post-Thanksgiving Brown Booby, Red-headed Woodpecker Baltimore 11/27/15

On the day after Thanksgiving in Baltimore, my brother and I went to the famous Brown Booby stakeout in Baltimore harbor (2 Brown Boobies had been seen until recently; now there is just one, the adult, around): we found one on a piling near the ship Antares (from Hull St).  Water taxi driver took us right up to the bird, but my only photos are distant record shots.  Also birded Roland Park and found at least one, perhaps two juvenile Red-headed Woodpeckers.  Record shots below.

Brown Booby Baltimore 11/27/15

Brown Booby Baltimore 11/27/15 

Brown Booby Baltimore 11/27/15

juv Red-headed Woodpecker, Roland Park, Baltimore 11/27/15

juv Red-headed Woodpecker, Roland Park, Baltimore 11/27/15

juv Red-Headed Woodpecker, Roland Park Baltimore 11/27/15 

Hudsonian Godwit revisited 11/25/15; Bony, Tree Sparrow 11/24

11/25/15: Hudsonian Godwit revisited aout 5 weeks after arrival on 10/20/15; Bony, Tree Sparrow 11/24

The HUGO that arrived at Milford Point on 10/20/15 (see entry for that date) is still hanging out at the Stratford Marina with Greater Yellowlegs.  Both legs/feet have obvious problems, as the photos below indicate, but it walked quite well, at least for the brief walk I witnessed.  Also photos of Bonaparte's Gull (one of a pair) off of Trumbull Ave and a Tree Sparrow at SSSP (both on 11/24/15):

Hudsonian Godwit with Greater Yellowlegs Stratford Marina 11/25/15

HUGO right foot problem

HUGO left leg problem

Bonaparte's Gull, Trumbull Ave

Silver Sands SP American Tree Sparrow 11/24/15

Pink-footed Goose, Avon CT, 11/23/15

A Pink-footed Goose was discovered three days ago on the lake at Fisher's Meadow in Avon CT.  We went on a wild goose chase today and with the help of fellow birders found and observed it.  Seemed larger than we expected, and features a relatively dainty bill.  But its rear end is quite bulky--a true Anser.  A few record shots below:

PFGO 11/23/15 Fisher's Meadows, Avon CT

Ash-throated Flycatcher, Westport, 11/18/15

On 11/17/15 Tina Green and TJ found an Ash-throated Flycatcher at an evergreen grove at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport, CT.  It represents another instance of the overshooting migration patterns of birds like the Cave Swallow (which just showed up at our house and all over S. CT in the last week) and the Franklin's Gull, which also showed up here as part of the largest outbreak on record for the eastern US.  The Ash-throated is distinguished from a Great Crested by its almost white throat, and by its crisp white wing bars and crisply white edged secondaries.  A few grainy record shots below, along with a female Purple Finch at Mondo Ponds a few days ago, a Milford Point American Pipit, and a Bonaparte's Gull off of Elm Street.

Sandhill Cranes, Milford Point, 11/09/15

A pair of Sandhill Cranes were reported in the Wheeler Marsh at Milford Point around 4:30 PM on 10/08/15 by Gina Nichols and Steve Bird; went there this AM, and with Tom Murray and Frank Mantlik (who relocated them and obtained excellent photos); watched them in the spartina until they flew west over Stratford/Bridgeport.  A few grainy record shots below:

Sandhill Cranes over Wheeler Marsh 11/09/15 red crowns visible

Sandhill Cranes taking off Wheeler Marsh 11/09/15

Sandhill Cranes flying over Wheeler Marsh 11/09/15

Sandhill Cranes in Wheeler Marsh 11/09/15