3-4  NORTHERN PARULAS.   Bob Fogg and Pete Hosner went to MNWR on the 14th and had a LESSER  BLACK-BACKED GULL at May's.  On their way up, they had a SANDERLING at  Myer's Point.  The next day (15th), the Birdwatching Club at Cornell was at  Myer's and flushed a bird that they briefly thought to be merely a  Sanderling. Well, they certainly got a shock when it landed and turned out  to be a PIPING PLOVER.  This bird stayed on or near the spit and the  swimming area at Myer's for exactly one week (until the 22nd - much longer  than any usual non-resident or migrant).  It withstood a bonfire and many  people, kayaks, jetskis and dogs but it could be argued that, with a  presumably coastal background, those things made it feel right at home.    From the “Beam Hill Bunch” in Dryden: Jay McGowan reported seeing HOODED  WARBLERS into the first week of September.  Ken Rosenberg saw a  YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER in his yard on the 23rd.  Ken left his hill on  the 28th and went to Mt. Pleasant where he saw quite a few raptors  including a MERLIN, a BALD EAGLE and 3 OSPREY as well as 2 of the resident  COMMON RAVENS.  Kevin McGowan had some neat stuff from his yard later in  the month including NORTHERN PARULA (26th), AMERICAN PIPIT (28th), WINTER  WREN (28th & 29th), RUSTY BLACKBIRD (29th) and two EVENING GROSBEAKS on the  30th.   On the 29th, Meena went to the jetty and saw a PEREGRINE FALCON, a flock of  6 PALM WARBLERS, a CAPE MAY WARBLER and a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH.  Also on  the 29th, Matt Sarver went to Bomax Dr. (yes, Drive) and saw an  ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER.       <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>   Night Sounds by Matt Medler   The setting:  a mostly clear, star-filled evening atop Mount Pleasant, some  time in mid-September.   The characters:  three of Ithaca's most active young birders, and one of  their wise elders.   Two of the youngsters arrive at Mt. Pleasant shortly before nine, having  just enjoyed a celebratory Pudgie's pizza in honor of the Piping Plover at  Myers Point.  The wise elder and an eager new student are already at the  observatory, listening to the first migrants of the evening. Have you guys been hearing anything?   Well, there are some Great Horneds going, and a Screech off in the  distance, and a few thrushes and grosbeaks overhead.   Any Gray-cheeks?   Nope.   Did you see anything at Montezuma today?   There were some shorebirds at Mays, but nothing new.   Any dowitchers?   No.  Did you two do any birding before dark?   Yeah- we headed up to Myers as soon as I got into town to see the Piping  Plover.   Did you see it?   Yup.  I can't believe it's still there.   Dammmit.  I mean, that's great that you got to see it.   Swainson's.   What was that other one?   Probably a Rose-breasted Grosbeak.  If you hear something strange and  off-tune, it's probably a grosbeak.   There's another Swainson's.   Did you hear that buzz?  That was a Lincoln's/Swamp Sparrow type.   Can you tell those two apart?   Some people say they can, but I don't feel comfortable calling them.   Well if you don't feel comfortable calling them, I don't know who would.   Grosbeak.   Yeah, but what's that other sound?  I've been hearing a loud sound coming  from down low.  Is that a thrush?   That's the juvenile Great Horned.   Oh.  Oh yeah- I knew that.  It just sounds a little strange.  Doesn't it  sound weird?   Sure.   What was that?   I didn't hear anything.   There's something running around on the ground.  Didn't you hear it?   No.   I think it was a rabbit.  Yeah, a rabbit just ran right by us.   Are you sure?   That was definitely a rabbit.   OK.   Here's a nice wave of Swainson's.   Ooh- that one sounded a little high.   That was another grosbeak.   Oh.   Was that a Veery off to the right?   Could've been.   What do you mean, could have been?  That doesn't instill much confidence.   The longer I do this, the less confident I get about these things.   What was that?   Swainson's.   That didn't sound like a peeper to me.   That's what we call a "Carly Simon Swainson's."  It sounds kind of like  Carly Simon singing.   Who?   Carly Simon.  How old are you?   Umm, twenty-two, I think.   Do you know what DDT is?   Was that a Veery?   Did you hear that dry buzz?  That was probably a Lincoln's.   I thought you couldn't tell. Well, that one was *really* dry.  Now is the peak time for Lincoln's, and  Swamps come through later. I said it was *probably* a Lincoln's.   Swainson's.   Still no Gray-cheeks.   Nope.  There's a Savannah Sparrow.   What was that?  That sounded really strange.   It was another grosbeak.  They can do some really throaty things.   Wait.  I thought they did a high-pitched thing, even higher than Swainson's.   Yeah, they do that too.  Ooh- did you hear that?   What, another grosbeak?   No.  The rabbit.  Didn't you hear it this time?   Nope.  I think you're imagining things.   There's definitely a rabbit running around.  I'm going to go find it.   You do that.   [A few minutes later.]   Did you find the rabbit?  You just missed a nice Gray-cheek.   Really?  Yellowthroat.   Nah, just kidding. Did you hear *that*?  That was definitely a Lincoln's.  That was extremely  dry and buzzy.   I'll take your word for it.   It sounded like that yellowthroat to me.   Well boys, I think I'm going to get going soon.  I had some prune juice  before I came up here, and I'm starting to feel a little funny.   Prune juice, huh?   It was starting to get a little old, so I figured I would just finish it off.   I don't think the prune juice is the only thing getting old.   There's a Gray-cheek.   Where?   Up high to the right.   Shh.  Got it.   Missed it.   I missed it too.   Swainson's.   There's a nice low Gray-cheek.  Did you all get that one?   Yup.   There it is again.  Nice.   OK, so who's up for going out to listen for Dickcissel tomorrow morning at  the Triangle?   I am.   I am too then.   How early?   I think seven should be a good time to catch the morning flight.   Seven o'clock at the Triangle?  I guess I can do that. OK, see you then.         #*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#   CUPPER PHONE CARD   *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*   Call a Cupper for rarities, carpools, chasing or just birding!   Jai Balakrishnan       257-3630 Susan Barnett          387-9496 Greg Delisle           387-9496 Jeff Gerbracht         277-6193 Bill Evans             272-1786 Bob Fogg               257-9123 Pete Hosner            266-9637 Kevin McGowan(home)    844-3728 Kevin McGowan(cell)    277-0491 Matt Medler            256-7961 Matt Sarver            275-0745 Jeff & Allison Wells   347-6449 Matt Williams(413)     665-3981       492x837-48576+5764.679/4905%8677-34566.578+048694048576+5764.679/4905%                            STAT'S ALL, FOLKS                            By Matt Medler   6879403+58673.6978/4857694~5867448576+5764.679/4905%%x98458.6059679+69   How many of you Cup old-timers remember Karl David's monthly statistics  column, Stat's All, Folks?  OK, even I'll admit that I didn't read the  column every month (despite being a statistics teaching assistant).  I  recently had the opportunity to write a statistics question for a Biology  103 quiz, and was in need of some good data.  "David Cup totals!," I  thought.  Here's what I came up with:   3.  The "David Cup" is an annual competition in which local birdwatchers  compete to determine who can see the most birds in the Cayuga Lake Basin in  a given year.  The following numbers represent the total number of birds  seen in the year 2000 by  29 David Cup participants:  50, 87, 108, 122,  129, 130, 152, 167, 168, 169, 177, 187, 193, 195, 207, 210, 210, 219, 230,  231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 237, 238, 239, 245, 251.   Find the median, first quartile, third quartile, and interquartile range  for these data.  Draw a boxplot for these data.     Very careful readers of The Cup might notice that the numbers don't exactly  match the final totals for last year.  I took a few "liberties" with the  data in order to have a low outlier (sorry, Tringa McGowan!) and clear  first and third quartiles.  Shocked, you say?  Don't be too  surprised.  After all, we "adjust" totals every month any way (except for  Allison Wells's - her total is too low to even bother lowering).   I expect complete answers to be included when you submit your totals next  month.                              <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<                       <  COACH'S CORNER      <                      <           <<<<<<<<<<<<<<                      <           <                       <         <                         < < < <   What better way to show that the new editorship of The Cup is "old school"  than to present an "encore" edition of a classic Coach's Corner.  This  piece originally appeared in October 1997, but it was so good, it ran again  in October 1998.  We at The Cup think that Kevin McGowan's advice is  timeless, so here it is one more time...   COACH MCGOWAN: October is the last gasp.  This could be your last chance to  get new year birds.  Unless you are missing some fairly easy stuff, or  something really neat turns up later, you won't add much after this.  [It  does look like we'll get two new species of winter finch in late 2001-  Evening Grosbeak and Common Redpoll.]  So, that said, what are you going to  do to make the most of it? First, on the personal side:  What are you  missing? If you need a couple of shorebirds, some are still to be found at  Montezuma through the middle of the month.  But, be aware that many things  (like Short-billed Dowitcher) are gone.  Do you need  flycatchers?  Fuhgettaboudit!  They're history. Warblers? Most are gone;  the ones to look for now are Connecticut and Orange- crowned. But you'd  better hurry.  We've got only another week or so before it's too late for  them, too.  Do you need sparrows?  Better luck here. Most expected sparrows  are still around, along, probably, with some rarities  (like Nelson's  Sharp-tailed, LeConte's, and Clay-colored).  The bad news is that they're  so sneaky now you may never find them.  I'll bet there's still a Henslow's  Sparrow in the Basin right now, but I'll also bet you don't find it!  Weedy  fields are well worth walking through. There's lots of habitat out  there.  Definitely check out Hog's Hole. That's where the action will  be.  Patience, persistence, and pure out and out luck are what you need to  turn up a couple of neat sparrows at this point.       How about hawks?  Are you still missing Broad-winged Hawk?  ¡Qué  lástima! They're gone!  But, if Golden Eagle is still a hole on your list,  this is the month for you.  Go check out Mount Pleasant on days with north  winds. Red-tailed Hawk migration peaks this month, and Golden Eagles will  pass through, too.  A whole lot of hawks will be going by this month, and a  very, very few might be something different. Pennsylvania just [Oct. 1997]  reported a Swainson's Hawk flying by.  Maybe it went over Mt. Pleasant  first.  We'll never know these things unless you go up and check it out.      Are you missing any waterfowl?  If so, then the season for you is just  heating up.  The Loon Watch is officially under way, and although few loons  have passed by yet, it's starting.  Watch the last half of this month for  the first of the scoters, Long-tailed Duck, and Brant. Early morning at  Taughannock SP with Bob Meade is a great way to pick up interesting  migrants.  Or, head down to Stewart Park and join the jolly junta on the  jetty for gulls, loons, and who knows what. (And the walk out to the  lighthouse is one of the best places to look for Orange-crowned and Connecticut warblers.)       So, play the odds and fill in your gaps.  Give Montezuma a couple  more tries.  Watch the lake, and take a couple of lunch breaks at Mt.  Pleasant. If you feel like a stroll, pick a nice weedy field. Go wander the  festival grounds at Hog's Hole.  And don't take down your hummingbird  feeders yet. Any hummingbird that turns up this month is worth a close  look.  I'm hoping for some interesting feeder visitor this  winter.  Something like a Harris's Sparrow or Varied Thrush.  We haven't  had anything like that for quite a while, so we're due.  Keep those feeders  full and don't forget to watch them every now and then.  And get outside  and bird!  Let me repeat myself:  get outside, get outside!  There seems to  have been a lull in the action over the last month, so we need to turn it  up a notch.  Those of you without a newborn baby don't have acceptable  excuses.  Get out there and try to find something.  This can be the most  beautiful time of the year in Upstate New York, so try to appreciate  it.  Either use your being outside as an excuse to bird, or use your  birding as an excuse to be outside.  Remember, it only gets darker and  colder after this.       """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""                       "CUP QUOTES" """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""   I regret that my new abstract of an office doesn't allow me to have my  normal library of resources nearby, so I am only guessing that a Wood  Warbler would weigh in around 15g, and a European Robin at less than 25g  (20?).  I believe a mass of 48g puts the bat in the range with Loggerhead  Shrike.   -Kevin McGowan     By the way, as I was driving home, scantily clothed, from my African dance  class one night last week a bat flew through my car window and landed on my  neck. I knew exactly what it was, although I couldn't see it. It walked  around on me a bit, then landed on my leg. The feeling was not unpleasant.  I calmly stopped the car and opened the door and it flew out. I was quite  surprised at my composure.   Does this mean I will soon turn into a vampire??   -Marie Read     I thought people (well, at least, some of you anyway...) might like to know  that, because of my recent bat interaction, and after much discussion, I  have started a course of rabies shots....So I can again look forward to a  long and healthy life of posting bad English jokes, puns, and silly  comments, mixed in with the occasional dubious bird sighting to Cayugabirds!   -Marie Read     I went out with intention of running some errands and birding. Laura you  were right. Birds made me ditch my shopping plan.  ŠIf you want really look  at shore birds at close range, Seybolt Ponds are great place. Birds were as  close as 15 to 30 feet. Even just binoculars were good for most  identifications. In scope they looked grand.   -Meena Haribal     NIGHTHAWWWWKS IN HUNDREDS!   -Meena Haribal     I just saw 5 Wood Storks in Clyde NY and got a digital picture.   -Leona Lauster     Sorry for the late post -- thought surely someone else would post today....   -Ken Rosenberg     And now for the Zen experience,  I'm sure you have all had those looks  through the scope or bins at both GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, great  looks for comparison.  Well that's how it started.  Then add a STILT  SANDPIPER and toss in a PECTORAL.  Great, four birds, four sandpipers.  But  it only gets better, mix in a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, a LEAST SANDPIPER and  a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER.  About here I start saying to Meena, "WOW, seven  birds and seven species, in a single scope view".  To which she calmly  replys, a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER just flew in.  What?  eight out of  eight?   The to top it all off, and apparently not wanting to be left out  of the fun, a KILLDEER suddenly appears.  Nine birds and nine shorebird  species in a single field of view.  Isn't birding great?   The only things  that decided to remain aloof were BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS and GOLDEN-PLOVERS.   -Jeff Gerbracht     I had a BROWN THRASHER "tsssp"ing along Beam Hill this morning.  It came  right up for confirmation when I pished.   Jay continues to have a few warblers around the yard (I don't), with HOODED  WARBLER found nearly every day this last week.   -Kevin McGowan     there's a piping plover at myers point today, seen at 4:15pm. -pete h.   -Pete Hosner     What a beautiful day along the water. Clear azure sky, gentle waves, and a  wonderful opportunity to unplug for just a little while from the events of  the past week and focus on this one gift. Truly a meditation for me.   -Karen Edelstein     Early morning (not as early as Bob Fogg), headed to Myers to look for  Piping Plover. Then called up Bill and Gladys and continued to watch  his/her feeding behavior. Seemed to be getting enough stuff to eat.  He  was  little vicious creature. He chased Killdeer many times. I don't know  why those dumb Killdeer (two of them) insisted on landing close to him. He  would glare at  the Killdeer from a distance,  and run towards the Killdeer  to chase him away. Twice he chased them over water for quite some distance.  He was half the size of Killdeer.  We thought Ok this guy is not going to  have any trouble in taking care of himself though he was only one of his  kind in that area. He will do well where ever he goes for wintering.   -Meena Haribal     I went to Myers around 11 this morning:  patriotism has taken the form of a  huge pile of debris on the south spit, presumably to be burned. Lots of  activity with semis carrying bundles of wood and extended cab pickups and  Harleys. Almost everyone I saw contributed a cigarette butt to the beach.   Not what I imagine to be ideal conditions for the little wanderer. Maybe it  moved to the north side... the activity was certainly enough to scare me away.   -Correen Seacord     Today, I made a multi-purpose weekend trip back to Ithaca.  About 15 minutes after I made it into town (6:15pm), Matt Medler and I went to Myers and watched the PIPING PLOVER foraging, bathing and preening.   -Matt Williams     If anyone has time and binoculars check out Mundy.   -Meena Haribal     Tonight's going to be a good night for migrants!  Listen well, and be sure  to wake up before civil twilight begins (6:32AM, sunrise 7:00AM) to hear  any thrushes descend from migration.  They usually stop calling at the  start of civil twilight, like someone turned off a water faucet.   -Chris Tessaglia-Hymes     On the way back, I hit a mixed hunting party of following birds back in the  woods...   -Meena Haribal     Today (Sunday, 30 Sep 01) I had 2 EVENING GROSBEAKS fly over our yard south  of Dryden.  I heard them call twice, and then they were gone.   -Kevin McGowan     May Your Cup Runneth Over, The Matts