Yellow-throated Warbler in CT.

Hi folks,
Another warbler seen in Connecticut. State first no. Yellow-throated Warbler is just a regular but rare spring overshoot. 

Weather: Sunny, went from 54-64 F in 2 hours.

Overview:
We walk into Mondo Ponds in Milford and find a bunch of birders, near the condos where the warbler has been seen. No one has saw the warbler since early this morning, but there were a lot of warblers. Pine, Palm, and Black-and-white Warblers were in the area. Northern Rough-winged Swallows were also flying over the main pond. No sign of the warbler. I decided to keep walking down the trail. Where I saw some Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and a nice male Yellow Warbler. Time passed, still no sign of the warbler. So we walked back to the entrance and took a right this time. Than a massive flock of Double-crested Cormorants flew over, 40 to be precise. More time passes. We decide to head back into the pine forest, where I saw two Palm Warblers!! Than a Yellow-rumped Warbler. Than eye level in one of the smaller deciduous trees, I see a bird, bright yellow chest, gray back,and white and black face!! Indeed it was the YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER!!! Two hours of searching paid off!!

Photos:

Pine Warbler

Blue-gray Gnat-catcher 

Yellow Warbler

Mallard

Palm Warbler
Stay safe- Tony

Townsend's Warbler in CT!!!

Hi Folks,
I'm back!! Today I was luck enough to get out and go birding during this Covid-19 situation to see Connecticut's First Ever record of Townsend's Warbler, a very overdue bird.


Overview:
 First of all this bird was seen at the Cedar Hill Cemetery, never thought I would bird at a cemetery!! Anyway, we parked the car near the entrance and walked to where this mega rare warbler is. So we get there, now one has seen the bird in a half an hour, lets get to the good part. One of the birders spots two Barred Owls over two birders head in the hemlock. It gave us great views and photos. While everyone is looking at the owls at look at the hemlock the warbler has been seen, there was a little yellow fast small bird in the tree, and it was a warbler! I immediately alerted the other birders, one said it was a Pine Warbler... But nope it was the TOWNSEND'S WARBLER!!! I was so happy to re-find it for everyone!! Then the cameras started shuttering and the bincos went up. It flew off 5 minutes later. While walking back to the car these two male Red-winged Blackbirds were displaying giving me great photos of them!!

Here are the photos:

Hermit Thrush

Barred Owl

Townsend's Warbler

Townsend's Warbler

Townsend's Warbler

Red-winged Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbird


-Tony

MEGA BOWL IV!

Hello folks,
After a long weekend of late-nights I am writing about the Mega Bowl IV! I did say my friend Eli Holton and I were doing the Mega Bowl together, but things changed and I got to do it alone (along with my driver).  This took place on Feb 1st

Weather:
Clouds, foggy, a drizzle of rain in the evening.

I saw 54 species and tallied a 104 points

-Tony