Milford Point 7/28/19

Hi,
Today I went to Milford Point for my birthday with 3 of Connecticut's top birders, Frank Gallo, Greg Hanisek, and Nick Bonomo. It was a very successful day.

Weather:
Sunny and windy. At least 91 degrees (Fahrenheit). 

Overview:

 We met in the parking lot. While we were waiting for Frank to come Greg and I headed up to the Wheeler Marsh viewing platform. Greg spotted two Spotted Sandpipers (a new year bird for me) and I spotted a Least Sandpiper. Then Nick spotted a juvenile Northern Harrier. We took a look at the young Ospreys that had just left the nest. They were flapping their wings. As we walked onto the sandbars we saw a bunch of peeps and few Semipalmated Plovers. We moved onto the next spot where we studied some Calidris. We saw a lot of Semipalmated Sandpipers, a Sanderling or two, Piping Plovers, and a few Semipalmated Plovers. We watched them for about 10 minutes coming into the sandbars. After that we moved onto to see the tern colony. While we were walking I found a little fledgling Piping Plover. Then Frank quickly found the continuing juvenile Black Tern. He let me take a quick look at it with his scope. As usual the terns flew away, but I was very lucky to get a shot of the Black Tern in flight. We headed to the sandbar that the terns flew to and Frank re-found the Black Tern. Nick and Frank found a few Roseate Terns. They taught me a few things about tern ID, like that Common Terns lose the black tip of their bill. They also taught me a few things about Roseate Tern ID. We stayed at least an hour looking at the terns. Then Stefan Martin joined us while we walked back to the parking lot. When we got to the parking lot we all said goodbye.

Juvenile Common Tern

American Oystercatcher

Black Tern

Black-bellied Plover

Great Egret

Purple Martin

Sanderling (back left), Semipalmated Plover (front left), Semipalmated Sandpiper (right)

Semipalmated Sandpiper (back left) and Piping Plover (front right)

Semipalmated Plover

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Common Tern flyover

Least Sandpiper

Least Tern

Molting female Northern Harrier

Recently fledged Osprey

Piping Plover

Piping Plover chick

Juvenile Piping Plover

Female Purple Martin

Ruddy Turnstone

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Snowy Egret

Me (left) and Nick (right). Taking a birdwatching selfie.

                                                       

Hammo 6/3/19

Hi ya'll!
I went to Hammonasset State Beach Park today in search of the White-faced Ibis. It was awfully quiet. I went to the bird blind and saw nothing (except Red-winged Blackbirds). I then searched the puddles at the Meig's Point Nature Center Parking Lot, I found a Boat-tailed Grackle 
Overall it was a very quiet day for birds.





                                                             -Tony

Birdathon Day#2 CORRECTION

I ended up with 103 species total for both days
-Tony

Bird-a-thon Day #2!

Today was Day #2 of the Connecticut's Migration Madness event. 


Where Did I Go?
Barn Island Wildlife Management Area (Pawcatuck/Stonington) and Hammonasset Beach State Park (Madison). 

Who Did I Bird With?
For the first 2 hours I went birding at Hammo with Eli Holton. After he left I was able to see a few birds with Tina Green's team. 

Weather:
Low to upper 60s and low 70s; windy. 

Bird Summary:

1. Hammonasset Beach State Park
I decided to go to Hammonasset today! First I started at West Beach with Eli Holton. He told me he saw Brown Thrasher and Willow Flycatcher before I got there.While walking to the beach area we heard a Field Sparrow. Once we arrived at the beach area I scoped out a White-winged Scoter. A couple Double-crested Cormorants flew by, and a Cooper's Hawk flew over. The Mute Swan had its little cygnet at Swan Pond. Then when we went to Boulder Pond we saw a White-rumped Sandpiper, a lifer for Eli! We than went down to the end of Meig's Point . A few Yellow Warblers were calling. We stopped and heard a Clapper Rail (lifer for Eli and me!) When we reached the end of the trail we stopped and looked at the two terns on the rock. The first one was a Least and the second was a Forster's! Lifer for both of us. We arrived at the bird blind,but Eli had to leave. I bumped into Tina Green's team. Nothing unusual spotted at the bird blind. After we left the bird blind 2 White-rumped Sandpipers landed in the puddle at the Meig's Point Nature center parking lot. Than we heard that Dan Rottino had 2 Whimbrel at Willard's Island. So we went there. The Whimbrel were still there, then a large flock of black-bellied plovers, dunlin and ruddy turnstones landed. 

2.
Barn Island WMA
Since we were down on the coast, I wanted to check out what they had at Barn Island Wildlife Management Area. This was my first time being here, so I was excited! I stepped out of the car. I than heard a Blue-winged Warbler going "bee-buzz". Once I made it to the beginning of the trail I found a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. At the first impoundment, I ran into Dan Rottino, who was looking for the Tricolored Heron also. We did some hiking to the third impoundment. While hiking through the woods we heard: Wilson's Warbler, Veery, and Eastern Towhee. Than once we reached the third impoundment, I had to get going. Once I reached the first impoundment again, Dan called me saying he got the Tricolored Heron in his scope! So there I was walking all the way to the fourth impoundment. But it was worth the walk! Luckily, it was still in his scope. It was such a cool bird! So we walked back to the car. 
That was the last spot for the day! I didn't get any photos, since I was too busy bird-watching! But I did end up with 5 new life birds (Whimbrel, Little Blue Heron, Forster's Tern, Clapper Rail, and of course the Tricolored Heron)!
I ended up with 96 species so far! (Though it took me a whole month to find 89!). Although Eli got 100+ species!
                                                   Hope you enjoyed this blog post! Comments are welcome!
                                                                                    - Tony

Bird-a-thon Day 1!

Hey ya'll!
This blog post is about my great day of birding!

Weather:
It started out cold, but then half way (at East Rock Park) it got in to the low 70's. It started to rain at Milford Point.

Where did I go?
Sandy Point (West Haven), Stewart B. Mckinney NWR-- Long Beach Blvd (Stratford), Milford Point (Milford), East Rock Park (Eli Whitney Museum; Hamden), and CT Land Trust (across the street from East Rock Park).

Bird Summary:
I went birding with a local young birder Eli Holton, he joined me at East Rock Park, Stewart B. Mckinney NWR,and Milford Point. 


East Rock Park was full of American Redstarts and Common Yellowthroats!!! Black-throated Blue Warblers were near the beginning of the trail, other notables included: Blackpoll Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Wood Thrush, Yellow Warbler, and Canada Warbler (a lifer!). After, we crossed the road to the CT LAND TRUST where we got good looks of a Warbling Vireo, Yellow Warbler,and Orchard Oriole. Not to forget the young male White-tailed Deer that kept following us! I think we paid more attention to the curious deer than the male oriole! Then I went to Sandy Point. Quite quieter than expected, but I did end up with a calling Willet and some Brant. I went (myself) to Stewart B. Mckinney NWR-- Long Beach Blvd. I got 3 Boat-tailed Grackles, a new life bird! Also I found a Black-crowned Night Heron. Then Eli and I met up at Milford Point. The Purple Martins were at the nesting gourds. Before Eli got there I found 2 calling Willets (very noisy and loud!), then I heard another Willet at the sandbars, giving Eli a lifer (congrats!). Least Sandpipers invaded Wheeler Marsh (lifer for me, again!). A beautiful adult Yellow-crowned Night Heron showed well. Then Eli and I went to the sandbars. We had even more Least Sandpipers! A Least Tern was flying overhead, then dove into the water. I spotted a beautiful Black bellied Plover in my scope. 2 American Oystercatchers were also on the sandbars. Semipalmated Sandpipers were in mixed flocks with the Least Sandpipers. Semipalmated Plovers were found in good numbers. Then I asked a Piping Plover Monitor from the DEEP if he saw any PIPLs. He said he saw 6 pairs. So we looked and I found one laying down! After Eli and I went to Stewart B. Mckinney, again. We saw the Boat-tailed Grackles, 2 Black-crowned Night Herons, Swamp Sparrow, American Black Duck, Common Yellowthroat, Cedar Waxwings, and some Ospreys.
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S56417665
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S56417856
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S56417432
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S56417332
Above are the checklists

Male Common Yelowthroat

Male Magnolia Warbler; East Rock Park

Same bird as above

Male Wood Duck; East Rock Park

Orchard Oriole; CT Land Trust

The curious White-tailed Deer; CT Land Trust

Female Boat-tailed Grackle; Stewart B. Mckinney NWR

Eastern Willet; Milford Point

Semipalmated Plover; Milford Point

1 of 2 American Oystercatchers; Milford Point

Nesting Piping Plover; Milford Point

Black-bellied Plover; Milford Point

                                                                         I ended up with 72 species for today!
                                                                         Let's see what tomorrow brings!
                                                                                  - Tony

Connecticut Bird Species Account #1

In the series "Connecticut Bird Species Account" I will give you the status and history of the state's birds, as well as some ID tips.

Black bellied whistling duck (Dendrocygna autmnalis):
Status: RARE, first state record in 2018. This bird adds to the flurry of Northeast reports (MASSACHUSETTS, QUEBEC CANADA, VERMONT, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK AND ANOTHER ONE IN NY).

ID Tips:
Well, first this is a very distinctive bird, both male and female are identical. Pink bill, black belly distinctive, and brown body.


https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S47844800

The link above will give you an example of a Black-bellied whistling Duck.





                                                         Enjoy these species accounts and comments are welcome
                                                                     
                                                                              - Tony

My favorite places to bird in Connecticut!

In this blog post, I will tell you my favorite places to bird.

1: Hammonasset State Park, Madison. Hammonasset State Park (often called Hammo) has the most species ever recorded in a CT Bird Hot-spot. Hammo is a big place, but often birdy in spring and fall migrations. Meig's Point often attracts Snow Bunting and Lapland Longspurs in winter. Moraine Trail attracts Ruddy Turnstones, Dunlin, Sanderlings, and the occasional Purple Sandpiper. A whopping 313 species have been recorded at Hammo!!!

2: Milford Point, Milford.

Milford Point is one of Connecticut's premier birding hot-spots. The sandbars attract nesting Piping Plovers in summer and many Semipalmated Sandpipers and Semipalmated Plovers, an occasional Western or White-rumped Sandpiper can be seen in the big flocks of sandpipers. Wheeler Marsh has attracted rare birds like Ruff. And also, all three state records of Red-necked Stint have been found at Milford Point!!
3: Sherwood Island State Park,Westport. Sherwood Island is probably my favorite birding spot in all of Connecticut! Sherwood Island has a variety of habitats; from marshes, to rocky beaches and even a pine grove. And also Mill Pond attracts a variety of waterfowl. Connecticut's latest record of SABINE'S GULL was found here in September of 2017
4: Stratford Point, Stratford. Stratford Point, although relatively small, is a great place to find a meadowlark or maybe an Ipswich Sparrow in winter. Common Eiders have been recorded in winter and Connecticut's first record of White-tailed Kite was found here.

Sherwood Island Lesser-black backed Gull

 Stratford Point Ipswich (Savannah) Sparrow

Hammo Barn Swallow

Milford Point Tree Swallow

                                                          Comments are welcome!
                                                                 - Tony