Sunday, January 13, 2013

Big January Total Up To 88 And A Few Surpirses


On Saturday I met up with a couple of birding friends for a carpool trip to the Western Connecticut Shoreline. It was cloudy and damp for the entire day but the birding was good. Joining forces with experienced birders made a big difference. I was able to add 33 species to my list for a total of 87 this month. We had a few surprises too like these Snow Geese we found at Lighthouse Point Park.
Finding a Great Horned Owl during the middle of the day was a thrill! Other great sightings included: Peregrine Falcon, American Kestrel, Merlin, Common Redpoll (Sherwood Island feeders), Palm Warbler, and  Eurasian Wigeon (Mondo Pond). The western shoreline seems to be the most productive birding area of the state this time of the year.

We stayed out from dawn till dusk on Saturday but didn't get out to do any birding Sunday. I'll have 3 more opportunities to get out this month to try to push my total past 90. Only 2 more species seems easy enough but the last few are the toughest to come by.

click here for updated Big January update

13 comments:

troutbirder said...

A good outing. No shorebird here at this time of the years but I had a very rare winter titmouse here today...;)

Jen Sanford said...

Congrats- you are doing great! Much luck for the rest of your month. I am guessing you meant to say you were out from dawn till dusk? Dusk to dawn should have produced more than just one owl :)

Daniel E. Levenson said...

Amazing photos - thanks for sharing, I especially like the shot of the owl. I'm doing a Massachusetts big year in 2013 and am at 48 species for the year so far. It's always great to get out in one's own backyard and see how many different species of birds can be found in a particular town or state. I've done some birding in Connecticut myself and enjoyed it very much.

I would invite you to take a look at my blog if you're so inclined. You can view it at:

http://newenglandnaturenotes.blogspot.com/

Thanks and happy birding,
Dan Levenson

Larry said...

troutbirder--the titmouse may not be rare but they sure do have character!

Dan-I do have your blog on my blogroll and will make sure I stop in. I have not spent much times reading any blogs lately but I'm looking forward to doing that soon.I really had to adjust that owl photo to make it visible-terrible lighting but a nice sighting!

Dawn Fine said...

Congrats on your big January..go get more birds!

Larry said...

dawn-I'm gonna try!

Larry said...

Jen-thanks- I just found your comment filed in the wrong area by the spam regulator. yes-of course I meant dawn till dusk. I fixed it-thanks-must have had the movie title in my mind.

Cathy said...

Lucky ducky!

How cool is that?

Unknown said...

I saw my first wild owl in a Louisiana swamp but it flew before I could get a photo. Seeing one is such a thrill. I'm jealous.

Larry said...

Sarala-I go birding every weekend but I only see owls once in a great while.

CabinGirl said...

How fun to have Snow Geese so close, Larry! And what a mix of other birds. Love the look on the owl's face.

Unknown said...

How very wonderful to see that owl..they hoot around my house on moonlit nights..but I have never seen one (I've tried)..

Larry said...

CabinGirl-Those Snow geese were not shy and the owl does seem to have a serious attitude.

Cindy-My wife has woken me up at 3am to tell me she heard them. I went out and found them hanging out in a big pine tree across the street.It can be hard to tell how far away they are when they're hooting.