Milford Point

A fine day to go birding!

More about it here:

https://ebird.org/checklist/S70163349

Tony

East Rock Park 5/16/2020

Migration comes twice a year, but nothing is better than spring warbler migration! So we left the house at 7:30 AM and drove to East Rock Park (or Eli Whitney Museum). 

Weather:

61 F. Sunny with some clouds. 

Overview: 

When we arrived at 8:00, there were already some birders birding before you enter the red bridge. Warbling Vireos were singing, Yellow-rumped, Chestnut-Sided, WILSON'S Warblers were in the smaller trees and a beautiful male American Redstart was near the river, also a Willow Flycatcher. After viewing those birds, someone spotted a Blackburnian Warbler across the river! We all walked through the red covered bridge and went to the Blackburnian area, but I didn't spot it. It flew down into the lower branches so I decided to walk back to the other side of the river, and then in one of the big trees, I spotted the BAY-BREASTED WARBLER!! First lifer of the day! We continued to walk past the covered bridge to the first trail on the right and came across a group of birders. I saw some more Yellow-rumped Warblers, Common Yellowthroats, Magnolia Warblers,and a Red-eyed Vireo. I continued on the trail and I heard a Baltimore Oriole. Over my head I heard a warbler, it was the male Blackburnian Warbler! So I told everyone, then one of the folks found a second male Blackburnian! This warbler gave me good photo opportunities. I found a Canada Warbler and as I continued saw a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak that flew on a branch over the water. We walked to the red metal bridge, where I spotted a Spotted Sandpiper. Further on I got my lifers a Hooded Warbler and a Tennessee Warbler! Also saw: Black-throated Blue Warbler, Northern Parula, Swainson's Thrush, and Acadian Flycatcher. Back at the entrance, I spotted some more Warbling Vireos singing. I started talking to one of the birders, we talked about cameras and well, birding.  Before you enter the red covered bridge an American Redstart was just 2 feet away! It almost hit my head one time! Then I found a singing male Chestnut-sided Warbler and a PHILADELPHIA VIREO! The Philadelphia Vireo is similar to a Red-eyed Vireo but a bit smaller, duller red eye, and more yellow wash on the stomach. 

So that wraps up the blog post for today! Check out my photos below!

Scarlet Tanager 

Warbling Vireo

Male American Redstart

Redstart Photo #2

#3

Wilson's Warbler

Black-and-white Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Magnolia Warbler

Baby Wood Ducks

More babies

Male Blackburnian Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler singing

Mallards

Rose-breasted Grosbeak 

Female Common Yellowthroat

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Dropping down!

Least Flycatcher!

Very photogenic!

The waterfall

Female American Redstart

What you looking at? LOL.

Blackburnian Warbler. My favorite shot of the day!

Chestnut-sided Warbler


Well overall it was a great day! I tallied 57 species. 

  

Connecticut Wilson's Phalarope

This morning I went to Hammonasset Beach State Park to look for a Wilson's Phalarope! 

Weather: Sunny, 48 F

Overview: It was a beautiful morning to get out! We pull into the West Beach puddles, and the phalarope was in the puddle! It was a great experience to see a phalarope do the "vortex-spinning" feeding behavior! They swirl around in water to create  a vortex, which causes the insects to go to the top! I stopped by the Meig's Point Parking Lot and got Boat-tailed Grackle and Pectoral Sandpiper. I saw lots of Tree Swallows there! One had a hard time flying because of the winds! Anyway, I saw 53 species of birds. Inculding: Pectoral Sandpiper, Boat-tailed Grackle, and the phalarope (of course). I am now at 140 species for the year

Shout-out to Eli Holton! Happy 15th Birthday! 

Photos: 

Least Sandpiper

Tree Swallow

Wilson's Phalarope

Phalarope again

Again, another phalarope photo!









The video!




Thanks for reading!
Tony

Backyard Covid-19 Birding

Spring has come, meaning migration has too. Warblers, thrushes etc. But since the U.S. and CT has the Covid-19 I decided to bird in my backyard. 

the story: 

One day, while eating lunch I saw a rare Sandhill Crane flyover (new yard bird)

(The next day)

I saw a House Wren in my backyard, so I went out and got some photographs. But then I heard a Northern Parula (new yard bird), then a Baltimore Oriole, and three male Scarlet Tanagers (new yard bird)! Then I heard a Yellow-rumped warbler (new yard bird). While looking at the cardinal nest, I saw a Melospiza sparrow. It was an early Lincoln's Sparrow! (new yard bird) I got a few photos. Then a White-crowned Sparrow landed in the bush (new yard bird). Than I heard a bird calling a "chebek!". It was a Least Flycatcher! So I saw a lot of new yard birds!

So here is the species I had this spring migration so far: 

Sandhill Crane

Least Flycatcher

Tree Swallow

Barn Swallow

White-crowned Sparrow

Lincoln's Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

Northern Parula

Blackpoll Warbler

Palm Warbler

Scarlet Tanager 

Lincoln's Sparrow

Least Flycatcher

White-crowned Sparrow
Enjoy and stay safe!
Tony

Sandhill Crane in CT!

Sandhill Cranes have been making their way through Connecticut, that is cool! But, today I had one flyover my house!!! I decided to spend the day just birding and doing other stuff. But I ended up with 24 species in my backyard. 

Also,
I went birding at local hotspot Tyler Mill checklist here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S68266200

Backyard checklist is here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S68347025

Tony

Yellow-throated Warbler in CT.

Hi folks,
Another warbler seen in Connecticut. State first no. Yellow-throated Warbler is just a regular but rare spring overshoot. 

Weather: Sunny, went from 54-64 F in 2 hours.

Overview:
We walk into Mondo Ponds in Milford and find a bunch of birders, near the condos where the warbler has been seen. No one has saw the warbler since early this morning, but there were a lot of warblers. Pine, Palm, and Black-and-white Warblers were in the area. Northern Rough-winged Swallows were also flying over the main pond. No sign of the warbler. I decided to keep walking down the trail. Where I saw some Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and a nice male Yellow Warbler. Time passed, still no sign of the warbler. So we walked back to the entrance and took a right this time. Than a massive flock of Double-crested Cormorants flew over, 40 to be precise. More time passes. We decide to head back into the pine forest, where I saw two Palm Warblers!! Than a Yellow-rumped Warbler. Than eye level in one of the smaller deciduous trees, I see a bird, bright yellow chest, gray back,and white and black face!! Indeed it was the YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER!!! Two hours of searching paid off!!

Photos:

Pine Warbler

Blue-gray Gnat-catcher 

Yellow Warbler

Mallard

Palm Warbler
Stay safe- Tony

Townsend's Warbler in CT!!!

Hi Folks,
I'm back!! Today I was luck enough to get out and go birding during this Covid-19 situation to see Connecticut's First Ever record of Townsend's Warbler, a very overdue bird.


Overview:
 First of all this bird was seen at the Cedar Hill Cemetery, never thought I would bird at a cemetery!! Anyway, we parked the car near the entrance and walked to where this mega rare warbler is. So we get there, now one has seen the bird in a half an hour, lets get to the good part. One of the birders spots two Barred Owls over two birders head in the hemlock. It gave us great views and photos. While everyone is looking at the owls at look at the hemlock the warbler has been seen, there was a little yellow fast small bird in the tree, and it was a warbler! I immediately alerted the other birders, one said it was a Pine Warbler... But nope it was the TOWNSEND'S WARBLER!!! I was so happy to re-find it for everyone!! Then the cameras started shuttering and the bincos went up. It flew off 5 minutes later. While walking back to the car these two male Red-winged Blackbirds were displaying giving me great photos of them!!

Here are the photos:

Hermit Thrush

Barred Owl

Townsend's Warbler

Townsend's Warbler

Townsend's Warbler

Red-winged Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbird


-Tony