Long-tailed Duck, Common Eider Stratford 16 Dec 10

A few pictures of a drake Common Eider and a drake Long-tailed Duck at Stratford Point on 16 December 2010. Off the point was a raft of aound 1500 Scoters (mainly White-winged, a good number of Surf) and Scaup (mainly Greater but Frank Gallo picked out about 47 Lesser), and a pair of female King Eiders.

A brief video of the Common Eider; a very brief video of the Long-tailed Duck.

Barnacle, Snow Geese Westport 10 Dec 10

A few pictures of the Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis) in Westport on 10 Dec 10. This individual, found in Stratford by Frank Mantlik, retains the bands it received in its native Scotland. Unfortunately one leg is bad, perhaps from one of the bands. Also included here is a short video of five Snow Geese that were foraging with the Canada Goose group the BarnacleGoose was hanging out with.Publish Post

Silver Sands boardwalk construction

Here are a few pictures taken on 4 Dec 10 of the boardwalk construction in progress at Silver Sands State Park in Milford CT. (Photo 3 shows Nettleton Creek; photo 4 shows Fletcher's Creek.) The project is massive and has disturbed much valuable habitat. The environmental impact of the the increased traffic is hard to predict, but there will be many places for walkers to leave the boardwalk to be on the beach. Of course, the boardwalk goes right through traditional Piping Plover nesting territory. Already destroyed are a grove of trees that hosted Willow Flycatchers for many years. The area around the Nettleton Creek outlet where the Little Yellows stayed last summer has also been totally wiped out. One other potential problem is that the boardwalk puts the walker high above the wetlands, exposing previously sheltered birds and other animals. Finally, the boardwalk will be a barrier for the deer (photo 1).

Sharpie, Pine Warbler 23-24 Nov

Above, pictures of a Pine Warbler on 24 Nov 10; below, a juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk on 23 Nov 10. Both birds have been around our house for the past few days. The Pine Warbler has been supplementing his wild food diet with hulled sunflowers at our neighbor's feeder.

Fork-tailed Flycatcher video

Two pictures of a Common Loon on 19 Nov 10 in Milford harbor.

A still photo of the Fork-tailed Flycatcher in Stamford.
A short video record of the Fork-tailed Flycatcher in Cove Island Park in Stamford CT.

Greater Yellowlegs Mondo Ponds 22 Nov 10

Today, on the anniversary of JFK's assassination, Greater Yellowlegs bathing and calling at Mondo Ponds in Milford, CT.

Cooper's Hawk at CACC

A few views of one of a pair of Cooper's Hawks checking out the sparrows in the brush bordering the parking lot at the CACC in Milford on a warm, sunny 12 Nov 10.

Tagged Ringed-bill Gull, Sachems 11/10

Female Sachems on 10 November. Also, a 1st winter Ring-billed Gull with red tag and leg bands at Silver Sands State Park beach on morning of 11 Nov 10.

Nelson's, Sachem 10 Nov 10

Typical impeded view of a Nelson's Sparrow taken on 8 Nov while searching unsuccessfully for Le Conte's. Both of these Ammodramus species run around like mice, gathering Spartina seeds. At high tide they leave the Sound-side Spartina and forage on the dunes.

Then ventral and dorsal views of female Sachem still at neighbor's garden on Wednesday, 10 Nov 10. While the Salvia, Buddleia, and Montauk Daisies still bloom and the temps remain reasonable, the Sachems persist.

Harlequin Duck Taken by Gr BB Gull

Above is a grainy enlargement of a photo of a Great Black-backed Gull after it plunged into the water to attack a female Harlequin Duck at Milford Point today, Friday, 5 November 10 around 4:00 PM. Below is a video of the Harlequin being chased and captured by the Great Black-backed Gull.

Pine Siskins at feeder 2 Nov 10

A few pictures of Pine Siskins at a thistle feeder in our neighbor's yard. One photo shows a Siskin showing his wing plumage details while warding off a House Sparrow. Another picture allows comparison of Siskin and Goldfinch.

Le Conte's Sparrow Milford Point 3 Nov 10

Here are a few record shots of the Le Conte's Sparrow that was first found by Tom Sayer on 29 October 10 in the Spartina on the west side of the Francis Street spit at Milford Point while he and others, esp Jim Zipp, were searching for Nelson's Sparrows to photograph. We finally got good looks on Monday (1 Nov). Today the Le Conte's was easily seen for extended periods, and the pictures give some indication of the trouble in seeing this skulker. Also seen at the same spot today: Nelson's Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Marsh Wren, Clapper Rail, and a Sora. On the spit the Horned Larks, Snow Buntings, and Lapland Longspur continue to be seen. We did not see the Western Grebe that was around the spit yesterday. The photos are meant to be looked at in this order: 4, 3, 2, 1. Only after searching through the grass do you get a view.

Sachem 1, 2 Nov 10. CT late date record.

Still one, probably two female Sachems around. First two photos show female Sachem on November 2. Photos 3 and 4 show November 1 Sachem on Montauk Daisy in garden at Crown and Trumbull in Milford. Old late date record for CT was October 22.

Sachems continue 26, 27, 28 Oct 10

With the continuation of warm weather the Sachems are still active. Pictures 2, 3 are a male (doral, ventral) on the Montauk Daisy on Trumbull St. The first photo is an immature Horned Lark at the Francis Street spit at Milford Point on the very warm 28 Oct., when there were 350 Dunlin present at high tide along with one Semipalmated Sandpiper, 11 Black-bellied Plovers and 100 Sanderlings.) Pictures 4, 5, and 6 are from the 27th (male, female, female). On Tuesday, 26 Oct, 7 were nectaring on the Salvia and Montauk Daisy in a garden on Trumbull Avenue. On the 25th we found at least 4 at Stratford Point. Photo 8 is of a male and female (both dorsal) at the Trumbull Avenue garden on the 26th. (female is on top). The 7th photo of a single female (ventral) is from the same garden three days ago.

Sachems persisting 19 Oct 10

The Sachems are persisting. Saw at least 5 this morning (19 Oct 10) around the house. Here are three images of Sachems: picture one, a pair of Sachems; pictures two and three, nectaring on the Montauk Daisy(Nipponanthemius nippmicum).

American Snout Milford Pt 18 Oct 10

Today, Monday, 10 Oct 10, an American Snout was at the butterfly garden at the Ct Audubon Coastal Center, nectaring on Montaug Daisy (Nipponanthemium nipponicum) along with Monarchs and american Ladies. A few views of the Snout: