Summer Birding In East Hampton Connecticut

Saturday morning, I decided to explore a couple of locations in East Hampton, Connecticut. It was a cool, clear, sunny morning. I decided to make my first stop at Pine Brook Bog. I think

the main reason I occasionally visit this spot, is because I like the scenery. There's something about bogs that make feel like I'm looking back in time. I don't usually see a large variety of birds here. On this morning, I enjoyed nice views of Wood Ducks and Great Blue Herons feeding along the shallow edges. I only stayed for a few minutes before moving on to the next location.

Next, I decided to walk along a portion of the Air line Rail Trail . I started at the Cranberry Bog entrance, and ended up at the Lyman Viaduct. I didn't walk more than 100 feet down the trail before I was rewarded with a great view of a Waterthrush with a bit of nesting material in its mouth.I would have liked to attempt a better photo, but didn't want to bother the bird. I was left with a question to answer-which Waterthrush is it-Louisiana or Northern? This bird seemed to be near slow moving water which is supposedly preferred by the Northern Waterthrush. Looking at this bird, the eye stripe seems to get wider and whiter behind the eye. It also seems to have pinkish legs and a fairly large bill. These are indicators pointing towards a Louisiana Waterthrush according to Bill Thompson III's book "Identify Yourself." I think I'm leaning toward the Louisiana.-What do you think? Either way it's a lot of fun doing a bit of birding detective work. I walked further down the trail and entered a cool dark area that cuts through rock ledges. Water slowly trickles down the rock walls. I find this sound to be very soothing. I stood still just to listen and relax for a few minutes. Do you enjoy the sound of trickling water?

Along the way, I heard the keeyuur keyuur call of the Red-Shouldered Hawk but never did actually see the bird. There was a the sudden flash of a Pileated Woodpecker flying across the trail. The view was brief but unmistakable. I heard a loud PIK sound coming from a tree on my left. After careful searching, I was able to get a brief but clear glimpse of a Hairy Woodpecker. I heard the song of the Wood Thrush. The bird was in a ravine which seemed to amplify the song and create a beautiful echoing effect. My last memorable view was that of the Black-throated Green Warbler pictured above. The photo was taken from a distance, but you can clearly see the field marks. So often I hear the zee zee zee zee zo zeet song of this bird but rarely get a good look at this bird. I was fortunate to have such a nice view of one on this day.




On the way out, I came across a couple of dogs. I called this one Toto. He seemed to pop up out of the woods from nowhere. Apparently, I was getting a little too close to his property boundary.

This dog recently had stitches and is wearing the cone so it doesn't take them out. When I see a dog wearing these, it reminds me of the old RCA Victor records which featured a picture of a dog sitting next to a Victrola. In this case, it looks like the dog got his head stuck in a Victrola.

I had to work to see the birds today. I would catch a little bit of a song, and then search carefully to catch a glimpse of the songster. I would often catch only brief glimpses, making it a challenge to make an identification. I liked it that way for a change. Some times, less is more. It's reminds me of a good book or movie that builds suspense. I don't always need to see everything in full view. A brief sound or glimpse helps to build a sense of curiosity.

It was not just the birding that I enjoyed. As I walked along the former train tracks, I wondered about the people who traveled through here in the past. The numerous stone walls winding through the dark woods added to the mystery. When walking old trails, do you ever think about the people who may have walked the same steps before you?