Papa Tom

This bird came to the feeder in fulton county NY. Is it an American Goldfinch or an immature female Pine Warbler? Or other?

I see it now. Over the top of the middle bird is a tail I associated with the bird on the right thus thinking it was behind the middle bird.

Pale area at the base of the bill indicates Blue-winged Teal.

The gull in the middle seems different than the RBGs on either side of it; a black spot on the neck, no ring on bill, shorter more pointed bill, darker gray, smaller size. Or is it a photo aberration? Fulton Couny NY

thought the red/brown breast would extend farther to the belly.

I didn't think NW because of the white trace on the wing and tail edges.

Fulton County, NY 10/2/9 7-8 am. foraging actively in Birch trees. Can't decide if it's a Yellow-throated Vireo or a Pine Warbler. Is it either or, or something else? see pic.

Fulton County, NY 10/2/19 7-8 am. foraging in Birch trees very actively. white belly with red/brown chest & sides makes think Eastern Bluebird, but it doesn't feel like a good fit. What bird would you think it is?

Saw this bird in a muddy farm field near a large puddle in Madison County NY 4/25/2019. The short thick bill indicates it's a plover. The pale eye brow , dark spot behind the eye, overall markings make me think it's a juvenile American Golden Plover.

While watching (through the spotting scope) some Common Goldeneyes diving, one appeared that stood out with a lot more black on it’s side. It had a mostly black wing with a row of white spots, lower sides bright white, and a white spot between the bill and the eye. The shape of the spot I didn’t pay to much attention too as I was sure it wasn’t a COGE. In trying to confirm this ID, one site states the BAGE spot is crescent or sometimes oval. A different sight states the COGE spot is round or sometimes oval. Thinking back I would have to say the one I saw was oval. So I’m stuck. Does one or the other have an oval spot? Can anyone say with some assurance which Goldeneye it was? Sorry no picture. It was far enough away and continuously diving so I couldn’t find it with the camera. Oneida Lake, Oneida County, NY 3/24/19

Distant bird on Oriskany Creek above the dam swimming with Common and Hooded Mergansers. Oneida County, NY, March 13. At first thought it a Common Goldeneye female but now think it a less common Barrow's goldeneye based on narrow white neck ring, head shape, small bill. Shadow could make bill look not yellow like tip.

one more photo

A Sharp-shinned Hawk was eating it’s kill when this hawk swooped in nearly hitting it. Considerably larger than the SSH it buzzed (or was attacking). It took over the SSH’s partially eaten kill. At first considered it was a RTH but not after it turned and it’s breast showed. I’m leaning to Northern Goshawk juvenile. It’s face has grayish cheek patch, black line between eye and bill, white eyebrow streak. CH face is evenly white / brown streaking. NG folded wings have bolder white markings, irregular banded tail while the CH tail is evenly banded. Oneida County, NY

This duck was in the Utica Marsh, Oneida County, NY hanging with Mallards. It's slightly larger than the mallards, all black except for the front of the neck which is white. At about 600 feet away it stood out through the binoculars. Late afternoon with a storm coming in made for poor light so picture is poor. I can' find anything close to this duck in any field guide books or on line guides.