10/31/15 Milford Nelson's Sparrows

10/31/15 Milford Nelson's Sparrows.  Many Nelson's Sparrows at Milford's salt marshes today.  The ones at Silver Sands (around 6) are classic Nelson's with buff facial marks (esp malar) the same color intensity as breast and flank buff.  Also nicely blurred flank and breast streaking.  The Milford Point bird has more clearly defined streaking, but does not have strikingly different coloration of malar and breast--a good indicator for Saltmarsh.

Nelson's Sparrow, Silver Sands SP 10/31/15

Silver Sands SP Nelson's Sparrow 10/31/15

Nelson's Sparrow, Silver Sands SP, 10/31/15

Silver Sands Nelson's 10/31/15

Mfd Pt Nelson's 10/31/15

Mfd Pt Nelson's 10/31/15

Mfd Pt Nelson's 10/31/15

10/29/15 Milford Eurasian Wigeon, Stratford Hudwit

Today, 10/29/15, the injured Hudsonian Godwit was resting with Greater Yellowlegs in Stratford.  Fund a male Eurasian Wigeon in the pond across the street from the Motel 6 in Milford (pond near Mondo Ponds and Jonathan Law pond--all part of same stream system.

Hudsonian Godwit and Greater Yellowlegs Stratford 10/29/15

Hudsonian Godwit Stratford 10/29/15

Eurasian Wigeon male above, female American Wigeon below  Motel 6 pond Milford

Eurasian Wigeon, Motel 6 pond 10/29/15

Eurasian Wigeon 10/29/15 Motel 6 Pond Milford

Dunlin Milford Pt 10/29/15

10/27/15 Milford Point Iceland Gull, Lapland Longspur; home Merlin

10/27/15 Milford Point Iceland Gull, Lapland Longspur; home Merlin

juv Iceland Gull with HEGU for size comparison: 

note small bill of Iceland Gull 

Dunlin retaining alternate plumage highlights late

Lapland Longspur above, Horned Lark Below

Merlin on neighbors roof-top after dinner

Pipit, Dunlin, Sandpiper Milford Point 10/26/15

Pipit, Dunlin, Sandpiper Milford Point 10/26/15.  Tricky sandpiper: late for a Semipalmated, but that's probably what it is.  Note its size: it's smaller than the American Pipits it associated with; as to Baird's vs White-rumped, note gray color and lack of complete bib: that makes Baird's unlikely.  Small size of bill hurts case for WRSA; so, while seemingly elongated with longish wings, probably a late SESA.

Hudsonian Godwit, Caspian Tern, Milford Point 10/20/15

At a fugitive sandbar near the western end of the main sandbar at Milford Point, with Charla (who spotted the Caspian) and Mike Resch (who spotted the Godwit), from around 4:30-5:30 PM, many BBPL, Dunlin, Sanderlings, a few Ruddy Turnstone, and Semipalmated Sandpipers, and gulls were joined by a Hudsonian Godwit in juvenile plumage and a Caspian Tern.  Godwit identified in flight by white rump, black tail, dark underside of wings (separating it from Black-tailed Godwit).  Also note upturned bill (first photo) and relatively small size (for a godwit).   A few record photos below:

Hudsonian Godwit with Black-bellied Plover and Dunlin 10/20/15 Mfd Pt

Hudsonian Godwit with BBPL and Dunlin

Hudsonian Godwit, Mfd Pt, 10/20/15

Hudsonian Godwit 10/20/15 Milford Point

Hudsonian Godwit 10/20/15 Milford Point

Caspian Tern Mfd Pt 10/20/15 Milford Point

Also, there was at least 6 Semipalmated Sandpiper (rather late date).  A few record shots below

Semipalmated Sandpiper 10/20/30 Mfd Pt

Dunlin with Semipalmated Sandpiper (far right) Mfd Pt 10/20/30

Nelson's, Forster's, Mlfd Pt 10/18/15

At least 8 Nelson's Sparrows in the Spartina to the west of the observation area this PM (10/18/15).  Also, a Forster's Tern at fugitive sandbar; 200 Brant; Dunlin, BBPL, and Sandlerling persist.

AMOY Milford Pt 10/18/15

Swamp Sparrrow SSSP 10/18/15

Nelson's Sparrow 10/18/15 Milford Point

Nelson's Sparrow 10/18/15 Mlfd Pt

Nelson's Sparrow Mlfd Pt 10/18/15

Nelson's Sparrow Mlfd Pt 10/18/15 

Dunlin 10/18/15 Milford Point

Black-bellied Plover 10/18/15 Milford Point

Forster's Tern Milford Point 10/18/15

2 Nelson's Sparrows, 10/18/15 Milford Point