Peregrine Falcon and Northern Pintail today!

I went for a walk out in Glastonbury Meadows today:http://brownstonebirder.blogspot.com/2007/02/glorious-glastonbury-meadows.html.

It was nice to get out after working 26 hours between Friday and Saturday. I should have brought my scope because there was a nice assortment of birds on the water.

I saw my first NORTHERN PINTAIL today!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Pintail . There was also COMMON GOLDENEYE, AMERICAN WIGEON, WOOD DUCKS, BLACK DUCKS, MALLARD, and COMMON MERGANSERS. There were other ducks that I couldn't identify mixed in with several hundred CANADA GEESE.

In the fields were very large flocks of RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD and HORNED LARK. I also saw 2 BALD EAGLES, and 4 RED-TAILED HAWKS. The fields themselves , were covered with puddles and shoe-stealing muck.

My most exciting moment came when I looked across the field and saw a Peregrine Falcon. I've only seen one other one that close before. At first I thought this one was going to be a Merlin because one had been reported at this location in the past. Unfortunately, the lighting was bad and my camera batteries died just as I was trying to get some better shots-drats!-Oh well-at least I got a picture.

Other birds included the regular winter visitors (Juncos gone?) which I am going to make a link for so I don't have to keep writing them.