Lighthouse Point Park 9/15

Today my friend Eli Holton and I went to the hawk migration Festival at Lighthouse point Park. 


Weather: Sunny and nice winds. 


Lighthouse Point Park Overview:

When I arrived I went straight to the banding station where I was helping out for the morning. I was joined by Eli, who told me he saw a Purple Finch and Brown Thrasher. Eli took me to the area where he saw the birds, and we quickly saw Common yellowthroats, Belted Kingfisher, Herring, Ring-billed, and Laughing Gulls. No luck with the thrasher or the finch, but we did see a Traill's Flycatcher (AKA Alder/Willow Flycatcher). I spent a few minutes helping the banding station, then Eli  and I went birding to look for the finch and thrasher again. No luck again, so I went back to the banding station to help, but they weren't checking the nets till 20 minutes. So Eli and I went back to where the banding nets were  and this was the birdy area! Our main goal was to look for the Brown Thrasher. We heard and saw: Blue-gray Gnatchatchers, American Redstarts, Common Yellowthroats, Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Northern Flicker, Black-and-white Warbler, Carolina Wren, and Eastern Wood Pewee. The highlight was a Philadelphia Vireo, an uncommon migrant at this time. Lifers for both of us. Then the bird banding station caught a Northern flicker, I was very happy to release it! It was a very fun time! After we went to the Branford Supply Ponds and saw Common Gallinule. Another lifer for me! Taking me up to 236!

Lighthouse Point Park Photos:

Traill's Flycatcher

Belted Kingfisher 

Eli releasing a Northern Watertrush 

Downy Woodpecker

Red-bellied Woodpecker

American Redstart

Black-and-white Warbler

Northern Flicker

Face shot!

The yellow shafts of the flicker

Common Gallinule

Common gallinule

Me releasing the flicker.

 Tony

Lighthouse Point Park 9/10/19

Today, I went to Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven.

Weather: Cool and cloudy w/ some sun. Not the best day for hawk-watching. 

Lighthouse Point Park Overview:

When I arrived, Tina Green, Greg Hanisek, and a few more birders were already hawk-watching. Greg and Tina were telling me that the continuing Lark Sparrow flew away from Lighthouse Point Park. A Savannah Sparrow flew into one of the trees. Tina went to walk around the forest area, so I joined her and we saw our first 9 Bobolinks flyover. We saw a Cooper's Hawk in the distance and heard a Red-eyed Vireo. The Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were plentiful. While walking near the entrance and the forest, we saw and heard a Black-and-white Warbler. Then we saw a pair of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. We walked to the backwoods and that's where most of the warblers were. As we walked in we instantly heard gnatcatchers. When we walked to the exit of the backwoods we saw a Gray Catbird, American Redstart, House Wren, Carolina Wren, and a possible Common Yellowthroat. After we walked back to the hawkwatch station a Sharp-shinned Hawk flew high above and a  Merlin quickly flew past us. We took a break and I ate my lunch, then we heard a familiar chip, similar to the Savannah Sparrows we heard. All of a sudden the continuing LARK SPARROW was in my bins, right when I was about to say "LARK SPARROW!" it flew and we all got a look at it. It quickly flew to the gravel spot that it was previously at this morning. Many birders were able to get a good look at it including me. Lifer #234! 

                                                 Lighthouse Point Park Photos:
                 

Gray Catbird

Lark Sparrow

Lark Sparrow

Lark Sparrow

Lark Sparrow

Today was a very successful day!
-Tony