On June 6th, seven birders gathered at Station 43 in South Windsor for a bird walk focusing on wetland nesting species. Weather was cool, overcast and slightly breezy, creating little to no mosquito activity.
The main focus of the trip was positioned around the Station 43 marsh itself where we discovered nesting Red-winged Blackbirds, singing Swamp Sparrows and Marsh Wrens, and the ever-present Willow Flycatcher. Other wetland denizens included Wood Ducks and a trio of Green Heron.
Our most exciting encounter of the morning was a close-up view of a Virginia Rail standing on a log preening itself.
Birdwatchers also spotted three Bald Eagles over the Connecticut River, a pair of Eastern Kingbirds, and a Baltimore Oriole building a nest right above the observation platform.
The trip concluded with a total of 50 bird species.
Respectively submitted,
Paul Cianfaglione, trip leader
