The Brownstone Birding Blog

Finally, A Gull That Stands Out In The Crowd!

2012-01-23T21:01:00.009-05:00

We had our first snow storm of the year this weekend so I decided that Hammonasset would be a convenient place to see if I could add some species to my January list. They do a good job clearing the roads at Hammonasset after it snows and new birds can show up there at any time. I started the day with a walk along the Moraine trail and found a flock of gulls that were actively feeding near the shoreline.

I don't have the patience to spend a lot of time studying gulls like but I have tried I've to make a habit of searching through larger flocks hoping to find something different. On this particular morning, I noticed one particular gull that was mostly white and had an all dark bill. That fits the description of an Iceland Gull but I'm not sure of the age. (1st winter-2nd winter-anyone?). It's so nice to see a gull that looks different from all the other around it. I've seen a couple before but this is the first one that I found on my own.

There was a good number of shorebirds along with the gulls. I was able to add a few new species to the list including Fox Sparrow but the Iceland Gull was my most rewarding find of the morning.

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Here's a video of the Iceland Gull swimming with the other gulls

Note: My species count is currently at 83 for the month. I'm hoping to reach 90 but time is running out.

Bird Search Led Me To Fox Afflicted With Mange

2012-01-18T17:53:00.006-05:00

Finding new species to add to my Big January list was much more difficult in the second week. I put more effort in than I did the first week but was only able to add 10 new species to my total which now stands at 78 for the month. I spent some time exploring areas along the lower Connecticut River. There didn't seem to be much bird activity in this area during my visit. I found the land birds to be especially quiet. I didn't find any blackbirds and there were very few sparrows or finches around.

The birding was so slow that even took time to chat with a Ring-billed Gull .

There were some Mallards at the Essex town dock eating cracked corn that someone had tossed onto the boat launch.

There were two American Coots mixed in with the ducks. Coots are related to rails which are known for being elusive birds. These coots reminded me more of chickens the way they were pecking at the cracked corn. I found it interesting to learn that coots lay their eggs in floating nests that are anchored to aquatic plants.

.....and check out those funky looking feet!

At first I was excited to find this Red Fox so out in the open. They have a beautiful coat of fur when healthy.

After watching this fox for a few minutes I realized there was something wrong with it. Notice how its eyes are almost closed and the tail is missing fur. It also didn't show much fear when people passed by with their dogs. An internet search revealed that these are all symptoms of mange. Sarcoptic Mange is caused by tiny mites that live in the skin. It can be cured with proper treatment.

I reported the fox to local wildlife authorities. I hope that this poor animal will get the help it needs before it is too late.

Big January Update: In week two I added ten new birds to my list for a total of 78 species. Two of the more interesting additions were a Red-headed Woodpecker and a Northern Shrike. Both had previously been reported on the CT daily bird report.

First Week Summary Of Big January 68 Species

2012-01-10T05:23:00.008-05:00

New Year's Day

I started my January list on New Year's day. I started out by checking the local ponds in the area for waterfowl.These local ponds are usually frozen by now but it has been an unusually warm start to the winter in Connecticut so far. I was able to find Common Goldeneye on the Connecticut River, Hooded Mergansers at Great Hill Pond, and Ruddy Ducks at a reservoir in Wallingford. My biggest surprise of the day was probably a Ring-necked Pheasant that was hanging out near some bushes while I was scanning the Connecticut River. I was having a bit of an issue with my lower back muscles tightening that morning. I must have resembled Frankenstein's monster the way I was staggering around with my tripod. I managed to pick up 27 species on the first day. During the week I added Red-bellied Woodpecker and Turkey Vulture to the list.

Hammonasset State Park January 6th
I've learned from previous years that the shoreline is the most productive area to find birds in Connecticut this time of the year and there's no better place to start than Hammonasset. I was pleased to find that the same shorebirds that I had Meig's Point a couple of weeks ago were still there. I started with Ruddy Turnstone on the rocks, better make that a double.

There were also Dunlin, Sanderlings , and Purple Sandpipers (above). Out in the water were a few more birds to add to the list including a Common Eider.

I found a flock of Horned Larks (above) at the nature center parking lot. There was also a couple of Snow Buntings mixed in with the flock.

I found this Great Blue Heron near the nature trail. Yellow-rumped Warbler, Hermit Thrush, and Northern Harrier were other birds I found during my walk along the trail. All together, I was able to add another 17 species to the list while at Hammonasset. The best part of it was the weather. It was sunny with temperatures that reached the upper 50's!

Westport, Stratford, and New Haven January 7-I followed up my trip to Hammonasset with a visit to the western shoreline the next day. This involves quite a lot of driving so I decided to carpool with my cousin Bob. He has only a casual interest in birding but does like to see new birds like the Brant in the above photo.

There was a lot to see at Sherwood Island in Westport , especially out on the water. I counted 2 dozen Long-tailed Ducks. That's not something I get to see very often. There was also a Horned Grebe which can be a lttle bit of a challenge for me to find.

He was impressed with the bright green Monk Parakeet but I think the bird of the day was the Great Horned Owl. I'll just say they were somewhere along one of our stops. We were able to view 2 owls though a scope from about 30 feet away. A fantastic view! I was afraid that I might disturb the owls if I tried to move into a good position to capture a photo.

We also searched the Stratford area which has several good birding areas. We first walked the old rail trail that leads to some salt marshes. There were some juvenile Black-crowned Night Herons there. We next checked an area behind a nearby warehouse. That is where we found the Golden-crowned Kinglet in the photo as well as a Great Egret. We were able to find Canvasback and a Double-crested Cormorant at Frash Pond.

Our last stop of the way was at Long Wharf in New Haven. There were a few Scaup around and lots of Ruddy Ducks.The final species to be added to the list was a Peregrine Falcon which had been sitting on a sandbar before flying past us.

My species list for the month at the end of the day was 68 but I've added a couple more since then. I'm not holding myself to any rules but I tried to green it up a little by staying local on the first day and then carpooling on my western shore trip. You can see my total list of species for January here. This list is also located at the top of my sidebar.

click to play video of rare Long-tailed Kite

Christmas Bird Count & Big Semi-green January

2011-12-27T19:14:00.002-05:00

I recently participated in the annual Salmon River Christmas bird count. The territory we cover is right in my home town which is very convenient. The top photo is a view overlooking Kelsey's Pond in Portland. It was a chilly day but there was plenty of sunshine.

There was an abundance of White-breasted Nuthatches. The females like the one above have a gray cap versus the males which have a dark black cap.

There were some species we expected to see that we didn't find this year including kinglets and creepers. We were surprised that we couldn't find a single Northern Mockingbird. Shh!- don't tell anyone!

This Pileated Woodpecker was partly to blame. It stayed at the same tree chiseling away while the three of us stared in awe! They really stand out from all the other woodpeckers in Connecticut. It was a female which lacks red in the moustache and has a blackish forehead. Usually they fly off once they notice you but this one wouldn't budge. We couldn't peel ourselves away to get on with the count.

Some of our favorite sightings for the day included: Hermit Thrush, Eastern Bluebirds, Hooded Mergansers, 2 adult Bald Eagles, Common Goldeneye, and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Nothing earth shattering but we had lots of fun.

click to play

For those of you who may be wondering, I have decided to do a Big January again this year. Big January is when you count all the species you see in your home state (or whatever) between January 1st and January 31st. I welcome you to join me in this annual tradition.

This year I'm going to try to reduce the amount of miles I drive by walking, biking, busing, and carpooling when possible. If you like this idea then I encourage you to give it a try.

Biking From Main Street To Birdland

2011-12-21T18:20:00.002-05:00

I spend a great deal of time during the week driving an automobile. I'm thankful for the conveninece a car provides but they do come with a cost. They are expensive to operate and maintain. Exhaust fumes pollute the air and the noise they make pollutes the ear. Driving requires a lot of concentration which adds stress to our lives. These are some of the obvious negative aspects of driving but there is a more subtle point to be considered. When you're in a car your are surrounded by a protective shell of steel and glass that isolates you from outside world. It is impossible to be fully aware of your surroundings while driving.

I recently rode my bike to Middletown and was able to enjoy a tour of Main Street that wouldn't be the same if I had driven my truck. I could the smell food cooking in restaurants I passed, see storefront window displays in full detail, and even hear the sound of horses trotting down the street. I was able to drop off mail, get my bike tuned up, and stop for coffee without having to worry about finding a parking space.

I was able to get a closer look at historical buildings that I passed by and found it easy to manuevere my way around town to explore anything that I was curious about.

After leaving the Main Street area I headed down to river road to find some habitat that is more suitable for birds and wildlife.

I found a Red Fox poking around for food in the woods. It was set back on an embankment near some railroad tracks. The fox seemed as curious about me as I was about him. it stared at me and even walked closer toward me at one point.

There is a fair portion of land along the Connecticut River which is still undeveloped in the south end of Middletown. I've had good luck birding in this area over the past few years.

I didn't come across anything out of the ordinary during this particular trip but I had some nice views of some birds like this American Robin which tried unsuccesfully to camouflage itself.

Carolina Wrens are frequently surrounded by vines and branches but they often give themselves away by singing, chipping, or making scolding calls.

It seems that I'm able to get closer to birds while on a bike but taking photos while trying to stay balanced can be a bit awkward. I had a great view of this Eastern Bluebird but it wasn't at the best angle for a photo.

I've learned that using a bike for transportation can provide a smooth transition from the modern world to the natural world. It allows you to enjoy the journey, not just the arrival at your destination.

Me And The Sanderlings On An Empty Beach

2011-12-11T20:16:00.006-05:00

I made a stop at Meig's Point in Hammonasset Park on Saturday morning and was surprised to find that I was the only one there. I found a good sized flock of Sanderlings on the beach.

There were also a few Ruddy Turnstones mixed in with the flock. Since no one was around I decided to get down in the sand with the Sanderlings. The birds were busy trying to get their bellies full so they didn't pay much attention to me.

I watched one turnstone charge after a couple of the Sanderlings but for the most part they seemed to coexist peacefully.

Later that morning I walked out on the point to look for the less common Purple Sandpipers . The rocks can get very slippery so I proceeded with caution.

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Can Nature Compete With The Digital Age?

2011-12-03T06:52:00.004-05:00

One of things I enjoy most is a walk through the woods early in the morning . There's nothing like that tranquil feeling when your in some secluded forest surrounded by nature.

Your senses are attuned to the tiniest of details because you are truly in the moment. You savor the sound of a trickling stream or the sight of a deer that comes upon you unexpectedly. Everything seems to have a mystical quality whether it be bird or berry.

I wish I could say that all of my experiences with nature were like this but it takes more than just being there. It also requires a mind that is relatively free from mental clutter. That's not always possible in this busy world we live in.

Every day there are new and improved televisions, cell phones, computers along with countless other electronic gadgetry that bedazzles the mind. You don't have to rely on your senses to stimulate your mind when you have a state-of-the-art digital device to do it for you. How can a simple walk in the woods compete with that? I wonder if our current addiction to technology makes it more difficult to find that special connection with nature?

You can't upgrade a Black-capped Chickadee to a 7.0 version or use a remote control to change a Song Sparrow into a Le Conte's Sparrow.

It's not possible to send a text message to a Cooper's Hawk instructing it to move into a better position for a photo-op.

There are so many products to keep us entertained these days, is it even necessary to stay in touch with nature any more? Everything you see in the natural world is only as your senses perceive it to be, but that is what separates it from the modern world. It is real, not digitally enhanced. I believe keeping our connection with nature alive is more important now than ever before.

Twenty-six Ruddy Ducks Can't Be Wrong

2011-11-28T12:42:00.021-05:00

I recently took a ride to the Durham/Wallingford area in search of ducks and geese. This is known to be a productive area to find certain types of waterfowl, especially in November.

I was able to find some Green-winged Teal , which seem to prefer the most shallow of ponds.

I don't know what the deal was with this white- headed goose but I'm guesing it must be some sort of hybrid. It looks like Canada Goose that had a bad bleach job and used artificial tanning cream on its legs.

The Canada Geese in this photo were in a small pond on route 68 that is owned by a hunting club. I noticed just beyond the geese were some small ducks.

A closer look revealed that they were Ruddy Ducks. I have found Ruddy Ducks at this pond in past years. I 'm guessing that the depth of the water, type of vegetation, and geographic location are some of the reasons why they return here but I'm curious why they ignore other ponds in the area that appear to be almost identical to this one. They must have their reasons because I counted 26 of them and 26 Ruddy Ducks can't be wrong!

The Ruddy Duck is a small diving duck that rarely walks on land. It is very difficult for them to walk because their feet are set so far back on their body. I like they look swimming around with their tails perked up in the air. They were an introduced species over in Europe and are considered to be a problem in some areas over there.

Below are some links to information I found on the web about Ruddy Ducks. Much of the information is the same but each one offers something slightly different.

Migration of The Ruddy Duck by Nancy-Hayden on eHow

Ruddy Duck from Ducks Unlimited

Ruddy Duck from Carnisius Ambassadors for Conservation

Ruddy Ducks from Ohio.gov

and there is fantastic photo of a Ruddy Duck on this recent post from Birding is Fun

Watch "My Life As A Turkey" On PBS Nature Program

2011-11-20T08:08:00.003-05:00

I watched a program on Saturday night title: "My Life as a turkey."
Here's what it's about: A local farmer left some turkey eggs on Joe Hutto's porch. Joe who is a naturalist with an interest in imprinting young animals, incubated and hatched the eggs. He then spent the next 6 months following these turkeys everywhere. Joe followed them as they foraged through the back woods of Florida, and even joined them as the turkeys roosted in the trees. He learned a lot about turkey behavior, communication, and interaction of the birds with other animals such as deer. It was amazing to see the bond that developed between Joe and these turkeys. It led to some touching moments as well as some sad moments. It's hard to explain what made this all so interesting. It is one of those shows that you have to see for yourself.

I don't believe you can watch this online but it is going to be rebroadcast on the PBS program, Nature, several times between Sunday and Wednesday. You'll need to check your local PBS for scheduled air times. Here are the scheduled air times for Connecticut.

Keys To Proper Misidentification Of Birds

2011-11-13T14:32:00.005-05:00

I suppose I could do a post about how to identify birds just as Bob Dylan could give a seminar on how to sing opera if he wanted to. Instead, I've decided to pass along tips on how to overlook or misidentify birds. You might ask, what purpose would this information serve? I will try to provide some answers to this question in part 1.

Part 1: The role of subpar birders in the birding community

If every birder were an expert then what would be the value of an expert birder? There are birders who spend countless hours studying birds in the field, reading books, and tapping into the latest technology to perfect their birding skills. The existence of birders with subpar skills adds value to this level of achievement allowing experienced birders to share their knowledge with those who have less experience. It also allows those few elitist birders to derive some pleasure in looking down upon incompetent birders with pity and shame. After all, what would the value of gold be if everyone could find it in their backyard?
Misery loves Company: How would you feel if you were the only birder in the crowd that was prone to making mistakes ? As a mediocre birder, you can provide a level of comfort to those who are still finding their way.

There is so much information and technology available about birding these days that it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain a level of incompetence. In Part 2 of this post I will provide a few ideas on how to counteract this problem.

Part 2: 7 ways to properly misidentify birds (or not identify them at all)

Relying on color as your determining factor in identifying species: Many times color can be a key field mark in identifying a particular species but you can't always rely on these field marks. For example, an immature Bald Eagle doesn't have a white head , a female Red-winged Blackbird doesn't have a bright red patch on its wing, and maybe that yellow area on the side of a Savannah Sparrow's face doesn't show up so well on a cloudy day. These are some of the reasons why relying on color as a field mark can be a powerful tool in when it comes to properly misidentifying birds. Avoid using complicated field marks such as bill shape or tail length.
If you've seen one grackle you've seen them all: Let's say a large flock of grackles land in a field. You take a glance at the them through binoculars and from what you can tell, they all look like grackles. If you check each individual bird in the flock it's possible you might come across another less common species such as a Rusty Blackbird for example. By looking at the flock as a whole you can avoid the possibility of picking out a rarer species.
Don't bother cleaning the lenses on your binoculars: Regularly cleaning your binocular lenses may remove valuable residues such as coffee, donut smears, oil residue, and other organic materials resulting in improved image sharpness. This could make a difference when trying to distinguish between two similar species that are difficult to tell apart. In order to avoid this possibility just leave the lenses alone.
Let the expert do the work: Your out in the field with another birder who really knows their stuff. When they point out a bird just accept that they must have properly identified it. Just take a quick glance at the bird as yo admire its beauty and move on. By using this method, you can avoid improving your own birding skills. This is like being a passenger in a car while driving to an unfamiliar place. You won't remember the directions because someone else is doing the driving and you're not really paying attention.
Ignore things like bird behavior and flight patterns: Noting details such as the flight pattern or behavior of a bird will give unwanted clues as to its identity without relying on field marks. You'll most definitely want to avoid this one!
Ignore bird songs: Knowing the song of a given species can sometimes be a more reliable way of determining its identity than seeing it.
Don't trust your instincts: You're out on a field trip with a group of birders and you see a species whose identity is a unknown. Aim your spotting scope at the mystery bird and bring it into focus. Now here's the key- Rely on what everyone else in the group is saying about this bird and ignore what your own eyes are telling you. This is a good way of slowing the rate at which your confidence grows as a birder.

Obviously, we've just scratched the surface on this topic. If you have any other ideas on this subject feel free to share!

Note: The views expressed in this post don't necessarily reflect those of The Brownstone Birding Blog

related post: 10 things a new birder isn't required to do

All Tricks No Treat From Mother Nature

2011-11-03T19:38:00.000-05:00

Last weekend Connecticut was hit with a major noreaster that dumped over a foot of heavy, wet snow in many towns. If this storm was in December it wouldn't be that big of a deal, but this is October! Most of the trees still hadn't dropped their leaves so snow quickly accumulated on the branches. The loud crackling sound of tree limbs could be heard as they snapped off and fell to the ground.

It didn't take long before most people lost power, including us. Since we were snowed in, I decided it would be a good time to start feeding the birds again. I counted as many as sixteen Mourning Doves beneath the bird feeders.

This is a pile of branches that snapped off from one of our trees during the storm.

The morning after the storm I took a walk around the neighborhood and found this Red-tailed Hawk snacking on some sort of rodent.

Most of the state has been without power since Saturday afternoon due to downed power lines.

The storm was on Saturday and I took these photos on Wednesday. There has been record lines at gas stations in the city with some people having to wait 2 hours to get gas. Streets have been obstructed by downed tree limbs and power lines. Every traffic was out and had to be treated as a four way stop sign. Some people didn't understand this and would drive right through without stopping. Laundromats were filled to capacity with people trying to catch up on laundry.

It's been a difficult week for many residents of Connecticut. About half the state is stil without power with 99% restoration predicted by Sunday. There are some good things that happen during situations like this. Friends,family, and neighbors have to rely on each other for help. People are forced to take a break from television, computers, and cell phones. It makes you appreciate some of the modern conveniences you have while you are forced to adapt to diffiult circumstances. I didn't mind the experience but I'm glad we have our power back!

White-faced Ibis Visits Portland Fairgrounds!

2011-10-20T16:53:00.015-05:00

I met 3 other birders at the fairgrounds this morning to start an assessment as to whether Wangunk Meadows can qualify for special designation as an important area for birds. (I was with Patrick Comins, Corrie Folsum-O'keefe, and Alison Guinness).

I've seen Ibis down at the shore a couple of times but was surprised to see one sitting at the pond at the fairgrounds. When we took a closer look at the ibis it appeared to have a red iris and pink skin coloration around the face. This would indicate it is a White-faced Ibis, not a glossy. It also seemed to be smaller than the Glossy Ibis's that I've seen. It's a rare sighting for this area so we took photos for verification (thanks Luke Tiller).

It was quite an exciting find!

click to play
Here's a short video clip of the Ibis in action.

note: If you happen to do any birding at Wangunk Meadows, please log sightings on e-bird. It will help with the project. Caution, Wangunk Meadows is an active hunting area.

Fall Camping At Pawtuckaway & BWBT&C

2011-10-20T13:58:00.009-05:00

I spent a couple of days camping at Pawtuckaway State Park in New Hampshire. I stayed at one of the five cabins available in the campground. I was pleasantly surprised at how nice they were. I decided to read the book: "The Big Year" while camping and later saw the movie. They were quite different from each other but I enjoyed them both. The book gave more character background background than the movie did. The movie wasn't perfect but it was great that they even put a movie out with the main subject matter revolving around birding. If every birder sees the movie at least three times then maybe Hollywood will put out another movie about birding!

They are very simple inside with 2 sets of bunk beds, 1 couch and 1 table. It also had electric lighting and an electrical outlet. Nothing fancy, but perfect for camping. Both Vermont and New Hampshire have a number of state parks that offer cabin rentals that range between $46 for a single room cabin to $80 a night for larger cottages. This includes Brighton State Park which is in an area where boreal species can be found.

I spent most of my time exploring the trails within the parks 5,500 acres. There were many small ponds and marshes within the park which afforded nice views of the foliage.

This is a picture of Burnham Marsh which was designated as a wildlife viewing area. If only the wildlife would pay attention to the signs. I did have a stunning view of a female Belted Kingfisher perched in a dead tree. As I was viewing the bird, two onlookers stopped by to have a look at the bird through the scope. They were impressed, saying the kingfisher looked like an exotic woodpecker to them.

I underestimated the length of the trails I went hiking on and neglected to pack proper supplies (as usual). I can imagine the headlines-"Body of a man discovered in the woods with an empty can of orange-dry soda and an apple core by his side." "Friends and family said that he died doing what he loved to do." No thanks, I'd rather live. I caught a glimpse of what looked like a coyote sneaking into the woods about 5 miles in. It seems that the beavers were setting up booby-traps by chewing through 95% of a tree and leaving it standing.

There is something special about the fall season. Summer is the season that I feel confined or almost imprisoned by the weather at times. Once the cool fall air hits I feel free again. There's nothing like the stunning colors of New England color and the smell of birding. The flames in this fire have a shape that reminds me of the Tasmanian Devil cartoon character. Can you see it?

On the way home from the trip I stopped at a Massachusetts Audubon. These turkeys must be smarter than the average turkeys.With Thanksgiving soon to arrive, what better place for turkeys to hang out than the protected land of an Audubon Center?

I was glad to make it back in time to join Birders who Blog Chirp and Tweet outing. We had a great time meeting up with each other as usual. (photo of Savannah Sparrow)

We probably did more chatting and eating than we did birding but that's what makes these events fun. We did see a nice array of sparrows including White-crowned (above) and Vesper. One of the highlights of the day was when Kathie found a Dickcissel! It was the first time I've had a view of one. I also learned of a new Internet Radio birding website: birdcallsradio (thanks Mardi). The archives include interviews of Luke Tiller who led our trip, and Mark Obmascik , author of the book "The Big Year".

It was kind of funny that I went camping for 3 days and couldn't come up with any photos of birds then I went to an event with 16 birders and didn't get any people photos. I believe we saw this Peregrine Falcon at our last stop which was Sherwood Island.

All in all it was a good day of birding and a great time getting together with my fellow bird bloggers!

Field Trip & Influx Of Birds At The Meadows

2011-10-11T18:58:00.001-05:00

Last week we had a field trip at Wangunk Meadows. It was pouring rain when I arrived at the meeting place so I was surprised to see that 6 other birders showed up. We waited for the rain to pass by. We were rewarded for our patience as the rain soon stopped and the sun broke through the clouds. We weren't able to bird the entire area because of the muddy conditions. Instead we concentrated on the areas near the fairgroundsand skating pond.The birders in the photo include members of Mattabeseck and Hartford Audubon. They have their binoculars focused on 4 Great Egrets and a Great Blue Heron across the way.

One of the highlights of the morning was watching a dozen or so Eastern Bluebirds traveling back and forth between power lines and fence posts. Everyone seems to love seeing bluebirds, espceially on a sunny day. There were Palm Warblers and Yellow-rumped Warblers in this area as well.

I've been seeing yellowlegs, Pectoral Sandpipers, and Solitary Sandpipers at the fairgrounds but this sandpiper was unfamiliar to me. I'd never seen one before but did notice the white eyebrow marking and slightly down-curved bill. We sent in a photo for identification and found out that it was a Stilt Sandpiper (thanks to Greg Hanisek).

I've noticed Killdeer are curious and will often walk towards my vehicle when I talk to them.

Later in the week I was ready to move on to try other places but made a quick check of the meadows again. It seemed there was no reason to waste gas driving somewhere else because more birds had moved into the area. I came across a flock of about 40 or so American Pipit.

The number and variety of sparrows allso increased since our field trip. I found a couple of Lincoln's Sparrows and lots of Swamp Sparrows including the one in the above photo.

Pectoral Sandpipers have been hanging around the area for a few weeks now.

With all the food available in the area I wasn't surprised to see a Northern Harrier show up. This juvenile bird seems to be admiring the white patch on its rump.

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Here's a short clip of the harrier coming in for a landing and then taking flight again.

"Birding Jargon"

2011-10-04T17:12:00.006-05:00

This is a guest post from Natalie Hunter .

If you’ve dipped a tick on your big day list and the twitcher on the
next patch over is gripping you off about it, just keep in mind that
the bird may be twitchable and you might be able to tick it off your
big year or life list tomorrow.

A dedicated birdwatcher, or “birder” as those within the community refer to themselves, would have no trouble understanding the specialized jargon in the above sentence. Birdwatching as an organized pastime is becoming more popular than ever, especially among young people, as interest in conservation continues to grow. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that nearly 48 million Americans enjoy birdwatching as an organized hobby, a nearly 20 percent increase over similar estimates a decade ago.

This burgeoning interest has created a $31 billion-per-year industry
as companies from birdseed manufacturers to camera makers to travel companies specializing in birding tours position themselves to gather a share of the market catering to the wants of the birding community.

Much of this growth in birding can be attributed to the advent of the Internet, which has allowed millions of people to connect with others who share their passion for birdwatching. Young people especially have shown a great interest in birding, as the pastime allows them to take part in citizen science projects where their observations and recorded data can help build a better overall understanding of changes that may be occurring within bird populations.

To help young new birders ease into the hobby, below is a listing of some of the specialized jargon used within the birding community, starting with those in the first sentence of this article:

Dip: A failure to observe a reported rare bird on an outing. Example:

"I went to Jerry's favorite park to find the Red-headed Woodpecker he was bragging to me about, but I was dipped."

Patch: One's favored birding location or area. Also referred to as
"local patch," as in "The State Park along the river is my favorite
local patch for birding."

Tick: To add a newly sighted bird to one's lists. Derived from the
process of "ticking" off marks on a checklist.

Life list, Big day list, Big year list: Variations of the lists that
dedicated birders compile as a record of their observations. A Life
list is a complete record of all the species observed by a birder to
date. A Big day list is a record of all the species observed in a
single day, usually as part of an organized birding competition.
Similarly, a big year list is a record of a birder's observations for
a complete calendar year.

Twitch: The seeking out of a reported rare bird sighting, often
traveling long distances to do so, (twitching). Used as a noun
(twitcher), refers to a birder who twitches regularly in an effort to
see the rarest of birds.

Twitchable: Conversely, twitchable refers to a bird that is easy to
find in a local park.

Grip, Grip off: To brag to another birder about a rare sighting that
they have not made themselves. A good-natured form of bragging about one's birding prowess.

Now that the first sentence can be deciphered using the list above,
budding young birders can move ahead into the world of birding
confident that they won't become lost and confused by the jargon of
their respected birding elders. But just in case, there are a few more
comprehensive lists of birding jargon that can be found here and here.

Natalie is not a birder herself, but was inspired by her Aunt Jaime to do the post, because she and her husband are avid birders. Thanks for the article Natalie!

Broad-winged Bonanza & Dirty Birding

2011-09-21T20:17:00.005-05:00

I went to a Hartford Audubon hawk watch Sunday on Booth Hill in the town of West Hartland. The watch was conducted by Paul Carrier who provided interesting tidbits of interesting information about hawk migration throughout the day. Booth Hill is located in a scenic country setting and the only thing that prevented it from being the perfect fall day was the date on the calendar.

I'm glad that I arrived before 9am because we counted approximately 1,000 kettling Broad-winged Hawks passing overhead by 10am. I've seen them kettle before at hawk watches during the last couple of years but never in such concentration. It was an awesome sight! We added another 1,000 broadwings to the list by noon and the total for the day was about 3,000. Other species passing through include Osprey, Bald Eagle, and American Kestrel. There were also Sharp-shinned Hawks and Red-tailed Hawks haning around the area.

click to play

I enjoyed participating in the count by searching hawks in the distance with a spotting scope. I was under the impression that the best time to start searching for migrating hawks was about 10am and that it was a waste of time looking for them in the middle of the day. Neither one of these theories held up on Sunday. It was slower during lunch hour but we were still able to find a few.

Saturday was an entirely different experience for me. I went to check out Wangunk Meadows for the first time since the flood waters subsided. I had a difficult time navigating through the soggy fields, almost falling several times. My boots and pants were covered with mud by the time I finished my walk.

Downed trees and giant puddles were a reminder left behind by hurricane Irena.

Wangunk Meadows is not the prettiest place to go birding. During the summer it is used as a training ground by mosquitoes to inflict misery upon humans. There are abandoned cars and other debris strewn about.

I may not enjoy sloshing around muddy- floody fields but shorebirds certainly don't mind it. The fairground area was chock full of them on Saturday. I found yellowlegs, Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers, Killdeer, Wilson's Snipe, and a Semipalmated Plovers .

I also found a few Pectoral Sandpipers in the mix. I may have found them here before but I can't remember the last time that was.

I continued to walk further north along the Connecticut River. The Wesleyan rowing crew was busy at practice.

I found several not-so-Solitary Sandpipers like this one along the way. There didn't seem to be a great variety of species beyond the shorebirds I saw. I found a few Swamp Sparrows and my first sighting of a Marsh Wren at the meadows was a nice surprise.

One day I'm covered with mud watching shorebirds and the next day I'm watching thousands of hawks flying over head on their way to the tropics. These were two, totally different experiences that made for an exciting weekend of birding!

Note:There is something odd happening to my photos when you click on them. I don't know if this a change implemented by blogger or if something is broken. Is anyone else having the same issue?

Productive Birding At Power Line Cuts

2011-09-14T18:07:00.003-05:00

I spent time birding along some local Power line cuts this weekend. I find them to be a covenient place to search for birds. They have built in trails, shrubs & evergreens of various heights in the middle, and taller trees along the borders. That makes it easier to move around and see birds from various angles.

I met up with some fellow birders on Saturday for a Hartford Audubon field trip. Joe (leader) led us through some areas in the Maromas section of Middletown. None of us had a butterfly book handy but one member of the group was able to identity this butterfly. I'm used to seeing these butterflies very early in the year. - can you identify it? (Click here for the answer).

We saw a nice variety of birds on Saturday including a Scarlet Tanager and a Rose-breasted Grosbeak (photo). At first we thought it was a female but we noticed there was a splash of red on the chest indicating it was a young male.

On Sunday, I checked some of the power lines and an undeveloped rail trail in Portland. Some notable birds included: Prarie Warbler (above photo), American Redstart, House Wrens, Eastern Towhee, Blue-winged Warbler, Broad-winged Hawk, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, and Yellow-throated Vireo. My favorite sighting of the day was a close-up view of a Hooded Warbler. It was a brilliant male just a few feet away. I was afraid to take the binoculars away from my eyes. When I did, the bird was gone along with the chance for a photo.

I had an early taste of the fall weather this weekend and it felt good to break out the binoculars again. The power line cuts made for productive birding areas this weekend. I'm looking forward to more fall weather and plenty of good birding opportunities.
What's the most interesting bird species you've seen in your area recently?

Antique Desk, Shy Birds, and Flying Pans

2011-09-08T19:57:00.003-05:00

I took a ride out on route 151 this weekend to visit some local birding spots. I intended to make Hurd Park but there were several tag sales on the way. This antique school desk caught my attention because of the detail on the iron and the following information that was marked on it:

U.S.F. Co Battle Creek Michigan- Pat May 25, 1875.

I was able to determine that it was built by the Union School furniture Company. There was an article online about a fire that occurred at the factory in 1892. I was even able to find an online copy of one of their catalogs from the 1800's! The patent date is for the fold up seat feature which was invented by a man named Uriah Smith of Battle Creek. He was also the creator of an oddball invention called the 1899 Horsey Horseless.

After stopping at 5 tag sales I finally made it to Hurd Park. I went there hoping to find Hooded Warblers. I could hear them singing but was only able to get quick glimpses of the. Other species I saw there included: Wood thrush, Pine Warblers, American Redstart, Great-crested Flycatcher, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Brown Creeper, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Tufted Titmice, and American Robins. There were plenty of birds at the park but they were mostly quiet and hard to see. The viewing conditions were not good and I was unable to get any decent bird photos.

I settled for a picture of a hornet's nest.

One of the reasons there were so many tag sales on 151 was because of the Haddam Neck Fair which took place over the weekend. The fair is located right off of 151 and people were taking advantage of the increased traffic to the area. I made a stop at the fair to check it out. I visited the camels and Llamas........

and Checked out some of the prized rabbits.

The thing I find most interesting about country fairs (besides the food) are the unusual events they have. How many opportunities during my lifetime will I have a chance to see a frying pan tossing competition?

click to play

Birding Break & The Summer Experience

2011-09-01T16:43:00.021-05:00

Summer is not my favorite season but there are things that I look forward to this time of year. Instead of sitting around and waiting for summer to be over I decided to look for some of the best of what summer has to offer. I don't enjoy birding much in the heat and humidity so I decided to leave the binoculars behind for a couple of weeks. You could say I've been taking a birding break but binoculars aren't required to see birds.

One hot morning I climbed to the traprock ridge overlooking Black Pond in Meriden. There is trail with a gradual incline which gets you to the ridge in about 15 minutes. There was a cool breeze at the top and the views are great! Although I wasn't going out of my way to look for birds I did see Osprey, Turkey Vultures, Double-crested Cormorants, Mute Swans, and Great Blue Herons in the pond and surrounding marsh.

One Sunday morning I was on my way to Rose's Berry Farm in Glastonbury when a flash of white caught my eye. It was a Great Egret perched high in a tree at the Portland Fairgrounds.

We are fortunate to have several fruit orchards and farm stands near Portland. Rose's Berry Farm in Glastonbury offers breakfasts on Sundays featuring recipes containing whichever fruit is in season at the time. I had french toast topped with homemade blueberry sauce. It was so good that I considered ordering a second helping. It's no wonder they hire a falconer every year. He uses a dozen falcons to chase birds away from the berries. They initially tried firing cannons to scare the birds off but the neighbors didn't particularly care for that method.

After breakfast I took a walk along a dirt road that passes by the fields. There were several Field Sparrows that would land on the sprinklers and sing.

Here is a short clip of one of the Field Sparrows singing.

I enjoy attending some of the free outdoor concerts and events that take place during the summer. Somehow the Mallards found their way into this photo which was taken at the Dragon Boat Festival in Hartford.

This is a video of a dragon boat race in progress.

This gull found its catch of the day on the Mystic River in front of a restaurant. I wonder if it saw the all you can eat sign?

My wife and I spent a couple of relaxing days at the Steamboat Inn at Mystic. We enjoy looking out the window as boats pass by. The name of this yacht is Serque.

Other than the hurricane we've had nice summer and fall will soon be here.

click to play video of Mystic River Bridge being raised

10 Things A New Birder Isn't Required To Do

2011-08-27T18:30:00.010-05:00

Birdwatching was once seen as a hobby that was intended mainly for nerds. In recent years the image of birding has changed and is now a popular pastime that appeals to a wide variety of people. According to US fish and Wildlife, it is now the number 1 sport in America. There are so many tools available for someone who is interested in getting started in birding these days: outstanding optics, a wide selection of field guides, birdjam, e-bird, bird clubs that offer field trips-and the list goes on. Most new birders are impressed by all this but there are some that are intimidated by this modern day version of birding. They just want to go out and see some cool looking birds.

Some beginners are reluctant to go on a field trip because they feel that their birding skills aren't good enough. I've talked to people on field trips that don't become more involved with the birding community because they are concerned they might be expected to take notes, keep lists of species seen, chase rare birds, or enter sightings on e-bird.

If you talk to someone who is really into birding then you might get the impression that there is a specific way to go about birdwatching but the truth is you can watch birds in any manner you please.

There is plenty of information about how to get started with birding-just google something like: How to get started with birding .
Instead of making a how to get started in birding list I decided on this list instead:

10 things a new birder isn't required to do:

1) You don't have to call yourself a birder: Birder and birdwatcher mean basically the same thing. If you go to different places trying to find and identify birds you can use either term or make up your own.
2) You don't have to buy expensive binoculars: It's okay to buy a pair of 7x35 binoculars in a department store-just try them out in the parking lot after you buy them.That way you can return them right away if they don't work for you. Just make sure you don't take them birding in the rain or swim with them since they probably aren't waterproof.
3) You don't need to be good at identifying birds to attend a field trip: There are trips that are specifically offered for beginning birders but many trips in bird clubs are open to anyone. If you're not sure just contact the leader and ask them.
4) You don't need to buy a spotting scope: It isn't necessary to spend additional money to get a spotting scope unless you want to. Binoculars will do the job in most circumstances and other birders will often let you have a look at a bird through their scope.
5) You don't have to force yourself to learn the song of every species of bird: You can start by learning the songs of birds you hear most often and then learn the others when you're ready.
6) You don't have to enter your sightings on e-bird: E-bird is a great tool that a lot of birders are using these days but it's by no means a requirement.
7) You don't need to keep lists of birds you see: Many birders keep lists of birds they see but not all of them do. Keep lists if you want to but you're not in danger of losing your birder's license if you decide not to.
8) You don't have to track down rare birds that have been reported: You may hear about rare birds being reported around the state. Some birders follow reports about these birds and go see them because they want to see them or add them to their list. Some birders chase rare birds frequently, some occasionally, and some not at all.
9) There is no time table to learn how to identify species of birds that you find difficult: If you have difficulty learning to identify certain types of birds like shorebirds or sparrows there's no need to be in a rush. Learn at a pace that's comfortable for you.
10) You don't need to follow my advice by reading this list: My point is that people enjoy watching birds in many different ways. Not everyone is a serious birder that follows a specific sets of rules. Take time to learn about all the great things that birding has to offer and take advantage of the ideas that interest you.

As for me, I appreciate that there is access to so many great resources for birders these days. I may not always take advantage of them but it's nice to know they're available when you need them.

Hurricane Irene is on it's way to Connecticut-let's hope for the best!

New Laptop Lets Me Blog Outdoors

2011-08-21T18:15:00.000-05:00

I've had my desktop computer since 2003. That's longer than I've been birding or blogging. I've been thinking for a while that it would be nice to be able to have a laptop so that I could use my computer outdoors but I thought that it would be a luxury, not a necessity. Over the past year I started having problems with uploading photos and video so I finally gave in and bought a laptop. There's been some great back to school deals on them. Everything has been so much easier with windows 7, a new processor, and plenty of ram. things just work automatically. I don't have to e-mail requests for outdated hotfixes any more.

No longer am I confined to a desk in the living room, I can now bring my laptop outdoors where I can take part in important meeting like this recent grackle convention in my backyard.

click to play

August Is Prime Time For Helen Carlson Bog

2011-08-08T20:59:00.009-05:00

I make frequent trips to The Helen Carlson Sanctuary throughout the year but the bog is teeming with life in August.

There is an excellent metal viewing platform which provides great views of the surrounding area. Butterflies like this Silver-spotted Skipper land on the plants and flowers near the edge of the platform-( click on butterfly photo for more detail ).

I caught this Muscovy-type Duck hanging out on the lower deck. I believe it might be someone's pet duck but this one seems to prefer spending at the bog. From what I've read, they eat lots of mosquitoes. Strange thing is, I rarely have a mosquito land on me while I'm sitting on the viewing platform.

The Green Herons are really active there this time of year. They can often be heard communicating with each other and with a little patience, you can usually get a good view of one. There are a fair amount of birds to be seen or heard at the bog. I counted 35 species seen or heard during my last visit. My favorite sightings were of a Scarlet Tanager along the wooded edge, an Osprey flyover and watching an Eastern Kingbird eat a dragonfly. The kingbird was trying to swallow the dragonfly for several minutes until it was chased away by an envious Eastern Phoebe.

There is plenty to see and hear at the Helen Carlson Sanctuary if you are patient. I bring my camera binoculars, spotting scope and kick back in a chair waiting for nature to reveal itself to me. It's a relaxing way to spend a couple of hours on a lazy summer day.

If you're planning a visit to this bog: Bring waterproof boots (path to platform tends to flood) and a scope if you have one-(great spot to scan distant trees for bird). The direction of the sunlight is best in the late afternoon but early morning is okay too.

Canada Geese Put A Halt To My Camping Plans

2011-07-27T18:50:00.007-05:00

I recently decided to camp overnight at Hammonasset Beach State Park. Normally I would prefer a campground in a tranquil, wooded setting but I thought I would give hammo a try since the birding is always good there. My plan was to get an early start so that I could do some birding before the weekend beach crowd arrived.

I arrived at my site (1) on Beach Road and the first thing I noticed was a flock of Canada Geese hanging out right about where I would be pitching my tent. I took a few photos of them but then realized that they had thoroughly blanketed the area with goose droppings. There may be some that might consider this an opportunity to add an organic touch to their camping but the idea of kneeling down to set up my tent on a pile of goose droppings wasn't appealing to me, especially on a 97 degree day. I asked the park office if I could borrow a rake. They said maintenance would come down to clean it up but by this time it was already getting late.

I spent a little time wandering around the grounds looking for birds. I saw Osprey, Red-winged Blackbirds, terns, and a Barn Swallow which was temporarily trapped in the men's room. I was confused when I saw the Yellow Warbler (above). I know that a yellow Warbler is basically the only warbler that's all yellow but I've never noticed one with an eye ring. Maybe it had something to do with the angle of the lighting.

It was 9:00 pm and the maintenance crew hadn't made it out yet. I watched the sun sink below the horizon and then decided to pack up and head for home.

I returned the following morning in time to see a rabbit enjoying his breakfast. I was reading that these rabbits thump their hind feet on the ground to communicate with each other and can let out a blood-curdling scream when attacked by predators.

I don't get a chance to see many gulls other than Herring Gulls, Greater black-backed Gulls, and Ring-billed gulls. It was a treat for me to see a Laughing Gull for a change.Some other birds I saw around the park included Glossy Ibis and Little Blue Heron.

There was also this flycatcher singing away near the Willard Island parking area. I believe it was a Willow Flycatcher based on it's call. I made a nice video of it but unfortunately, I haven't been able to upload videos from my camera lately.

During my travels along the shore I picked up this antique washbowl and pitcher. It was so nice that I almost kept it for myself but I decided that in the long run, taking a shower is probably a more efficient way to stay clean. Instead, I brought it to a local antique shop where they promptly set it up for display.

Although my camping plans didn't work out the way I had intended, spending time at Hammonasset was still worthwhile. I plan to make more visits to shoreline areas before the summer is over, but I think I'll save the camping for fall.

Going On A Field Trip In Your Own Back Yard

2011-07-19T21:19:00.004-05:00

It was 6am Sunday morning and I was enjoying a cup of coffee as I admired the view through my kitchen window. I was struggling to decide where I should go bird watching and then it occurred to me. Why not spend the day in my own back yard? I picked out a nice viewing area beneath a tree and set up my camera on a tripod. I thought it would be a good opportunity to try out the flower mode on my camera while I was waiting for the birds to show up. This flower is from a plat called Rose Of Sharon. Hummingbirds are attracted to these flowers.

I have lots of berries in my yard this summer which attract catbirds. I'm not sure if they're territorial or just curious but this one landed on my tripod and stared at me as I was looking though my binoculars.

The petals on these Purple Coneflowers are almost gone but I leave them standing well into the fall because birds like to eat their seeds.

I spotted a Baltimore Oriole feeding on the cottony flowers in this Mimosa Tree.

I often see the palm-like branches in this tree shaking from the birds like this Cedar Waxwing eager to get at their flowers. This tree isn't native to Connecticut so I wouldn't have planted one in my yard but since it came with the house I might as well enjoy it!

It was a nice change for me to spend the day in the backyard instead of driving all over wasting gas looking for birds. It was also convenient to use the tripod for the camera in the backyard and to have use of a table and chair. I didn't need to worry about getting home in time to do yard-work. I was able to work on the gardens and cut the grass in between what I was doing. The manual reel mower I use doesn't make much noise to scare the birds away. By observing birds from one set location, I was able to observe some interesting behaviors that I might have otherwise missed.

Besides the birds that visited my yard I also had some interesting flyover birds including an Osprey and a Black Vulture. I don't plan on spending all my weekends birdwatching at home but it's nice to have that option to fall back on.

Searching For Lazy Summer Birds

2011-07-10T16:58:00.001-05:00

Now that the hot weather has arrived, I'm taking a much more casual approach to birding. Instead of putting in a lot of effort to finding birds, I'm content with the birds that seem to find me. The Turkey Vulture in the photo was stretching his wings early one morning near aircraft road in Middletown. They do this to regulate body temperature, dry their wings, and to bake off little critters. They probably think they look cool doing it too.

I spent too much time trying to get a decent photo of a Prairie Warbler up at the power lines in Portland. I finally managed to catch one out in the open, although it wasn't very close. As I was concentrating on taking this photo, two Ruffed Grouse crossed the path right in front of me!

During a recent early-morning visit to the Maromas area of Middletown, I found a young family of Wood Ducks playing follow the leader.

There was no need to track the deer as the deer were on the tracks.

I've come to like snakes since I started using a camera because snakes stay still when you're taking there picture. I think this is a water snake.

The Great Blue Herons start leaving their nests in our area during July.There are more of them around and they seem easier to approach. I found this one near Wethersfield Cove.

This was one of about 20 hanging around the Portland Fairgrounds early one morning.

I've also been making short trips out to local areas during the evening. The Helen Carlson Bog in Portland is a great place to find Green Herons this time of the year.

This Cedar Waxwing seems to be yawning as it must be close to bedtime.

I'm sure I'll become more adventurous before the summer ends t but for now, I'm satisfied with sitting by a pond watching the Mallards stare back at me.

June 27 Article About The Movie "The Big Year"

2011-06-29T17:50:00.004-05:00

Jim Williams wrote an article in the StarTribune about the upcoming movie "The Big Year". You can read it: here.

Biking, & Birds With A Bad Reputation

2011-06-26T11:08:00.007-05:00

     I had a couple of old bikes that had been sitting around for years collecting dust. I decided to bring them to a local bike shop to see if I could get a few bucks for them but instead, I ended up walking out with a new bike. I hadn't ridden a bike since I became spoiled by the ease and comfort of driving my first car. I wasn't concerned with exercise or high gas prices in those days but times have changed.

  My free time for birding has been limited this month but I've been able to maximize this time by using the bike for short, local trips. The top photo was taken along the East Hampton portion of the rail trail. I was hoping to capture a nice photo of a Black-throated Green Warbler there. They hang out in the evergreens that border the edge of the trail. I had a good opportunity when a BT-Green landed on a branch in plain view. Unfortunately, I had forgotten that I was in auto mode and was trying to manual focus so I missed my chance. I'm still trying to figure out how to coordinate the use of my binoculars and camera while riding a bike. On the plus side, it only took me 10 minutes to bike out there instead of the hour it would have taken if I had to walk the trail.

      I took this photo of a male Brown-headed Cowbird over near the Rocky Hill Ferry. The cowbird has a bad reputation because they lay their eggs in the nests of other species and let them raise their young.

I also found this male House Sparrow making itself at home on a pier near the launch site of the ferry. Many birders don't like the House Sparrow because it isn't a native species and they often take over nesting sites of other native species such as the Eastern Bluebird. If the House Sparrow is still in The United States a thousand years from now will they finally be forgiven for being introduced here?

I found this Black Vulture munching on some raccoon jerky along route 66 in Portland. Some may look at vultures as harbingers of death but they provide a valuable service by cleaning up roadkill free of charge!

Fuzzy Fledgling Sandpiper At The Meadows

2011-06-07T20:14:00.005-05:00

I spent some time at Wangunk Meadow this weekend where I compiled a list of species with the intention of submitting it to ebird. the highlight of my morning was to have this fuzzy little fledgling scurry right across the trail I was walking on.

A few seconds later an adult Spotted Sandpiper emerged from hiding to let me know that I was an intruder so I quickly moved on. The female Spotted Sandpiper is the one who arrives on breeding grounds first to establish and defend territory. The male takes the primary role of parental care during nesting while the female finds other males to breed with. The female gets involved again during the fledgling stage- so maybe this is the female?

There were several Empidonax flycatchers around. I've heard that the best way to tell a Willow Flycatcher from an Alder is by its call so I videotaped several of the calls I heard. One of the calls could clearly be identified as a Willow Flycatcher. The other calls I recorded were different from what I found on the Internet so I can't be sure of their identity. The bird in this photo shows very little eye ring. I'm guessing it's probably a willow.

Acadian Flycatchers Have Arrived On The Scene

2011-06-03T04:43:00.010-05:00

It was only about 3 years ago that I took the time to learn the call of the Acadian Flycatcher. I found out that its call which is referred to by other birders as the "pizza" call did not sound that way to me. I would describe it as sounding like a chipmunk with the hiccups. Since familiarizing myself with its call, I have been able to hear a couple of them each year.

The photo, which was taken in Meshomasic Forest, represents the first good look I've had of one outside of my field guide. The Acadian Flycatcher is the largest of the Empidonax flycatchers. You can see the greenish color along with the prominent wing bars and eye ring. The next day, I came across three more of them. I found one in a different part of Meshomasic Forest, one on the rail trail in East Hampton, and another on the outer edge of Hurd Park. There must be a good crop of them this year!

Just curious, does anyone know what kind of flower this is?

I don't always pay close attention to butterflies while birding but there were a lot of them near the reservoir on Tuesday. Most were Eastern Tiger Swallowtails and Spicebush Swallowtails. I noticed one of them didn't have a long tail like the others. I looked it up on-line and believe it's a Red-spotted Purple which would be a new one for me.

click to play

I managed to capture a brief clip of the Acadian Flycatcher during one of its peet-sah calls.

A Visit To Ferd's Bog In The Adirondacks

2011-05-31T17:21:00.003-05:00

I spent a few days in the Adirondacks on a fishing trip. Of course I was also interested in finding birds. It was my first visit to the area but one place I just had to check out was Ferd's Bog which is a spot that is well known by many birders. The first thing I noticed when I entered the forest area leading up to the bog was the silence effect. It reminded me of being in a soundproof room where hearing tests are conducted. the only thing I could hear was the sound of birds singing and a slight ringing in my ears. The boardwalk leading out to the bog looked so inviting. It was like the yellow brick road in the Wizard Of Oz only this boardwalk was designed for birders (and other nature enthusiasts).

White-throated Sparrows sang to each other from across the forest. There was also a singing contest going on between a Black-throated Blue Warbler on one side of the path and a Magnolia Warbler on the other side. They never stopped singing the whole time I was there. Red-breasted Nuthatches were in the area. I could also hear the song of Boreal Chickadees in the treetops which sounded like Black-capped Chickadees with a pollen throat allergy. Unfortunately, I could never get a good look at them.

There was also plenty of bird activity near the bog. Common Yellowthroats were especially vocal. Purple Finches could be heard singing from the edge of the woods across from the bog.there were Tree Swallows flying overhead and a species of sparrows that I failed to identify before they flew off to another area.They looked like Lincoln Sparrows but I only had a quick glance.

The lighting was not good at the time I saw this hawk fly over. The single white tail band on this buteo leads me to believe it is a Broad-winged Hawk.

What kind of flowers are these?

I'm guessing this is some kind of trillium.The trilium I usually see in Connecticut is red so I'll just call this White trillium.

This snake wasn't shy at all. It looks like a Garter Snake to me so I'll just call it a garter Snake.

I'm not usually overly interested about insects but I received a Field guide To Insects And Spiders Of North America for Christmas. I used the book for the first time to learn that this is a Golden Net-winged Beetle. It says they live in coniferous forests which fit the habitat I was in. This book made it easy to find what I was looking for. Now I'm looking forward to identifying more strange insects.

click to play

My hope was that I would see my first Black-backed Woodpecker during my visit to Ferd's Bog but the only woodpecker I saw there was a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. If I had been looking for black flies I would have hit the jackpot. I wouldn't be surprised if the BBWP showed up the day after I left. The majority of reported sightings there seem to start in June.

I may have came up empty in the Black-backed Woodpecker department but my visit to Ferd's Bog was definitely worth it. I leave you with the sweet whistling tune of the White-throated Sparrow (video) .

Do You Dare Leave Your Camera Behind?

2011-05-21T05:43:00.001-05:00

I took part in a local field trip last weekend with a small group of birders. We started out at a place called Great Pond Preserve in Glastonbury. It has lots of old cedars and a ravine that leads down to a glacial pond. We were literally running away from swarms of mosquitoes and the birds stayed well hidden so we didn't waste much time there.

We had better luck at the next location which was a power line area in Portland. There were lots of Prarie Warblers there. It took a while before we were able to get good looks at them but we had a couple of instances when one landed just a few feet from us right out in the open. One of the birders in our group had never seen warblers before so that added some excitement.

After leaving that area, we went a short way up the road to the reservoir area.We had lots of interesting birds there including an Osprey, a nice look at a Yellow-throated Vireo and several species of warbler.The bird of the day for us was the Canada Warbler. You don't see them around here as often as other warblers.We saw two at eye level. They were flying from one side of a path to the other near the edge of a metal gate. Awesome view!

I had decided not to bring my camera with me because it detracts from my concentration while trying to help lead a trip. I wish that I had the picture to show you but then again I doubt it would be nearly as good as what I saw. Another thing is that I would have been staring at it through an electronic view finder and wouldn't have had such a great view of it. All I have to show for the trip was these Least Sandpipers that we saw at the fairgrounds at the very end. I had to wiz though this post in 5 minutes because I'm off on a little adventure.

Viewing Birds From Different Angles

2011-05-13T18:12:00.002-05:00

I find that it can be a challenge trying to get a good view of the birds this time of the year. Many times I can hear migrant birds singing high in the treetops but can't get a good look at them because there are just too many leaves in the way.

During a visit to Great pond Preserve in Glastonbury I found a spot where I could lie on the ground and look up into the trees. I heard a Rose-breasted Grosbeak singing for several minutes before it finally came into view. A few minutes late I was able to locate the female too. The advantage of watching these birds while lying on my back was that I didn't feel any neck strain and the view seemed more dramatic from the angle I was looking at them.

Another way that I was able to get a good viewing angle was to walk up a hill by way of a power line trail. I found a spot where I was able to get closer to eye level with this tree. I was catching a glimpse of a Northern Parula as it was singing and moving from branch to branch. It seemed to be moving toward the outer edge where I hoped that I would be able to take a photo of it. Instead, a Blue-winged Warbler showed up on the branch I was expecting the parula to be. It wasn't singing but it had the dark eye line mark, was mostly yellow, and had the slightly darker wing area.

After the picture was taken several other species passed through including Black & White Warbler, Baltimore Oriole, Scarlet Tanager, and Yellow-throated Vireo. Sometimes it pays just to stay still and watch one tree for a while.

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Later in the morning I stopped by the fairgrounds where I found so Greater Yellowlegs and Solitary Sandpipers racing across the mud puddles.

Rail Trail Offers A Close-Up View Of Birds

2011-05-01T13:09:00.138-05:00

I went birding on a section of the Air Line Rail Trail that passes through the Raymond Brook Marsh In Hebron. Parking for the trail is located on route 85 next to route 85 lumber.The trail is popular among bicyclists, dog-walkers, birders, and photographers but the trails are wide enough that there is room for everyone.

There is an excellent photography website by Stan Malcom titled Along The Air Line.... that features photos of scenery and wildlife taken along the trail.
Upon entering the wooded portion of the trail, I had a terrific view of a Northern Parula . The colored band along its chest was really vibrant. Soon after that I could here numerous towhees singing in the underbrush. The one in the photo was right at the edge of the trail scratching up the leaves as it searched for its morning meal. This is a view of Raymond Marsh through which the trail passes. This entire area has excellent habitat including streams, marsh, and low-lying vegetation. There are numerous small trees bordering trail that make convenient places for birds to land. Male Red-winged blackbirds are real posers in the spring. I find it difficult to get a picture of them that shows their eyes. The Tree Swallows were constantly flying across the trail and back. It appears they have found a nesting site in this dead standing tree. There are several dead snags on this portion of the trail, it is a lot easier to view and photograph birds when they land on these things.The Yellow Warbler is one of the most common of the warbler species in Connecticut. A lot of times they stay at or below eye level which makes them easier to find than other warblers that hang out in the tops of trees. I followed this Common Yellowthroat for about 20 minutes. It was constantly bouncing around in the bushes and skulking through vegetation that was right near my feet. It was frustrating to have it so close but not be able to take its photo. Finally, it popped out for a few seconds. Some other notable birds for the day were: Wood Ducks, Great Blue Heron, Eastern Kingbird,Yellow-throated Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Baltimore Oriole, Black and White Warbler, and Blue-winged Warbler.

The thing that makes this such a special place isn't so much the number of species you see but how well you are able to see them. This also means that you get plenty of good photo opportunities. I plan to return here and make visits to many other areas along the rail trails this year.

I Was Camping & The Osprey Was Fishing

2011-04-29T17:56:00.013-05:00

I Camped While The Osprey Caught Fish I decided to go ahead with my camping plans At American legion State Forest despite a forecast predicting rain for the entire day on Saturday. I passed time during the day by reading, eating, and listening to the radio while I waited for the heaviest rain to pass. At about 2pm the I began to get a bit stir crazy so I put some rain gear on and took a walk along the Farmington River. I encountered two Hermit Thrushes during my walk that seemed to be monitoring my presence. They were flying back and forth between the woods and a patch of vegetation at the edge of the river.

I heard a bird calling in the distance but I wasn't quite sure what it was. Suddenly, an Osprey flew by me and landed in a tree across the river. It had a large fish secured in its talons which flopped around as the Osprey proceeded to consume its meal.

It was unsettling to see this sign posted right where I was watching the Osprey. It was a reminder to fishermen about the importance of properly disposing of fishing line. This is an actual photo of an Osprey (photo by Hank Golet) that shows an Osprey which was found dead hanging from a nest in Old Lyme.The poster may have been creepy but it was an effective way to get a message across.

I like to keep my camping recipes quick and simple. This is apple-chicken sausage and a single-serving pack of vegetables sauteed in olive oil. The sausage is precooked and sealed in plastic so it's easy to keep fresh in the cooler. The meal took about 10 minutes to prepare. It was pretty good and fairly healthy too.

I awoke early the next morning and was happy to find that the rain had stopped. I was anxious to see what birds the day might bring. The light reflecting off of the rocks let me know that plenty of sunshine was coming my way.

The woods surrounding the campground consist mostly of tall pine trees. The area was alive with the sound of birds. Finding them was a challenge and photographing them was a lost cause for me. Some of the birds I saw or heard were: Pine Warbler, Palm Warblers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Black-throated green Warblers, Black and White Warblers, Yellow-throated Vireos, Red-breasted & White-breasted Nuthatches, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, and Hermit Thrush. Common Mergansers would fly up the river, float back down, and then repeat the process. Belted Kingfishers rattled out there calls from select branches along the river. I could hear Pileated Woodpeckers off in the distance. Large oval holes chiseled into dead trees was another sign I was in their territory.

When I arrived home, My mother-in-law asked me what the unusual looking bird sitting on my lawn was? I was impressed that as a non-birder she noticed what turned out to be a pretty good bird to find in my yard. It was an Eastern Towhee welcoming me back home.

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( I've been having a difficult time with blogger lately. There has been unwanted space between the photos and text that doesn't appear until I post it).-update-switching to new editor seems to have fixed the problem.

10 Photo Moments In The Month Of April

2011-04-21T19:31:00.012-05:00

1)Let's Start From The Top: This is a view from the top of Great Hill which one of my favorite hiking destinations in the area. It only takes about 20 minutes to get to the top. In the distance is a view of the Connecticut River. It's a good place to see Black Vultures, Turkey Vultures, Common Ravens and a few migrants during the spring.

2) Eagle To Please: I've seen lots of Bald Eagles in the area during April. This young eagle let me get a little closer than I'm usually able to.

3) More Mockingbirds Than I Can Shake A Stick At: I have been seeing a lot of mockingbirds lately and they have been singing their hearts out. I heard one imitate a Scarlet Tanager pachang call the other day. I wondered if that means it was near a tanager recently or if they carry over songs from the year before. I also saw a mockingbird chase a after a robin who dared to steal fruit from the mockingbird's berry bush-fun to watch.!

4) Stick to peanut butter: I really wasn't all that interested in trying to find out how many mockingbirds I could shake a stick at so I came up with another plan. I tried to set up some perches near my feeders to see if a bird would land on it so I could get a close-up photo. As an added incentive for the birds, I smeared a little peanut butter on the branch. One titmouse did land on it but I wasn't quick enough to snap the shot. It's a good idea but I need to work on perfecting this plan so I'm not stuck with a bunch of peanut butter photos.

5) 100+ Great Blue Heron Nests In The Middle Of Somewhere: There is a fantastic heronry in the area that has well over 100 nests. On the dreary day that this photo was taken, I counted 30+ Great Blue Herons on or near the nests. The nests are spread across an island surrounded by water with trees screening the view which makes it difficult to get a photo showing all the nests. I'd probably have to be in a boat or a hot air balloon. I wanted to go back to try for a better photo but then came #(5 on my list.

6)The Annual Flood Of Route 17 In Portland: The Connecticut River starts way up in New Hampshire near the Canadian Border. Every year when the snow and ice melt in the states north of us, the river floods in Portland. This is a view from one end. If you live in Canada please don't run your garden hose this month!

7) The view from the other end: This is a view of the same road from the other end about a mile away. People try to drive through it almost every year-not a good idea. I was hoping that some ducks would wander over towards my truck but no luck.

8) What Do You Call These? I've found this giant fungus growing on a tree at the Abe Temkin Preserve. I've seen them before but don't know what it's called.

9) Close Encounter With Campephilus Giganticus: Legend has it that there is a giant woodpecker living in the state forest here in Portland. It is rumoured to be 36" in length from head to tail. They are very playful woodpeckers and love to chisel down trees when they have nothing better to do. Of course, there is a remote possibility that a beaver may have done this.

10) Three species of warblers so far: I've seen three species of warbler so far this month. First I saw a Pine Warbler, then I saw a Palm Warbler, and last weekend I saw a Louisianna Waterthrush. I didn't capture photos of any of them so I just used this old photo of a Palm Warbler.

That is a brief update of what I've been up to. I'm hoping to get a little camping in this weekend but the weather forecast does not look promising. Have you seen any warblers or other migrants in your area this month?

The Birding Antique-Connection

2011-04-06T16:55:00.019-05:00

I've always been interested by the idea of finding old or interesting things. When I was a kid, I used to collect coins and try to search for hidden treasures with a metal detector. I once found a metal object from the early 1800's that was worth 800 times its original value. That might have been an impressive find if it was something other than a penny. (The top photo is of a nutcracker that was made by the J & E Stevens Company of Cromwell, Connecticut in 1859).

It occurred to me that there are some similarities between birding and dealing with antiques. Finding a rare bird can be exciting just as finding a rare antique would be. A beginning birder may be excited about a new bird he/she has found only to find out it is just a common ordinary bird.

I've had similar experiences when I've brought something to be appraised and found out that it wasn't worth anything. I found this ashtray that was left behind by the previous owners packed away in my cellar. It wasn't particularly old but the unique squirrels holding the acorn design made it worth a few bucks to one antique dealer I visited.

This past weekend after spending some time birding at Hammonasset, I stopped into an antique/collectible shop called Every Day Treasures located on route 1 in Clinton. If you're ever out that way it's worth having a look inside. There's a lot of interesting items in there that are nicely displayed on two floors.

They had a lot of interesting items in there liked this wooden duck named Tracey.

I think this is some type of copper relief art. I like the way the ducks pop out of the painting.

After my visit to the antiques shop it was time to pick up the binoculars again and get back to the business of birding. Increased numbers of Hooded Mergansers have been showing up in the ponds and rivers around the area this week.

I've been finding Black Vultures gathered in trees behind the Taylor-Palmer preserve field in Portland. I see them there in the morning hours as they're getting ready for take-off. This one looks like it was trying to send a telegraph message to one of his buddies.

I've used up all of my inventory for now but I'll continue to be on the lookout. Whether it be a bird or an antique, you never know when you'll come across something rare or unusual.

Here are some shows I've enjoyed watching this month : American Pickers, Pawn-Stars, and Storage Wars

Bye Bye Bufflehead

2011-03-30T17:02:00.014-05:00

Bufflehead are small diving sea ducks that I usually see a couple of times during the midst of the winter. The name Bufflehead comes from the combination of the words buffalo and head. _ __ ____________________________________________________________There were several male and female Bufflehead on the Connecticut River near Deep River landing on Sunday. Usually when I see them from a distance the Male's head looks black and white. This one particular male came close enough that I was able to see that the dark portion of their head is surprisingly iridescent. I was interested to learn (from Cornell) that they nest almost exclusively in tree holes that were excavated by Northern Flickers. These ducks are a lot of fun to watch because they are very active. They do a lot of diving, grooming and displaying. Many spring migrants will soon be arriving but these might have been the last Buffleheads I'll see before next winter. Bye Bye Buffleheads - until we meet again! Until then, there should be plenty of other ducks to see like these Wood Ducks that were swimming in a flooded stream near the Chester-Hadlyme Ferry.

Return Of Snipe To Portland Fairgrounds

2011-03-27T15:34:00.007-05:00

For the last several years I've been able to find Wilson's Snipe near a skating pond at our local fairgrounds. The first time I saw them I wasn't quite sure what they were. They reminded me of a woodcock but there were differences. I usually find woodcock in a more wooded setting and the snipe's eyes don't protrude from their head the way a woodcock's do. They prefer open fields that are muddy and have tall grass for them to hide in. The snipe start show up near the skating pond around mid-March which is just about the time the ground thaws out. By late March or early April they reach peak numbers of about 24-50 birds.
- - I found this one early Saturday morning. At first it looked like a clump of dirt surrounded by grass as it stood perfectly still. It started to blink its eyes and take deeper breaths as the temperature warmed up. Shortly after this video, it flew to the other side of the pond and started probing for food. The return of Wilson's Snipe to the fairgrounds is another sign that spring has finally arrived.

I'm In No Hurry To See Warblers

2011-03-22T11:17:00.009-05:00

-------------------------( Common Grackle)-----------------------------------------------------
Spring is one of my favorite seasons of the year, the other being fall. If I had one complaint about spring it would be that it goes by too quickly. There are only so many perfect spring days when the sun is shining and the temperature is in the 60- 70 degree range before spring turns into summer. This year, I'm not making the mistake of looking for those perfect spring days. It's spring right now and I plan on making the most of it.

One thing I've done in recent years is to look forward to the arrival of warblers. This year, I want to enjoy spring as it unfolds naturally without putting any specific emphasis on seeing warblers . There are plenty of other birds to see before the warblers get here. On Saturday, I spent several hours at a local swamp that was alive with the sound of birds actively searching for food and displaying.
Male Red-winged Blackbirds took position in high perches as they belted out their best conk-ra-lee calls while showing off their fancy red wing patches.

I watched as this grackle contemplated whether or not to take the plunge.

It couldn't resist taking a dip into the freshly melted water. This grackle returned to the same log and repeated this process three times.

There are still a lot of people I talk to that think robins don't arrive in Connecticut until spring. I see them all winter but it isn't until the ground is melted that they show up on people's lawns ready for a worm-picking picnic.

I led a local field trip on Saturday afternoon to areas along the Connecticut River in Portland. Here is the list for the day: Killdeer-(photo), Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackle, Song Sparrow, Ring-billed Gull, Belted kingfisher, Ring-necked Pheasant, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Great Blue Heron, nesting Bald Eagles, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Wilson's Snipe, American Crow, American Robin, Wood Duck, Red-tailed Hawk, Mallard, Canada Goose, European Starling, Blue Jay, Downy Woodpecker, Dark-eyed Junco, Ring-necked Duck, White-throated Sparrow, Great Cormorant, Black-capped Chickadee, House Sparrow, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Cardinal, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Eastern Phoebe.

It was still a little chilly this weekend and the warblers have not arrived yet but spring is here. I'm not looking for perfect weather or the first warbler. I'm just looking forward to the next opportunity to be outdoors and to see what treasure nature has to show me next.

Red-bellied Woodpecker & Iron Eyes Cody

2011-03-06T10:06:00.019-05:00

I found this Red-bellied Woodpecker during a brief visit to the Johnson/kalinowski preserve on Saturday. There were several Eastern Bluebirds there as well.

The entrance to the 18 acre preserve is located on Grove Street in Portland. The land is situated at the edge of Pecausett Pond which is a fresh water cove connected to the Connecticut River by way of a small inlet. During past visits here I have seen Osprey and Bald Eagles perched in some of the trees. The short entrance trail is the only place you can walk without sinking up to your knees in muck so my my time spent I generally make a brief stop here to see what's around.

Sometimes when I find trash on the ground I'm reminded of a commercial from the 70's. It concluded with a scene showing a Native American standing at the edge of a highway with a tear in his eye after trash is thrown at his feet. It may have been a little melodramatic but it must have made an impression on me since I'm still remembering it 40 years after it originally aired. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, click here to see the Youtube clip of the original commercial. The Native American in the commercial was portrayed by an Italian-American actor named Iron Eyes Cody. I try to remember to pick up litter I find in small preserves like this. I don't want to be haunted by that memory of an American Indian standing in trash with a tear running down his cheek.

Mocking The Mockingbird

2011-02-28T20:31:00.012-05:00

I enjoy watching the antics of Northern Mockingbirds. They plant themselves in a bush full of berries and guard them like a watchdog. They are also curious birds. While watching this mockingbird from inside my truck, I made different sounds to see how it would react. At first, It moved around in the bush unsure of what to do.

As I started talking to it, the bird hopped to the ground and came straight towards me. I wish I had some berries to offer it. It has quite the lengthy tail. I wonder why they hold it up so high?

I spent Saturday morning walking the trails along the Wadsworth Mansion and Wadsworth Park with another birder. It was a mild winter day with no wind and the trails were packed enough so that our feet only sunk into the snow occasionally. There was the usual birds you might expect to find in the Connecticut woods during the winter but their were also a few surprises. We had a nice view of a male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. There was some crows chasing a Red-tailed hawk around the woods. A few Common Ravens passed overhead making there interesting vocalizations. We noted that the ravens and Red-tailed Hawk shared the same airspace without bothering each other.

On my way home I stopped by Harbor Park to see if there were any unusual gulls hanging around. They appeared to all be Ring-billed Gulls playing a game of "heads or tails? " It's good to know that Spring is just around the corner. I'm looking forward to getting outdoors for more extended periods of time now.

The Month Rolled By & The Blog Stood Still

2011-02-25T22:40:00.005-05:00

February seemed to pass me by in the blink of an eye. I ran into a few minor situations that threw a monkey wrench into my weekend birding. My truck broke down, my spotting scope broke, and my shed collapsed. It may sounds like a depressing country song but there was a bright side to all these things. I was able to get my money's worth out of AAA towing service, my scope was covered by a warranty, and I secretly hoped for my shed to collapse when I saw the snow piling up on the roof. I already got more mileage out of it by covering it with rustproof paint and turning the broken sliding doors into hinged doors.

On a more positive note, I saw this robin and many others eating crabapples from the trees near the parking area at Rocky Neck Sate Park.

The Mallards picked through the leftovers that fell to the ground. It was cloudy on the days I got out this month making it difficult for me to get usable photos. I made a visit to Harkness Park in Waterford. It doesn't have the variety of birds and habitat that Hammonasset does but it is a beautiful place to walk. It has large open areas with mature trees and old vine-covered buildings on the grounds. The rocky shoreline had an ocean fresh smell that made me want to break out a pot and cook up some clam chowder. The birds in the background were mostly Brant and Canada Geese and I also came across Snow Bunting .

I came across this Turkey Vulture when traveling from one place to another.

I watched Tufted Titmice, Black-capped Chickadees and White-breasted Nuthatches

under the cedar trees at Wadsworth Mansion. The titmice were the most vocal, communicating back and forth using a variety of whistling calls and noises. Mostly, I just liked standing beneath the trees because I of the way they were lined up giving a tunnel effect. I looked for easy places to do some quick birding this month. I also tried snowshoes for the first time but decided to send them back. There just aren't enough days in the winter when Connecticut has white fluffy snow. It's more often the ice-crusted variety. I tried to cross a field and it sounded like I was marching through a giant bowl of Cap'n Crunch cereal. The birds wouldn't let me get 100 yards from them. I think I might have even started a winter migration.

I saw these Common Goldeneye along the Niantic Bay trail. I was happy to find a new walking trail near the shoreline.

It's just on the other side of the train tracks. Maybe I should take up train spotting. There's one for my 2011 list. Note the grayish metallic body with blue trim. I believe the species is Amtrak. I didn't intend to take a blogger break this month, things just happened to slow me down. I'm looking forward to getting back out on the birding trail and making up for lost time.

January Was Bigger Than My List

2011-02-09T17:22:00.008-05:00

I'm still catching my breath from the winter we've had so far. We had 59.8"of snow in January which is a new record for Connecticut. After all the snow, we also had a bit of an ice storm. Ice-coated trees are a pretty sight in the winter but the additional weight of the ice also contributed to hundreds of roof collapses around the state. Fortunately, there hasn't been any serious injuries from these collapses.
Here is a photo of a Snow Bunting. I think they really stand out nicely against a snowy background. The weather conditions did slow my search for birds in January. I ended up seeing 82 species which is about 20 less than what I saw in the two previous years. Most of my birding was done by car along with a few visits to shoreline locations. There was too much snow inland. Here is my list for January 2011 in order that the species were seen:

1-Red-tailed hawk 2-Mourning Dove 3-European Starling 4-American Crow 5-House Sparrow 6-Northern Cardinal 7-Blue Jay 8-Red-bellied Woodpecker 9-Tufted Titmouse 10-Downy Woodpecker 11-Black-capped Chickadee 12-Song Sparrow 13-American Robin 14-White-throated Sparrow 15-Carolina Wren 16-White-breasted Nuthatch 17-Dark-eyed Junco 18-Mallard 19-Great Cormorant 20-Common Merganser 21-Common Goldeneye 22-Bald Eagle 23-Ring-billed Gull 24-Eastern Screech owl 25-Hooded Merganser 26-House Finch 27-American goldfinch 28 -fox Sparrow 29-Northern Mockingbird 30-Great Blue Heron 31-Herring Gull 32-Canada Goose 33-Northern Flicker 34-Ruddy Turnstone 35-Sanderling 36-Dunlin 37-Great Black-backed Gull 38-American Pipit 39-Common Loon 40-Purple Sandpiper 41-Red-throated Loon 42-American Black Duck 43-Fish Crow 44-Mute Swan 45-Common grackle 46-Bufflehead 47-Red-breasted Merganser 48-Snow Bunting 49-American Coot 50-Monk Parakeet 51-Long-tailed Duck 52-American Tree Sparrow 53-Red-shouldered Hawk 54-Cooper's hawk 55-Ring-necked Duck 56-Horned Lark 57-Brown Creeper 58-Belted kingfisher 59-Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 60-hairy Woodpecker 61-Savannah Sparrow 62-Swamp Sparrow (Wangunk M.) 63-Turkey Vulture 64-Sharp-shinned hawk 65-Eastern bluebird 66-Peregrine Falcon (Portland bridge area) 67-Killdeer 68-Northern Harrier 69-Greater Scaup 70-Lesser Scaup (both at Long Wharf in New Haven) 71-Gadwall 72-Ruddy Duck(New Haven) 73-Greater Yellowlegs (Nature Trail at Long Wharf) 74-Lapland Longspur (Hammo) 75-Black-bellied Plover(end of Meig's Point trail) 76-Red-winged blackbird 77-Golden-crowned kinglet 78-Cedar Waxwing 79-Red-breasted Nuthatch 80-Horned Grebe (West beach hammo) 81-Hermit Thrush 82-Yellow-rumped Warbler.

I added the final 3 species on the last Sunday in January. I also found out that the a Common Murre was seen at West Beach by a large group of birders 5 minutes after I left the area. It was the first recorded sighting of this species in Connecticut.

By the end of the month I was spending more time shoveling snow and raking it off my roof than I was birding. It reminded me that some things are beyond our control and the weather would be one of those things. You just have to accept it and make the best of the situation.

I made sure that I shoveled a path through my back yard to where the fire bowl is. A little bit of music along with a campfire was a nice way to finish a long day of shoveling. Now I'm looking forward to see what February brings us.

One Coyote And A Lot Of Snow

2011-01-27T18:41:00.029-05:00

I saw this Eastern Coyote in Portland on Saturday. I know that some people consider coyotes to be a nuisance but I am fascinated whenever I see them. This coyote was smaller than others I have seen in the area so I am wondering if it might be a female since they are usually the smaller of the two.

The coyote's mating season is during mid winter and the pairs stay together for life although their lifespan is only about 4 years in the wild. This coyote was sniffing the ground and at one point seemed to detect something beneath the snow. It cocked it's head as though it heard something and then pounced on the snow but came up empty. You can see it's yellowish eyes and black-tipped tail. There has been research showing that Eastern Coyotes have some wolf DNA in them which explains why they are larger and more variable in color than their western counterparts. As you can see from the photo of my driveway, Big January has become Big Mess. Enough with the snow already!

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Here's a look back at a coyote video from August of 09

Did Alligators Once Have Feathers?

2011-01-24T14:14:00.005-05:00

I was recently asked if I would be interested in sharing an article written by Carl Zimmer that will be featured in the February 2011 issue of National Geographic magazine. I found the article to be interesting and thought that you might enjoy it as well. Here is the introduction that was sent to me, along with a link to the article:

As an avid bird lover, you probably know that birds evolved from dinosaurs, but did you know that the same feather building genes found in birds are also found in alligators, indicating that the ancestors of all dinosaurs may have had hair-like feathers? This astonishing possibility and more are discussed in National Geographic magazine’s February 2011 article on the evolution of feathers, “The Long Curious Extravagant Evolution of Feathers,” by Carl Zimmer. The article traces the origin of feathers and will be of particular interest to any bird enthusiast.
Click: here to read the article.

Below are two different feathers photographed by Robert Clark which are featured in the Feb 2011 National Geographic Magazine:

The first photo is of a tail feather from a Northern Flicker used to assist in climbing.

photo 2 is from a King Bird-of-paradise (Disk tail-feather tip, wobbles during display).

The article by Carl Zimmer and and photographs by Robert Clark can both be found in the February 2011 issue of National Geographic magazine available on newsstands January 25th.

Snow Buntings Help Lift Winter Spirits

2011-01-19T14:41:00.007-05:00

It has been a rough start to winter this year in Connecticut. Snowfall amounts exceeded two feet during a recent snowstorm and yesterday's icy conditions left thousands without power (mine went out while working on this post). One of the bright spots during this tough stretch of winter has been the arrival of large flocks of Snow Buntings, welcome visitors from the arctic region.
I took these photos of Snow Buntings at Hammonasset on Martin Luther King Day. I sat in my truck mesmerized as large flocks of Snow Bunting repeatedly took flight before settling down to start feeding again. It makes sense to me that some people refer to these birds as snowflakes, because when look like large snowflakes drifting in the wind when they are flying.

I was given a copy of this 1951 printing of a Chester A. Reed field guide some time back. The cardboard protector on the left shows that it retailed for $3.95 at the time. Here's some of what Chester A. Reed had to say about the Snow Bunting:

"When winter storms sweep across the land these birds blow in like true snowflakes and settle down on wind-blown hillsides and benchlands to fed upon the weed stalks that rise above the snow. They are usually found in large flocks which start up from the ground, as one bird, at the slightest noise."

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This old field guide can't compete with today's field guides in terms of accuracy and usefulness in identifying birds but I like the descriptions.

Here is a quote from one of Theodore Roosevelt's books about Snow Buntings:

"One bleak March day,...a flock of snow-buntings came...Every few moments one of them would mount into the air, hovering about with quivering wings and warbling a loud, merry song with some very sweet notes. They were a most welcome little group of guests, and we were sorry when, after loitering around a day or two, they disappeared toward their breeding haunts."

Snow Buntings were also mentioned on pages 18 and 61 in this Inuit Mythology book by Evelyn Wolfson . There were also plenty of Horned Lark around. As I was scanning through one large flock of Horned lark, I was able to find a Lapland Longspur, # 74 on my January list.

I spent some time at Sherwood Island Park in Westport where Common Redpolls had recently been reported. During my visit I saw pretty much what you see in this picture.

As I was driving along the streets of Stratford, I spotted a Sharp-shinned Hawk, or maybe it spotted me.

There was also this one Killdeer, all by its lonesome. I talked to it for a while before moving on.

New Haven's Long Wharf was my last stop of the day on Sunday. I added Ruddy Duck, both scaup, and Gadwall. Most of those birds were located near docks along the shore. Just to the right of this photo there is a nature trail where I found a Greater Yellowlegs which flew off while repeating a 3-note flight call. This made it easier to distinguish for a Lesser Yellowlegs which usually makes a 1-2 night flight call.

click to play: Common Mergansers being harassed by gull

I've continued to plug along with my January despite the weather. My total number of species seen in January is 75 .

My Stops Along The Big January Trail

2011-01-09T13:58:00.016-05:00

1/9/11 Wangunk Meadows: I spent the morning walking along the river trail at Wangunk Meadows. Bright sunshine made a seasonably cold January morning feel more comfortable. A fresh coat of powdery snow covered the wooded trail, softening the sound of my footsteps as I made my way along the path. This section of trail is filled with rotting, vine-covered trees that makes it an ideal location to search for woodpeckers. I was able to add Brown Creeper, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Hairy Woodpecker, and Belted kingfisher to my list.
There were a dozen Ring-necked Ducks on the Connecticut River next to route 17. I used an ice scraper wedged into a guardrail as a makeshift tripod with the squeegee end serving as a nice base for the camera.

I entered Wangunk Meadows from Glastonbury instead of Portland because the Portland entrance hadn't been plowed. There was a flock of birds picking through a sparsely weeded area in the field. At first, I thought they were going to be Horned Lark since there were so many of them but after taking a closer look, I realized the vast majority were Snow Bunting with only a couple of Horned Lark mixed in. I counted 50 bunting before the birds were scared off by some dogs which were running loose in the field. I wish that I had a chance to see if there were any longspur there as well. 1/8/11: I was heading home, traveling along route 154 Haddam when I saw a hawk perched on a power line. I stopped the car and cleverly disguised myself as a snowman so that I could get closer at species #53 on my January list-Red-shouldered Hawk.

1/8/11-Old Saybrook: I took a ride to Old Saybrook on Saturday morning to look for water birds. This is scene looking out from the causeway.

As I had expected, there were some Bufflehead there but I was surprised to find a few American Coot there as well.

I found a flock of Monk Parakeets on a road right before the causeway. Some of the birds seemed to be exhibiting amorous behaviour. I don't think their mating season begins until spring, so maybe they were just practicing.

I saw these Bufflehead Just down the road at Saybrook Point. I was also found two new species for January there, Red-breasted Merganser and Long-tailed Duck. It took me an hour before I was finally able to find the Long-tailed Duck.

Sunday 1/2/11-Hammonasset- It was a foggy morning with temperatures near 50 degrees. The birds were unusually quiet throughout most of the park. I had my best luck finding birds at Meig's Point. My favorite find for the morning was the Common Eider seen in the photo. Other birds that I was able to add to the list included: Dunlin, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Purple Sandpiper, American Pipit, and great Blue Heron.

My plan for this month is to keep a list of species seen in January but to go about my birding at a relaxing pace so that I can enjoy what I'm seeing along the way. ( I'm at 61 species now which is about 10 behind where I was last year at this time).

5 Ways To Make Winter Birding Enjoyable

2011-01-02T18:03:00.009-05:00

1) If it's just too cold, visit your local library-Most of the time I'd prefer to be outdoors enjoying nature but when the weather's not cooperating I enjoy visiting the local library. The Portland Library recently put some books about birds and nature on display. I checked out a book titled: How To Spot An Owl by Patricia & Clay Sutton-which leads me to #2 on my list.
2)Winter is a good time to look for owls: I occasionally come across Barred Owls by chance but I've never really found an owl by actively searching for one. The one exception is when my wife woke me up at 3am to tell me that she heard owls calling. I went across the street with a flashlight and found two Great Horned Owls in a big pine tree. That was worth getting out of bed for. I've read this book before. It has the basics of owling -playback of owl calls, searching for pellets, listening for mobbing from other birds, and looking for "cakey-white whitewash. Beyond the basics, it also teaches you how to get in the right frame of mind to look for owls-sort of like the Zen of owling. There were two sentences in the book on page 92 which read as follows:

"Check every hole in a tree, particularly those facing the sun, during cold weather. It may take a while, but eventually you will be rewarded by a camouflaged figure sitting at the entrance to its home."

I had those words in my head as I drove past a tree which had a peculiar looking knothole in it. I went back to take a closer look and found an Eastern Screech Owl sitting silently in the entrance of a hole in the tree! From what I read, screech owls tend to be more reddish or brown in our area versus gray in other regions. 3) Visiting places that have man-made duck Ponds: There are some places that have man-made ponds. Lyman's Orchard in Middlefield is one such place that I know of. There is always domestic waterfowl there either on or near their man-made pond but often there are wild ducks or geese mixed in with them. When your tired of checking through the flock, you can go inside to grab some pie and a hot cup of coffee. Not a bad way to spend a winter morning.

4)Outdoor campfire at the state park: I have seen many state parks in Connecticut that have outdoor fireplaces under pavilion shelters. I thought it might be a good idea to have some birders meet up and get a good fire going. This way you can search for birds in the surrounding woods while staying warm.

5) Keep track of the number of species you see in January: This is a tradition amongst birders called "Big January". You make a list of all the species you see between January 1st and January 31st. It's a nice way to motivate you to get out and see new birds in January. You can compete against your own previous totals, other birders or bloggers, or just do it for fun. The Hooded Merganser (photo from 2/09) was the 25th species I saw on the first day of 2011. My total for the day was 28 species with Fox Sparrow, Bald Eagle, Great Cormorant, and Common Goldeneye being some of the other notable birds I saw. All of my birding took place in Portland on Saturday.

So those are a few birding related ideas I have to help me make it through the winter months.

Do You have any ideas you'd like to share about ways to make winter birding more comfortable or enjoyable?

Window Blind White-throat In The Snow

2010-12-27T18:15:00.007-05:00

As you can see from my backyard, we had a bit of snow Sunday night into Monday. Portland only had a total of about 10 inches but the wind gusts were strong enough to knock over one of my heavy wooden chairs.

I spent most of Monday shoveling snow and making homemade chicken noodle soup but managed to sneak in a little backyard birding. I set up a simple blind by hanging an old blanket over my breezeway door and putting a piece of cardboard in the window with a hole cut out for the camera lens. Surprisingly, we didn't have a lot of bird activity. There were lots of juncos, 1 Carolina Wren, 1 Mourning Dove, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 2 Northern Cardinals, and a few White-throated Sparrows. Normally, I see a lot of birds at the feeders during a snowstorm.

I set up branches for the birds to land on but they always seemed to land in a position where they were obstructed by other branches or were facing in the wrong direction. I know there are certain methods to control the way the birds land so that is something I'll work on in the future. At least the White-throated Sparrow cooperated by landing in the snow near the window blind. They breed mostly in Candada but I look forward to their return to Connecticut each year in the late Fall.

It's interesting how different a bird can look when it changes it's posture. This photo is of the same bird as in the previous photo but it looks a lot taller in this photo. There are two different forms of the White-throated Sparrow. There is a tan-striped form and the white-crowned form seen in these photos. I think the white-crowned form are more striking to look at. I learned this interesting fact at whatbird: "Individuals almost always mate with a bird of the opposite morph. Males of both color types prefer females with white stripes,and both kinds of females prefer tan-striped males." Don't worry, I didn't set up a secret snow trap just to get this photo. Little birdy did it all on his own.

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and I want to wish you all a Happy New Year!

36th Annual Salmon River CBC

2010-12-20T17:54:00.005-05:00

I participated in the 36th MAS Annual Christmas Bird Count Sunday. I was one of a group of 5 birders in the territory. I like this particular CBC because it is very casual. We walked some of the areas but covered much of the area by car. I did spend much time taking pictures but couldn't resist snapping a photo of the goldfinches eating seeds off this plant with the sunlight coming in from behind them. It was taken in the Portland Reservoir area where we also found Golden-crowned Kinglets, a Brown Creeper to go along with the other usual suspects.
One thing that can be a little frustrating about this particular bird count is that we have a few nice ponds in our territory but naturally they are usually frozen this time of the year. Ducks generally seem to prefer open water over ice. It made for nice scenery though.

There were Dark-eyed Juncos, White-throated Sparrows, and even a Red-bellied Woodpecker searching for food beneath a canopy of White Pine Trees.

I took a ride deep into the Meshomasic State Forest looking for more birds. I found plenty of streams but not many birds but I did see a Red-shouldered Hawk near Del Reeves Road the day before which counts on the list.

We ended the day with a search of the Connecticut River from a couple of locations which are within the circle. One of the locations was at the end of Shipyard Road which has some beautiful old historical homes. A couple of the neighbors came out to chat with us. I was pleased by how friendly and supportive they were when we told them what we were doing.

While we were there, we were able to add a Bald Eagle to our list. We also enjoyed watching several Northern Flickers flying in and out of the knotholes in some of the big old trees. As we drove around the area we had a nice sighting of a Pileated Woodpecker from the car as well as an eye level view of a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk.

We moved down to another public access site at the bottom of Oakum Docks Road. There were 50+ Mallards, 6 Common Mergansers, and one Common Goldeneye on the river. We scanned the shorelines with the scope and spotted a Great Blue Heron looking back at us. We saw two Great Cormorants land in the river but upon further inspection there were another 16 cormorants in a tree. Some flew from the tree to the water and appeared to be Great Cormorants as well.The preliminary number for total species seen is 74. I'll be curious to see what the final tally turns out to be.

You can't tell from this photo but I came across a rafter of Wild Turkeys totalling over 50 in all. Unfortunately, they were 1/2 mile outside of our count circle so they didn't make it onto our list.

click to play

I enjoyed watching the antics of the toms as they walked around Showing off their fancy tail feathers. They came crashing to the ground one by one as they left their roosting spots in the trees. They all gathered in a fenced off area that was occupied by a couple of horses. The horses didn't seem to mind the turkeys and the turkeys paid no attention to the horses. Just one big happy family.

Birding Along The River Of Dreams

2010-12-16T05:43:00.003-05:00

This is a view from the overlook at Selden Creek Preserve . It is one of the unique areas along the Connecticut River which is featured in the book: Tidewaters of-the Connecticut River- An Explorer's guide to Hidden Coves and Marshes . The book contains excellent information about the geological history, flora, and fauna of the Connecticut River. There is one chapter in the book about birds of the Connecticut River which was written by Noble S. Proctor. He is a Professor of Ornithology and botany at Southern Connecticut State University.

One of the more interesting aspects of the book was reading about the history of the towns located along the river. Here's one example: In the early 1800's there were privateers who would leave ports in Lyme, Saybrook, Deep River and Essex that would head out onto the high seas to steal cargo from other ships. They would bring the stolen cargo back to town and sell it. The town authorities condoned these actions because they were getting a percentage of the profits. In 1814, the English sailed up the Connecticut River into the town of Essex and destroyed 28 ships from one of these privateer fleets. It was the greatest financial loss inflicted on American soil by a foreign power until Pearl Harbor.

I recently came across an article that reminded me Billy Joel's "River Of Dreams" video featured a lot of footage taken along the Connecticut River back in 1994. This is the "Come On Over" sign which is featured in the video. It is situated between the Arrigoni Bridge and Railroad Bridge here in Portland, Connecticut.

During the past few weeks I have been birding at various locations along the Connecticut River. There is a trail near my house that is a convenient place for me to go birding when I want to save time and gas. In the past, I've seen Fox Sparrows, Great Horned Owls, Brown Thrashers, Brown Creepers, Black-crowned Night Heron (once) , American Kestrels, Bald Eagles, and a variety of other raptors in this area. It is pretty good for migrating warblers as well. The photo show where the walking trail ends. Just around that point is a line of oil tanks and the brownstone quarries.

This is a view overlooking the brownstone quarries where the Brownstone Discovery Park recently opened. It did a good business over the summer. The Connecticut River is just beyond the blue tanks in the far left background. Some say there are underground tunnels that connect the river with the quarries but I'm not sure if that's true or not. I've heard many people say over the years that the Connecticut River used to empty into the sound in New Haven at one time until it changed course and emptied into Old Saybrook. I learned that this is not true according to the book "Living Resources and Habitats of the Lower Connecticut River" that was written people from the Connecticut College Arboretum in New London. I can't believe that I bought into what was nothing more than geologic folk history for all these years.

During the summer months, I come across lots of Green Herons in the swampy areas along the river.

During certain times of the year I'm able to see interesting ducks in some of the flooded fields near the river. This is one of the Northern Pintails I saw at the flooded fairgrounds one morning.

Double-crested Cormorants in large groups sunning themselves on pylons and other structures in the middle of the river.

Over the last month I've seen Peregrine Falcons near the river in the towns of Portland and Glastonbury. There are numerous places worth exploring on the Connecticut River but the use of a kayak would open up many more opportunities. I'd like to buy a kayak so that I could explore out some of the coves and inlets which are only accessible by boat. I'm not interested in a kayak that rolls over in the water. My whole purpose of using a boat is to stay above of the water, not in the water. My other concern is that I want to be able to bring along a camera and binoculars without worrying about getting them wet. Here's one that I was looking at called the Coleman Hooligan. If anyone has experience with kayaks I'd appreciate some advice about what type of kayak would work best.

Meopta 8x42 Binocular Review

2010-12-06T18:47:00.007-05:00

I've had the pleasure of using the Meopta 8x42 binoculars for the last couple of months. Here is a brief summary of what I thought about them:

The first thing I noticed about them was their green armor exterior and rugged build. They're not particularly lightweight at 30.4 ounces but they have an ergonomic design that makes them feel well balanced in your hands. I also liked the sculpted thumbs pockets which allows for a secure and comfortable grip.

Meopta uses high end European glass in their binoculars which produce images that are both bright and colorful. They have an incredibly wide, flat, field of view (402 ft @ 1000 yds) that is sharp from edge to edge.

The focus is sufficiently fast and brings images into focus with precision. These binoculars have an excellent depth of field which makes it easier to view birds that are moving around without having to refocus all the time.

The close focus is sufficient at 9.8 feet but I have found that I'm able to focus in on objects even closer than that.

The neck strap is wide and comfortable but I did not care much for the lens caps. They just got in the way stay so I just took them off and put them in storage. I just keep the binoculars in the case when I'm not using them. The binocular case is made of some sort of wool or felt material which I didn't care for either. I prefer the old fashioned hard cases that can protect the binoculars in the event that someone happens to accidentally sit on them.

I've had the Meopta meostar 8x42 binoculars with me in all kinds of weather conditions. I've carried them with me while climbing up mountains and bushwacking through dense brush after getting myself lost in the woods. They've never fogged up and the view is always crystal clear, even in low light conditions. I've compared them side by side with the other top name binoculars on the market. In my opinion, the Meopta Meostar 8x42 binoculars are every bit as good as the other top selling European optics but cost hundreds of dollars less. I highly recommend them.

On A Wild Snow Goose Chase

2010-11-20T14:10:00.017-05:00

I work in the Bloomfield area and have been seeing what appeared to be 3 Snow Geese mixed in with a flock of Canada Geese at various locations in town. Unfortunately, chasing birds isn't part of my job description so I had to wait until the weekend before I could get a closer look at them. Bloomfield has a number of large corporate businesses that own property with huge grass lawns and man-made ponds where I found a Snow Goose and a Greater White-fronted Goose over the past couple of years. There has also a recent report of a Barnacle Goose in the area but I was unable to relocate it. This morning, I found the 3 juvenile Snow Geese hanging out at a soccer field at the Bloomfield High School. The white form of the juvenile Snow Goose has a grayish bill and a bit of dingy gray on the upper side. Snow Geese breed on the arctic tundra during the summer and pairs remain together for life.

Maybe it's time I think about getting some knee protection for those times when I decide to crawl across fields on my knees with a camera. My wife always says she likes surprises so she should be surprised when she finds these pants in the hamper! (Just kidding Joan-I already took care of them :)

click to play

Stubborn Red-tail And Tiny Long-tail

2010-11-15T17:46:00.012-05:00

I went to make my rounds at Wangunk Meadows on Sunday. I started the morning by taking a couple of photos from my truck window of this Red-tailed Hawk. I watched it as 3 crows came in to take a few dives at it. The crows even flew across the street to round up a few more crows to try to harass the hawk but it seemed immovable. I got out of my truck and walked across the grass to get closer. Still, the hawk didn't flinch. I thought it might be nice to get a picture of it flying off but decided to leave it be since it was so determined to stay on his branch.

I searched for birds in the fields and near overhanging trees and snags. I found the usual variety of sparrows including-White-crowned Sparrow, Belted kingfisher, 4 species of woodpeckers, Brown Creeper and and an Eastern Phoebe.

I was on my way out and noticed a small duck on the opposite side of the river that made me curious because it was in the middle of the channel by itself and was holding its position against the current. I tried to search my mind for a list of possibilities but I really wasn't sure (didn't have my field guide with me either). Long-tailed Duck was one possibility I considered but thought that they're only found near the shore. The only time I've seen them is in January at Old Saybrook. I took some photos and mega-cropped them when I came home. Sure enough, it is a female Long-tailed Duck. I checked with the duxperts to confirm the id. It is unusual to see them this far inland so it was an interesting find for me.

Turnstone Ruddy & His Sanderling Buddy

2010-11-12T11:27:00.010-05:00

I arrived at Hammonasset Saturday in time to see the last glimpse of sun before it disappeared behind the clouds. I started the day by walking along the trails on Cedar Island hoping I might find an owl tucked away in one of the cedars. Twice I flushed a bird that might have been a small owl but couldn't relocate it. In the nature center parking lot there were Black-bellied Plovers, Dunlin, and a few peeps rambling around. I took a few photos but the birds seemed to disappear into the pale grass and gravel background.
I worked my way over to Meig's Point where I found a flock of about 30 Sanderlings. They were running along the tide line picking out morsels of food and at the same time trying to avoid getting clobbered by the waves. It seems like they've had plenty of practice. It find it interesting that they don't have a backward facing toe like the other Sandpipers do. I was curious as to why some individual birds go off on their own to look for food away from the rest of the flock. Are they outcasts? loners? or just picky about where they get their seafood? I was kneeling in the sand wearing my light grey pants trying to move in for a closer look. I must have looked like an over-sized Sanderling because they didn't seem very concerned by my presence.

There were also a couple of Ruddy Turnstones in the area. They really do turn stones to search for food sometimes.

Turnstone Ruddy and his Sanderling buddy

went walking near the shore side by side

they had breakfast by the sea..

but then they had to flee...

as any lunch would soon be swallowed by the tide-

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I went to Hammonasset because there is always the possibility of finding a rare or uncommon species there. Instead, I spent the morning watching common shorebirds, but that was a conscious decision. My philosophy about birding right now is to do whatever feels right at the time and not to worry about what I could or should be doing. It seems that I'm more observant if I follow this approach instead of following the same pattern every time. Watching these birds as they searched for food

was a nice change of pace from the usual seek and identify mode.

click to play

Here's some footage of the turnstone in action. You may want to turn your speakers down a bit because there was quite a bit of wind that day.

Birding Blind 2: Beneath The Platform

2010-11-04T18:43:00.001-05:00

I made a stop at the Helen Carlson Bog in Portland on Sunday. I spent most of the morning looking and listening for birds from the top of the platform. I was just getting ready to leave when it occurred to me that the support walls beneath the platform might serve well as a blind for taking photos of birds. I believe the wooden walls were designed with spaces to let water pass through when the water level was high but it also serves well as a place to stick a camera lens through.

I had to wait for a quite a while before any birds showed up but a Dark-eyed Junco finally showed up.

Next, a small flock of bluebirds took turns landing on branches that were fairly close.

The photos didn't come out as well as I would have liked but I was good to find another place where I can have an opportunity to get a little closer to the birds without them seeing me. Finding more ready made blinds is on my list of things to do this year.

I also found this wren sneaking around the edge of the bog. I'm guessing it's probably a Winter Wren from what I can see of it. Some of the other birds I saw at the bog included: Red-shouldered Hawks, Common Ravens which were making some strange vocalizations, Wood Ducks, Mallards, yuk-ducks, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpecker, Ruby-crowned kinglets, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and about a dozen White-throated Sparrows. Some of the sparrows were singing their old-sam-peabody song while others were busy rustling through the leaves looking for food. I tried to sneak up on them by crawling on my hands and knees. Needless to say, that method didn't work as well as the blind.

Siskins At The Feeder! Are Redpolls Next?

2010-10-27T18:19:00.003-05:00

A couple of weeks ago I caught a glimpse of 2 birds at my thistle feeder that I thought might have been Pine Siskins but they flew off before I could get a better look at them. On Sunday, 2 siskins returned to my feeder but this time they brought some of their buddies with them.Before I knew it, the thistle feeder was loaded with them. Pine Siskins are small finches that are brownish in color and heavily streaked. They have a bit of yellow on their wings and pointy little bills that are perfect for extracting Nyjer seed from a feeder like this. They emptied my feeder quicker than the goldfinches do .

This House Sparrow seemed to have that "What the heck did I do?" look before being chased off by is smaller competitor.

During certain winters I've also enjoyed seeing both White-winged and Red Crossbills in Connecticut but my favorite winter finch sightings was seeing a large flock of Pine Grosbeaks (above photo) in the town of Norfolk a couple of years ago. Dozens of them settled into a crabapple tree and systematically proceeded to extract the seeds from the crabapples. The birds were so colorful and robust looking. I stayed and watched them for almost an hour before they finally flew off to another area.

According to Ron Pittaway's Winter Finch Forecast for 2010-2011 Common Redpolls should irrupt into the northern United States this winter. I've only seen redpolls once before at Selden Park in Lyme. I'd love to look out my window on a cold winter day and see my feeder covered with them!

Fall Color & Birds From CT Traprock Ridge

2010-10-21T13:34:00.019-05:00

Northern New Englanders sometimes refer to those of us living in Connecticut as flatlanders. We may not be known our mountainous landscape but what we do have in Connecticut are traprock ridges. They were created by continental rifting and the welling up of lava flows 200 million years ago. The highest traprock peak in Connecticut is just over 1,000 feet but the views from the top of the ridge are so wide open it can feel as though you are at a higher elevation. The first two photos were taken along the Metacomet Trail in the Southington/New Britain area.
I parked at a trail entrance located on Andrews Street in Southington. This turned out to be a costly mistake. When I returned to my truck after a short hike, I found a $30 dollar parking ticket on my windshield. It was issued by the water department from the town of New Britain who apparently own the surrounding land. There were no signs visible near the trail entrance stating that parking was not allowed. Instead of arguing my case, I decided to send out some e-mails to see if a no parking sign could be put up in the area. I'm hoping that I might be able to help prevent someone else from getting a ticket for parking there. If I had read this post from the Connecticut Museum Quest website, I could have avoided getting a ticket altogether.
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When you're hiking in an unfamiliar area, it's best to familiarize yourself with the hiking trails in the area before you get there. A great site for information about hiking trails in Connecticut is the Connecticut Explorers website: CTxguide.com.
My original intention was to visit a portion of the traprock ridge that I had never seen before called Ragged Mountain. I headed over to the trail on West lane in Kensington where there is approved parking. From the entrance you take the main trail and then veer left onto the blue & red trail which will take you right up to Ragged Mountain. There was a memorial at the top in memory of Darin Findley, who died during a climb here in 2003. The hike to get to the top of the ridge was a little longer than some of the other trails that I'm familiar with but it was worth the effort. On my way up I saw deer, Belted Kingfisher, Wild Turkeys, and 2 Pileated Woodpeckers having a squabble with a Sharp-shinned Hawk (the hawk left first). There were numerous kinglets in the area with the vast majority of them being Golden-crowned Kinglets.

I also saw numerous Yellow-rumped Warblers that were feasting on cedar berries.

The next day I visited another portion of the traprock ridge in located along the Mattabesset Trail. This photo is showing the deeper end of Black Pond which is located along the Middlefield/Meriden border.

The species of birds that I saw on this portion of the ridge were very similar to the ones I saw in Southington. Here is a Red-tailed Hawk surveying the scene and watching the man laying on the rocks trying to take pictures of him.

The high ridges are a good place to get a close view of vultures and other birds of prey in flight. I had to back off on the zoom to get these flight photos to come in focus so I used 10x instead of the full 18x. The sun was shining brightly on the Turkey Vulture when I took this photo. I thought the lighting effect from the camera was strange but interesting.

Along the trail I passed Powder Ridge Ski resort which closed down years ago. In 1970 a music festival similar to the one in Woodstock was supposed to take place at Powder Ridge. I found a detailed account of the event which includes photos of the concertgoers and a concert poster listing the original lineup of performers. It included big name acts like Van Morrison, Fleetwood Mac and Janis Joplin. The event started to fall apart over legal issues. The only originally scheduled singer to perform was Melanie , who was best known for her song "Look what they've done to my song-ma." She avoided legal trouble by agreeing to perform for free. Another species that I saw a lot of during my hike was the Hermit Thrush. I counted six of them during my hike along these trails.-

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There were two Osprey at Black Pond. I attempted to capture them in flight but barely managed to keep up with them.

So, if you live in Connecticut or you are here for a visit , be sure to explore the traprock ridges. It's hard to beat the scenery, especially in the Fall . If not, I guess you'll just have to take my word for it.