Steve's Birds: August 2019

Friday, August 30, 2019

American Avocets, Milford Point, 9/30/19

American Avocets, Milford Point, 9/30/19. This morning, Hugh Whelan found American Avocets at Milford Point. Here are three of them:

3 American Avocets, w/ BBPL, Milford Pt, CT 8/30/19

Western Willet, Milford Point, Ct 8/29/19

Western Willet, Milford Point, 8/29/1

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Black-Headed Gull, Milford Point, 8/29/19

Black-Headed Gull, Milford Point, 8/29/19. This afternoon I found a Black-headed Gull on the southern flats of the main sandbar at low tide: very unusual here at this time of year especially. Frank M. thinks it is an adult molting out of alternate plumage. It was next to a Laughing Gull, a bird close to its size, and an aid to identifying it at a distance as something other than a Bonaparte's Gull; then, at close range its deep red bill and legs give it away, as well as its pale gray upper parts. A few photos and videos:

Black-headed Gull with Laughing Gull, Milford Pt CT 8/29/19

Black-headed Gull, Milford Pt CT 8/29/19

Black-headed Gull, Milford Pt CT 8/29/19 with Ring-billed Gull

Black-headed Gull, Milford Pt CT 8/29/19

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

American Golden Plover, Milford Point CT 8/28/19

T4's kid taking off

T4's kid taking off---fully fledged!

American Golden Plover, Milford Point CT 8/28/19. On a rainy day, Milford Point was still quite attractive to a good diversity of shorebirds, the newcomer for the season being an American Golden Plover, which I first saw flying with a group of BBPL. Followed the bird with no white rump, no black axillaries, and over quite dark until it landed on a sandbar beyond the western end of the main sandbar. It was too far away fr decent photos, but a [poor record shot was obtained.

American Golden Plover, Milford Point CT 8/28/19

Monday, August 26, 2019

Baird's Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper Hammonasset St Park, Madison CT 8/26/19

Juvenile Baird's Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper Hammonasset St Park, Madison CT 8/26/19
Only a distant record shot of the Buff-breasted, but better views of Baird's. As usual, they show up together.

Baird's Sandpiper, Hammonasset St Park 8/26/19

Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Hammo, 8/26/19

Baird's Sandpiper, Hammo, 8/26/19

Tree Swallows, Hammo, 8/26/19

Swarthy Skipper, blue Buckeye Stratford; (gray) Giant home, 8/25/19

Giant Swallowtail, home, 8/25/19

Swarthy Skipper, blue Buckeye Stratford; (gray) Giant home, 8/25/19. One of many Swarthy Skippers at the Stratford Point colony on Peter D led walk. Also, unusual blue-infused Buckeye. And the gray Giant was back for most of the afternoon.

One of 3 different Giant Swallowtails this past week, this one has an unusual gray tint in many areas

Swarthy Skipper, Stratford Point 8/25/19

Gray Hairstreak, Stratford Pt 8/25/19

Giant Swallowtail, home, 8/25/19

Buckeye (blue) Stratford Point 8/25/19

Giant Swallowtail, home, (gray), 8/25/19

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Great Swallowtail, Fiery Skipper, home/Kellogg, 8/24/19

Great Swallowtail, Fiery Skipper, home/Kellogg, 8/24/19. Today, in our yard, we had a Giant Swallowtail with a distinctly gray tinting: below photos of the gray Giant side by side with regular yellowish Giants from both our yard and the Kellogg in Ansonia. Also, our FOY Fiery Skipper at home.