Silver Sands Horned Lark, White-crowned Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Snow Bunting, White-tailed Deer 12/19/13

note cryptic Savannah Sparrow

cryptic Savannah Sparrow

Snow Bunting with Horned Lark, Silver Sands 12/19/13

White-crowned Sparrow essaying birdseed on fence post, Silver Sands 12/19/13

White-tails, Silver Sands SP, 12/19/13

Dunlin, Silver Sands, 12/19/13

Horned Lark, Silver Sands, 12/19/13

Horned Lark, Silver Sands. 12/19/13

White-crowned Sparrow, Silver Sands, 12/19/13

White-crowned Sparrow, Silver Sands 12/19/13

Harlequin Duck, CBC 12/12/13,

At the beginning of today's frigid, snowy New Haven CBC,  as we started out with Frank Mantlik at Merwin Point we all spotted a small duck very close to the shore.  After some initial confusion, Frank said, Harlequin Duck."  As so she was.  A few record shots below as she came out of the water and stood on the rocks.

female Harlequin Duck, Milford, 12/14/13

Sandy Point Snowy Owl, 12/13/13

A few record shots of one of two reported Snowy Owls at Sandy Point in West Haven today, 12/13/13, the day before the New Haven Christmas Count.  Hope they're both there tomorrow.  This owl was flushed by a pair of novice photographers who approached it very closely.

Snowy Owl, first view, Sandy Point West Haven, 12/13/13

Snowy Owl, Sandy Pt, WH, closer 12/13/13

Snowy Owl, zoomed in, 12/13/13, Sandy Point WH

Snowy Owl, 12/13/13, Sandy Point, WH

Snowy Owl, Milford Pt, 9 Dec 13

This afternoon (9 Dec 13), a cold, dark day with lingering drizzle, a Snowy Owl was again on the western extension of the Francis Street spit at Milford Point.  This looks like the same owl pictured on the 6th.  Today's record shots show that his right foot seems bloody, but I cannot tell if the red (presumably blood) comes from an injury to the owl or from its prey.

Snowy Owl, Milford Point, 12/02/13

Today I found a Snowy Owl on the western extension of the Francis Street spit at Milford Point.  Many have been around during this record irruption of Snowy Owls.  From the beach observation area I watched the owl from about 11:45 AM until 1:40 PM, when a fisherman walked out the spit and flushed it.  The owl was interested in a female RB Merganser and twice sallied forth after it, but made no attack.  I followed the owl in my scope as it flew in front of Charles Island, and finally landed on  Gulf Beach.  A few record shots below, preceded by Dunlin from Brazos Rd, E Haven, site of the Barrow's Goldeneye:

Dunlin, Brazos Rd, E Haven

Snowy Owl watching female RB Merganser, 12/06/13 Milford Pt

Snowy Owl, Milford Pt, 12/06/13

Snowy Owl, 12/06/13, Milford Pt

Snowy Owl, 12/06/13, Milford Pt

Barrow's Goldeneye, East Haven 10/03/13

Some record shots of a drake Barrow's Goldeneye at Brazos Rd in East Haven CT on 12/03/13.  The bird has been in this spot for at least 4 days.  Much of the time he was accompanied by 8 Common Goldeneye Hens.

Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Hadlyme, 12/02/13

Two days ago a Fork-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus savana) was located at the ferry parking lot area in Hadlyme CT, on the east side of the Connecticut River--the 4th record of this bird in CT.  Check the blog for November 2010 for a post about the Fork-tailed Flycatcher in Cove Park, Norwalk then.  A few photos below from 2 December 2013.

Fork-tailed Flycatcher Hadlyme 12/2/13