Author: Mona Cavallero (Page 12 of 16)

2021 HAS Big Sit Field Trip Report –     October 10, 2021

Six members and friends of the Hartford Audubon Society met on the Society’s Platform at Station 43, South Windsor before dawn on Sunday, October 10, 2021 to participate in the annual “Big Sit.”  Conceived and administered by the New Haven Bird Club, the objective of the Big Sit is to count as many bird species as possible from the confines of a 17’ diameter circle on a day during the second weekend in October.  Our HAS Big Sit was initiated over 20 years ago by former HAS President, Betty Kleiner.  This year’s “Sit” would be an abbreviated version as much of our group had work and other responsibilities later that day.  Dawn at Station 43, however, is nothing short of exhilarating, as the early morning hours usually provide the greatest excitement.   There is no place I’d rather be!

As per usual, our day began with a few snippets of song here and there, as sparrows, wrens and other birds began to stir.  Unfortunately, there were no owls to be hard this morning.  The wood ducks soon began to make their presence known.  The Connecticut River Valley is a prime migration corridor for these beautiful ducks, and we can usually count hundreds of silhouettes moving across our view as dawn approaches.  Smaller, and utilizing a different flight pattern than the occasional mallards and black ducks, the “woodies” are too numerous to even count and they did not disappoint!  The weather forecast this day was not ideal.  It was warm, humid, and the sky was overcast.  With no wind, it had not been a good night for songbird migration.  An exception was a substantial movement of red-winged blackbirds.  When watching blackbird flocks, one must be vigilant for the odd species or two mixing in. Vigilance, however, was unnecessary for the single rusty blackbird that dropped into the brush directly in front of us, then flew into a tree adjacent to the platform and chortled, providing everyone with a nice view.

The other species that was moving in big numbers on this day was Canada Geese.  Sharp-eyed Annette Pasek noted a single snow goose in one of the skeins of Canadas as they headed southward.  It was to be the only non-Canada goose out of the thousands that moved past us that morning.   By 9 AM, it was determined that we would end our abbreviated Big Sit.  Two of us had to go to work, and another had already left for Maine.  Late highlights included two juvenile northern harriers and a calling pileated woodpecker.   It should be noted that the rain that was supposed to arrive by mid-morning never materialized.  The forecast was, however, enough to deter any other birders from making the trip into the marsh that day.

Jay Kaplan

Big Sit Birds

1. Snow Goose
2. Canada Goose
3. Wood Duck
4. American Black
5. Mallard
6. Killdeer
7. Northern Harrier
8. Cooper’s Hawk
9. Red-tailed Hawk
10. Mourning Dove
11. Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
12. Red-bellied Sapsucker
13. Downy Woodpecker
14. Pileated Woodpecker
15. Northern Flicker
16. Eastern Phoebe
17. Blue Jay
18. American Crow
19. Tree Swallow
20. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
21. House Wren
22. Marsh Wren
23. CarolinaWren
24. European Starling
25. Gray Catbird
26. American Robin
27. American Pipit
28. White-throated Sparrow
29. Song Sparrow
30. Swamp Sparrow
31. Red-winged Blackbird
32. Rusty Blackbird
33. Common Blackbird
34. Yellow-rumped Warbler
35. Northern Cardinal

Trip Report for Greenstone Hollow Walk,  Oct 9, 2021

Leaders – Diane & Chris Fisher

Participants – 18 ( including leaders)

Weather – Overcast, upper 50’s to low 60’s

Length of Trip/Terrain – Approximately 8am – 11am – about 1.9 miles total.  Terrain was mostly flat mowed paths, easy walking – some wet areas.  At about 9:45 we returned to the starting point after birding the trails immediately adjacent to Ridge Blvd on both sides.  At that point some people had to leave.  9 of us continued on to the back of the property.

Highlights of Birds Seen – We saw 21 species of birds which was reported on e-bird.  We started with several large flocks of birds flying around.  These included Red-winged Blackbirds, Starlings and Cedar Waxwings.  We had good looks at the Northern Flicker in the scope and the White-throated Sparrows had returned en masse!  Merle Yoder, a photographer and member, stayed afterwards on his own and also photographed Common Yellowthroat and Ruby-crowned Kinglet.  They were not included in the “official” list since they weren’t seen during the trip.

Here is the bird list as recorded by Larry Lunden:

Canada Goose  20
Great Blue Heron  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Downy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  1
Blue Jay  13
Black-capped Chickadee  3
Carolina Wren  2
European Starling  60
Gray Catbird  3
Northern Mockingbird  1
American Robin  6
Cedar Waxwing  45
House Finch  2
American Goldfinch  5
White-throated Sparrow  25
Song Sparrow  1
Eastern Towhee  3
Red-winged Blackbird  90
Yellow-rumped Warbler  7
Northern Cardinal  2

Merle Yoder shared some of his photos taken on this trip below.

Trip report submitted by Trip Leader Joan Heffernan below

September 8, 2021 Time:  8:30-11:30   2 hours

Fourteen participants met at Hilltop Farm in Suffield, CT at 8:30 AM.  This late summer, partly sunny day began at 67 degrees and soon rose to a sunny 77 degrees.  The original plan had to be adapted a bit because of heavy summer storm damage.  The farm property has sustained significant tree loss in recent weeks.  Our beloved oak which proudly stood by the white barn for over 200 years was our most significant loss.   Although our leader is a novice birder, she is an active volunteer at the farm and very familiar with the property and pointed out where species can be found at different times of the year.   Today we identified 23 species.  We began our walk near the entrance marquee.  From there we walked south and then east on a gravely road on town owned property.  We passed haying fields that are home to Red-winged Blackbirds and Bob-o-Links although not present today.  Near the base of the hill we hooked a left onto a narrow path that led us to a boardwalk.  On the right side of the path, in a wetland area, we saw newly planted native species (nestled in with beautiful goldenrod) purchased with HAS grants from 2020 & 2021 which were well watered this year!  We stopped to observe the resident eagle’s nest, either through our binoculars or binoculars mounted here for patron viewing. All was quiet today but a fledging left in early July.  Birders were encouraged to come back and visit in December and beyond when the eagles are actively rehabbing their dwelling. Our walk continued from the boardwalk back onto the gravely road past a tobacco barn and we then headed north, parallel to the CT River.  We next followed a wooded trail where we witnessed the storm destruction from this summer.  We did manage to circumvent downed trees and were able to view the inland pond home to Wood Ducks and Great Blue Herons. The GBH did a flyover, the ducks were hiding!  After looping around and exiting the woods, we head west up the hill with meadows on our left and wetlands on the right where the Red-headed Woodpeckers lived in fall 2019 and spring 2020.  We crossed back south through the farmer’s field to bypass some yellow jackets buzzing near one of the fallen trees.  We had fashioned “steps” over the trees but took the alternate route to avoid the bees.   We stopped at the Community Garden where many Hummingbirds, Goldfinches and a female Red-winged Blackbird were actively eating among the rainbow of blooming flowers.  Common Nighthawks were seen here on 8/24-a lifer for the leader! Continuing up the hill, we then visited the Corn Crib area which is being nurtured to create an area where less active individuals can sit and enjoy birds, bees and butterflies in the Butterfly & Pollinator Gardens where HAS grant money was also used to purchase plants.  I forgot to mention and point out the Phoebe nests under the corn crib. (seven )

We also viewed a Hummingbird Garden on the side of former manure shed and another raised bed (Pollinator Garden) on the base of what used to be a silo.  I wish that the Creamery being built was open (stay tuned) to end our trek with a cold gelato treat but perhaps on your next visit!  Birders that stayed until the end were invited into the cathedral barn, which is also under renovation at this Non Profit Organization which is on the National Register of Historic Places since 2005.  You can learn more about this property here:   https://www.hilltopfarmsuffield.org/

Birds Sighted: Black-capped Chickadee, European Starlings, Northern Flicker, Mourning Dove, Blue Jay, American Crow, Song Sparrow, Gray Catbird, Hummingbirds, Chimney Swift, Carolina Wren, American Goldfinch, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Wood Peewee, Warbling Vireo, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Tufted Titmouse, Eastern Phoebe, Red-winged Blackbird, American Robin, White-breasted Nuthatch,  and Northern Mockingbird.  We even saw a bat!

Fisher Meadows Avon, CT

May 22^nd 2021

Brian Toal – trip leader

15 birders joined us for our annual walk around Fisher Meadows recreation area in Avon. We had mostly resident species singing behind thick foliage, so it was a good lesson in learning the common bird songs. A highlight was 7 Blackpoll warblers that those with good ears were able to hear. Resident species found included: blue winged warbler, Warbling vireo, American redstart, Great crested flycatcher , Willow flycatcher and Yellow warbler. A Bald eagle gave us some excitement as it flew down the Farmington river. Near the end of the walk, we heard a Cuckoo that seemed to be a yellow billed. Some of the group stayed behind to try to get a better look at the cuckoo. The brown thrasher and orchard oriole that have been found in past years were not located . 46 species were seen or heard overall.

The day was clear and sunny.  Six of us gathered for the Greenstone trip, including a couple from Puerto Rico who wanted to see what their birds are doing during the summer.

The day was especially good for warblers.  We had six species.  Common Yellowthroats  were abundant with 12 of them scattered over the preserve.  Yellow and Blue-winged Warblers were well represented with five each.  Also Black-and-white, and American Redstarts (called Candelita in Spanish), were seen.  The highlight was a Canada Warbler, Which was a new species for the preserve.

In various places we found nine Wood Thrush singing.  We got good looks at a Rose-breasted Grosbeak in a tree.  We did get a Ruby-throated Hummingbird.  We finally found just one American Robin.  I don’t know where the others were.

We had a total of 24 species, including 6 warblers.

Larry Lunden

Species:

Mallard  3,  Mourning Dove  2,  Ruby-throated Hummingbird  1,  Red-bellied Woodpecker  3,  Downy Woodpecker  1,  Blue Jay  3,  Black-capped Chickadee  3,  Tufted Titmouse  4,  Tree Swallow  2,  Gray Catbird  1,  Wood Thrush  9,  American Robin  1,  White-throated Sparrow  6,  Song Sparrow  2,  Red-winged Blackbird  6,  Common Grackle  1,  Blue-winged Warbler  5,  Black-and-white Warbler  1,  Common Yellowthroat  12,  American Redstart  3,  Yellow Warbler  5,  Canada Warbler  1,  Northern Cardinal  6,  Rose-breasted Grosbeak  3

Lewis Farm Sanctuary Trip Report – May 5, 2021

Trip report submitted by trip leader Abby Wolcott

On a damp spring morning, 13 local birders met at Lewis Farm to explore the trails and look for birds. Bluebirds greeted us in the parking area and off we went down the hill with binoculars in hand looking for warblers and other birds.  We meandered around a small pond nestled in the verdant woods before heading to a pine grove where we were dwarfed by the towering evergreens.   We turned down the volume as we scanned the understory.  The group continued on admiring the wildflowers near the path including Jack in the Pulpits, Trillium and Dutchman’s Breeches. Along the way we were accompanied by white breasted nuthatches and white throated sparrows with their striking white cravats. A rose breasted grosbeak serenaded us to encourage the group to move deeper into the sanctuary.  We craned our necks to look at the treetops and were rewarded with cedar waxwings and yellow- rumped warblers, and black and white warblers scrambling up and down the tree trunk. Those in our group with an ear for bird songs identified a Northern Parula warbler and a Pine warbler.

We lingered by the rushing brook watching two great blue herons fly over in their prehistoric fashion.  Our next stop was a pair of vernal pools and the oven bird called as we put one foot in front of the other.  He finally showed himself by flitting to a lower branch briefly before taking cover deeper in the woods.  Always a treat, we heard the pileated woodpeckers conversing and one rose up from the lowest branch of a tree to thrill us with his undulating flight as he headed off.

We finished our walk trudging up the hill as catbirds serenaded us with their repertoire and the group shared what birds they have been seeing locally. Our fellowship in the woods this morning proved that some unsettled New England weather could not damped the spirits of local birders and their ever present quest.

Tanager Hill Trip Report – Weatogue/Simsbury –May 6, 2021

Trip Leader: John Weeks

Hartford Audubon Society held its annual spring bird walk on Tanager

Hill today. https://simsburylandtrust.org/slt/tanager-hill-the-ellsworth-property/

Forty-seven species were observed, highlighted by two Hooded Warblers and a Common Loon that flew over before the start of the walk.

Full eBird list is at https://ebird.org/checklist/S87276514.

Four members and friends of the Hartford Audubon Society met field trip leader, Jay Kaplan, in the Roaring Brook Nature Center parking lot on Sunday, May 2, 2021 at the bright and early hour of 6:30 am.  The 2.5 hour itinerary included a leisurely walk along the Nature Center trails, and those on the adjacent Werner’s Woods, state-owned property for which the Nature Center serves as steward.  It was immediately apparent that the morning would be an improvement over the previous day, as scarlet tanager and veery were heard from the parking lot for the first time this year.  The strong northwest wind that had begun Friday night and carried through much of Saturday had abated, allowing for an influx of spring migrants the night prior to our walk.  A flowering crabapple adjacent to the Nature Center building provided a good site for warblers with yellow-rumped and northern parula feeding in the blossoms.  The fields around the old barn were especially productive with three singing Baltimore orioles, eastern towhees and gray catbirds easy to see.  The wind, having shifted to the south, was ideal for migrants, and looking up offered views of migrating double-crested cormorants, as well as common merganser and Canada goose going somewhere.  The fields also served up tree and barn swallows, eastern bluebird, and a couple of brief looks at a Cooper’s hawk; a pileated woodpecker flying across the field was an added bonus. We headed back into the woods in search of both migrants and resident songbirds.  One bird of note that seemed very interested in a particular dead hemlock tree was a female, red-breasted nuthatch, and we wondered if there might be a nest nearby.  Red-breasted nuthatch is not a common breeder in these woods, but following an irruption of these birds last winter, it is more likely that some will remain to nest.  Perhaps the most interesting sighting was a pair of purple finches feeding on catkins high in a black birch tree.  Purple finch is now an uncommon breeder in our area.  The calls and songs of winter wren, wood thrush, blue-headed vireo, and several warblers including the uncommon worm-eating warbler, serenaded us we headed back to the Nature Center.  We ended our trip with a barred owl calling from the woods near the building and a ruby-throated hummingbird zoomed over our heads while we compiled our lists.  The total for the morning was 53 species including 9 warblers.   A trip list is found below.

Jay Kaplan, Trip Leader

Trip Birds

1. Canada Goose
2. Common Merganser
3. Double-crested Cormorant
4. Great Blue Heron
5. Black Vulture
6. Cooper’s Hawk
7. Red-shouldered Hawk
8. Mourning Dove
9. Barred Owl
10. Red-bellied Woodpecker
11. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
12. Downy Woodpecker
13. Hairy Woodpecker
14. Pileated Woodpecker
15. Eastern Phoebe
16. Blue-headed Vireo
17. Blue Jay
18. American Crow
19. Tree Swallow
20. Barn Swallow
21. Black-capped Chickadee
22. Tufted Titmouse
23. Red-breasted Nuthatch
24. White-breasted Nuthatch
25. House Wren
26. Winter Wren
27. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
28. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
29. Eastern Bluebird
30. Veery
31. Wood Thrush
32. American Robin
33. Gray Catbird
34. Ovenbird
35. Worm-eating Warbler
36. Louisiana Waterthrush
37. Black-and-white Warbler
38. Common Yellowthroat
39. Northern Parula
40. Palm Warbler
41. Yellow-rumped Warbler
42. Black-throated Green Warbler
43. Eastern Towhee
44. Chipping Sparrow
45. Song Sparrow
46. White-throated Sparrow
47. Scarlet Tanager
48. Northern Cardinal
49. Common Grackle
50. Brown-headed Cowbird
51. Baltimore Oriole
52. Purple Finch
53. American Goldfinch

Quarry Park and Connecticut River Floodplain

Trip Report, May 1, 2021

A sunny but windy day greeted us as we started out the walk.  There was a noticeable chill in the air as we had an unusual cold snap.   Three of us turned out to see what was in the park.

The upper level had the usual birds. The wooded portion rewarded us with one warbler, an American Redstart.  Both Dark-eyed Junco and White-throated Sparrows were still around.  On the lower level one Gray Catbird was singing, but did not come out in view.  Probably because of the wind we saw no flyovers or any of the common aerial species.

We were tired on return from the park, so we skipped the meadows.

Overall we had 17 species, including 1 warbler.

Larry Lunden

Species at Quarry Park:

Mourning Dove  8,  Red-bellied Woodpecker  4,  Downy Woodpecker  1,  Blue Jay  4,  Black-capped Chickadee  3,  Tufted Titmouse  10,  Gray Catbird  1,  American Robin  11,  House Sparrow  1,  American Goldfinch  2,  Dark-eyed Junco  2,  White-throated Sparrow  2,  Song Sparrow  4,  Red-winged Blackbird  3,  Brown-headed Cowbird  5,  American Redstart  1,  Northern Cardinal  3