2010
TRIPS
SaTURDAY, MARCH
20
Middlesex College
Annual Meeting of the Connecticut
Ornithological Association
The public is invited to this all-day conference (8:00 AM - 4:00
PM) featuring well known birding experts speaking on birding and
related subjects. For additional information contact
www.ctbirding.org
SUNDAY, MARCH 21
Hammonasset Beginner’s Bird Walk III
One of the best places in Connecticut
for birding. A unique location of tidal marsh, grassland,
deciduous forest, pine and cedars, beach and estuary habitats
creates a significant migratory stopover area for many species.
This trip will offer beginners a great location to help sharpen
their skills. Meet at the Meigs Point Nature Center inside the
park at 8:00 AM. Leaders: Adrian & Beth Nichols
Saturday, March 27
Sachuest Point, Rhode Island
Sachuest Point is home to the largest
wintering flock of Harlequin Ducks in New England with upwards of
sixty birds possible. Other ducks and seabirds are common and we
may see Northern Gannets and Razorbills as well as many birds that
are harder to find in Connecticut. Bring a lunch for this all day
trip. Meet at the Sachuest Point parking lot at 8:30AM. Call
leader for directions or carpooling.
Leader: Paul Desjardins
Saturday, April 3
Western CT Shoreline
We will drive to Sherwood Island Park
and work our way back towards New Haven. We will be looking for
late wintering birds and early spring migrants. From 2005 to 2008, we had Gannets, Gannets and more
Gannets. Dress warmly and bring lunch for this most of the day
trip. Meet at the Long Wharf Information Center (Liberty Belle
Ticket Sales), New Haven at 8:00 AM. Leader: Carl Ekroth
Saturday, April 10
Birding
and Maintenance Party
Lewis Farm, Suffield
Bring your gloves, binoculars, and lunch and
help the Sanctuaries Committee keep Lewis Farm beautiful and clear
of brush. Meet at Lewis Farm entrance at 8:30 AM.
Leader: Jon Smalley
Saturday, April 17
Great Pond, Simsbury
What better way to start the spring
count than a walk with us at our favorite spot. There should be a
nice assortment of birds with some about to leave and others
returning to nest. Meet at the parking lot off Great Pond Road at
7:30AM.
Leaders: Roger Preston / Jon Ward
SATURDAY,
APRIL 24 - SUNDAY, MAY 16
Annual Spring Census Period
Three-week census period
Chair, Jamie Myers
Captains
(subject to change). Check The Crest for up-to-date
information.
1. Avon - Brian Toal
2. Barkhamsted - Marg Schuster
3. Bloomfield - Linda Clancy
4. Bolton - Erie Harris
5. Burlington - Margaret Schuster
6. Canton - Jay Kaplan
7. East Hartford - Debi Wheeler
8. Ellington - Carl Ekroth
9. Enfield - Jim Deschamps
10. Farmington - Patsy Mason
11. Glastonbury - Bill Asteriades
12. Granby - John Weeks
13. Hartford - Jamie Meyers
14. Manchester - Tim Antonaitis
15. New Britain - TBD
16. Newington - Roy Zartarian
17. Portland - Joe Bedrow
18. Rocky Hill - TBD
19. Simsbury - Roger Preston
20. Somers - Jan Collins
21. South Windsor - Rob Mirer
22. Suffield - Arthur Sikes
23. West Hartford - Diane Tucker
24. Wethersfield - Steve Kotchko
25. Windsor - Mike and
Judy Whittlesey
SATURDAY, MAY 1
Raymond Brook Airline Trail, Amston
Join our leaders as we search for early
returning migrants and other surprises. Meet at 7:30AM in the
Airline Trail parking lot off Route 85 in Amston. Call leaders for
details. Leaders: Annie and Mike Perko
Saturday May 1
Quarry Park and Connecticut River Floodplain
We are looking for Bobolinks, sparrows,
shorebirds, nesting songbirds and other surprises on this morning
trip exploring Quarry Park and the Connecticut River flood plain
in the Rocky Hill area. Wear sturdy walking shoes. If the spring
has been wet, bring waterproof boots. Meet at the north gravel
parking area at Ferry Park at 7:00AM. The park is at the east end
of Route 160 which runs off the Silas Deane Highway (Route 99).
Follow the signs for the ferry. Leader: Larry Lunden
Sunday, May 2
Gay City State Park, Hebron
Gay City State Park in Hebron is the location for this trip in a
search for spring migrants and other birds in a variety of
habitats. This trip will be entirely on foot so wear sturdy shoes.
Meet at the main entrance at 7:00AM. Directions from Hartford
area: I-84 east to I-384 east. Take exit 5 off I-384 (Rte 85).
Right off exit on Rte 85 south, follow Rte 85 south approx. 5
miles (watch signs as Rte 85 takes several turns). Main entrance
to Gay City State Park will be on your right. Enter park and pass
guardhouse, meet at first lot on right after guardhouse.
Leader: Ernie Harris
Saturday, May 8
Station 43 Beginners Bird Walk IV, South Windsor
This is a walk you don’t want to miss.
Waterfowl, shorebirds, nesters and some passerines await your
binoculars. It will still be wet so remember your boots. After we
get our fifty or more birds on this walk, we will adjourn to
Dunkin Donuts to tally the four walks and a quiz will be held for
the advanced birders! We do have fun so join us at the corner of
Newberry Rd. and Main St. at 8:00AM. Leaders: Roger Preston /
Jon Ward
Saturday, May 8
East Rock Park, New Haven
This is one
of the best spots to see migrating warblers, often at eye level.
This is the first place birds see after crossing Long Island
Sound. Spring of 2003 had up to twenty-five species of warblers in
one day! Meet at the Eli Whitney Museum parking lot at 7:00AM.
Leader: Paul Desjardins
Thursday, May 13
Mount Auburn Cemetery and Plum Island, MA
Visit the famous Cambridge,
Massachusetts warbler hotspot, Mount Auburn Cemetery. It’s not
only good for birds, it is also a beautiful park-like cemetery.
Then it’s on to Plum Island at Newburyport for more warblers and
shorebirds. We will be having dinner in Newburyport before
leaving. This is a carpooling trip. Call for further information.
Meeting time is 7:00AM at the cemetery. Leader: Jim Moore
Saturday, May 15
East Granby’s Great Swamp and Beaver Swamp
This is a great area for spring
migrants. Expect to see many vireos, warblers, and thrushes as
well as Swamp Sparrow, and Virginia Rail. If time permits we’ll
continue northward into Suffield to seek out some grassland birds
such as American Kestrel, Brown Thrasher and Grasshopper Sparrow.
Meet at the “Rails to Trails” parking area off Route 20 in East
Granby at 7:00 AM. Leader: Brian Kleinman
SATURDAY,
MAY 15
(raindate , Sunday May 16th)
The Lethal ToUR
Join us for
what was once a Hartford Audubon Society tradition that predates
Big Day and The World Series of Birding. The goal is to see as
many species as is possible in a single day. No, we’re not doing a
24-hour marathon throughout the state! Not at these gasoline
prices!! We will, however, try to see as many species as we can
within Hartford County. We’ll probably start around 4:00 AM and
continue until dusk. More information will be available in the
spring....if we have the energy! Leader: Jay Kaplan
Sunday, May 16
Nepaug Reservoir Area
This roving trip to an excellent area
always produces interesting migrants. Come see Nepaug at its best.
Meet at the restaurant parking lot at the intersection of Routes
44 and 202 at 7:30 AM. Leader: Jamie Meyers
SUNDAY, MAY 16
Litchfield and Kent
This trip should produce such excellent
species as Cerulean and Hooded Warblers, and possibly
Golden-winged Warbler, Cliff Swallow and many others. Bring lunch
and meet at White Memorial Foundation parking lot in Litchfield at
8:00AM. Note the later start time. Leader: Dave Rosgen
SAturday, May 22
Portland Reservoir/Meshomasic Forest
Take a scenic walk around the Portland
Reservoir through a wooded trail that leads past pines, woods,
brooks and bog in the Meshomasic Forest. This new trip should
produce plenty of migrants. Meet at the Brownstone Intermediate
School parking lot on Main Street in Portland at 7:00AM. There
will be a fair amount of walking. Hiking boots are recommended.
Leader: Larry Nichols
SATURDAY, MAY
22
Barn Island WMA, Stonington
Come explore one of Connecticut’s finest
coastal habitats with Audubon Connecticut’s Director of Bird
Conservation, Patrick Comins. Not only is Barn Island a great
place to look for shorebirds and waterbirds, but it is also a
wonderful place for migrant landbirds. Meet at the parking lot of
Barn Island at 8:30 AM. We will be keeping an eye on CT’s and RI’s
RBAs in case there are other birds nearby worthy of a chase. This
trip will again be coordinated with the New Haven Bird Club.
Leader: Patrick Comins
Saturday, May 29
Route 44 Powerlines, West Hartford
Join our leader as we search the
powerlines for late spring migrants and nesting species. We hope
to find Yellow-bellied Flycatcher as well as Mourning and
Blackpoll Warblers. The shrubland habitat along the powerlines can
produce a variety of birds including many hard-to-find species.
Meet at the Route 44 parking lot near the powerlines at 7:00AM.
Leader: Brian Toal
Saturday, June 5
Station 43, South Windsor
Search for Least Bittern, Sora, Virginia
Rail, and Marsh Wren. Meet at the intersection of Main Street and
Newberry Road at 6:30 AM for this morning trip. Leader: Carl
Ekroth
Sunday, June 6
Mattabesset River Paddle Trip
Join us for a paddle trip along the
Mattabesset River from Cromwell to Harbor Park in Middletown.
Meet at the parking lot at 7:00 AM.
We will have to shuttle cars to the take
out area and return to the launch site. Directions; from Route 9
south, take exit 20 onto Route 91 south. Take exit 21, turn left
at the light. Just past the Wooster Plaza, look for a right turn
into a driveway. Cromwell Executive Center, 75 Berlin Road. Bring
drinks, snacks and binoculars. You are required to wear life
jacket while on this paddle trip. If it rains, the trip will be
cancelled. Leader: Jeff Feldmann
Saturday, June 12
Barkhamsted and East Hartland
We’ll start off the morning with an easy
walk down to the Indian Council Caves. Here we can expect to find
Black-throated Blue Warbler and Canada Warbler, along with Hermit
Thrush, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Brown Creeper. After the
caves we will take a short dive into East Hartland and explore an
area around Hurricane Brook where we can find Ruffed Grouse,
Junco, Winter Wren, Acadian Flycatcher, Blue-headed Vireo and
Blackburnian Warbler. If time permits we’ll explore some other
nearby areas. Meet at the entrance to the Indian Council Caves
(Tunxis Trail) off Route 179 in Barkhamsted at 7:00 AM. Leader:
Brian Kleinman
Saturday, June 12
Urban Birding Series III, East Hartford
Birding isn’t just for the “burbs”. Come
out and explore great ways to find our feathered friends within
the borders of our largest cities. Today’s highlights are Keeney
Cove Park, North Meadows and Riverside Park. Land and water birds
will be seen today. Meet at Augie and Rays, 314 Main Street in
East Hartford
at 7:30 AM.
Leader: Joe Budrow
SATURDAY &
SUNDAY, JUNE 12 & 13
Summer Bird Count
Join Hartford Audubon members as we participate in COA's
14th Annual Summer Bird Count. Species and numbers are counted on
this two-day tally within our Christmas Count circle. Bird one
day or both and help accumulate breeding data for the state.
Coordinator: Jay Kaplan
