BlueBirder

Sunday, November 24, 2019

BREWER'S SPARROW, HAMMONASSET 11/24

When news came that a Clay-colored Sparrow (keep reading) was at Hammonasset State Park in Madison, I thought "what a cool bird!". Then, Jory Teltser sent an email out to the state listserv that it was a BREWER'S SPARROW! Holy Geez!

Today:

Heavy rain for most of my time there, sun showed up for like 10 seconds, then drizzled.

So I walk on to the boardwalk and bath houses with at least 7-10 birders. They said the sparrow flew behind the bushes (typical sparrow behavior). So I talked to someone. My camera was hid between my shirt and jacket, and my new binoculars were getting wet. I was going to hide under the bath shower roof, then someone calls "Brewer's Sparrow!", so I ran 10 feet to end up with a new lifer, and state bird. I got some crappy, 1-star photos. And decent binoc views. It was a fine looking bird. This is the state first of Brewer's Sparrow, and only the third for New England (MA, 1873, ME 2014, and now CT 2019). The subspecies was confirmed thought to be of the nominate subspecies brewster. This was probably the most least expected rarity. Funny enough, someone found the 11th state record of LeConte's Sparrow, and now as I am writing this, Stefan Martin found a Western Grebe at Cove Island Park! Connecticut is on fire! Massachusetts, well, we probably won't catch up.

Also to note: I also got my lifer Snow Bunting today

Let's see what's next! Townsend's Warbler?

-Tony

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

I'm here

Still here, waiting for a free day to go birding.

Friday, October 18, 2019

Big Sit 2019, Milford Point.

Hi folks!

On Sunday, October 13th I joined Frank Gallo's Big Sit team, the Surf Scopers. here are the highlights (that I saw):

Eared Grebe (very rare), Black Skimmer, American Pipit, American Bittern, Lincoln's Sparrow, and Bonaparte's Gull. I missed: American Golden Plover and Long-billed Dowitcher. The total for the day was 93, the record is around 110-115. Ebird checklists here:https://ebird.org/checklist/S60593385 and https://ebird.org/checklist/S60593369

White-throated Sparrow face shot

Same sparrow as above

Osprey

View of Wheeler Marsh (with Tom Murray on the right)

Savannah Sparrow

The 4 Black Skimers

Killdeer

Yellow-crowned Night Heron

Eared Grebe

American Bittern

Marsh Wren

Northern Mockingbird
- Tony

Sunday, September 15, 2019

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

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

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

Today was a very successful day!
-Tony

Saturday, August 31, 2019

American Avocet, Milford Point 8/31/19

On August 30th, local birder Hugh Whelan reported TWO AMERICAN AVOCETS at Milford Point! But then somebody found THREE! So there I was at Milford Point today in search of the avocets.

Weather: Sunny. 81 F. High Tide.

Overview:

We drove to Milford Point and got my scope and camera to go to the Wheeler Marsh platform, a birder came out and told me they just flew out. We went to the platform at the sandbars with many other birders. Then all of the birders left. A birder named Paul, went walking to the sandbars, where the Avocets were. There were many other birders including, Jason Rieger, Chris Wood, and William Batsford. I set my scope up to look at the birds, and there they were, the 3 AMERICAN AVOCETS AND 3 WHIMBREL! Also, Black-bellied Plovers, American Oystercatcher, and Common Loon. We stayed for a while, then Paul had to leave, so I stayed with Jason and Chris. I got some good photos of the Avocets. Then we left. While walking back we heard a Clapper Rail. The avocets were very cool and also they were a lifer! But another cool thing is that this is the first time that 3 avocets have been recorded at the same time and place in Connecticut!

Photos: