Category: Trip Report (Page 13 of 18)

Great Pond walk in South Glastonbury CT Trip Report – 4/28/2021

May 1, 2021 /

2021 4 28 Great Pond walk in South Glastonbury CT

There were a total of Eight attendees for what was a lovely morning but not so birdy walk.

We totaled 25 species, warblers, sparrows, towhee and more, the best being a Brown Thrasher singing his heart out within the treetops at the meadows edge.

Waterfowl was non-existent.

The group also enjoyed a little bit of history of the land that includes a long standing and living  Cedar which has a bit of notoriety within our state.  Many  cedars stand dead within the preserve.

The morning weather was pleasant and sunny with no breeze to speak of.

Leader:  Annette Pasek

Greenstone Hollow Walk – April 17, 2021 – Trip Report

April 19, 2021 /

Greenstone Hollow Walk – April 17, 2021 – 8am to about 10:30am.
Submitted by Chris Fisher

Number of participants – 21

We walked 1.5 miles covering most of the trails of the preserve. The temperature started at about 43ºF and ended at about 46ºF. The wind was calm. We found 30 species. Our best guess at numbers of each are below.

2 Wood Duck
4 Mallard
6 Mourning Dove
1 Killdeer
1 Great Blue Heron
1 Turkey Vulture
1 Red-tailed Hawk
3 Red-bellied Woodpeckers
2 Downy Woodpeckers
1 Hairy Woodpecker
7 Blue Jay
2 American Crow
1 Fish Crow
8 Black-capped Chickadee
6 Tufted Titmouse
4 Tree Swallow
2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
40+ European Starlings
5 American Robins
1 House Sparrow
6 House Finch
3 American Goldfinch
3 Chipping Sparrow
1 Field Sparrow
7 Song Sparrow
30+ Red-winged Blackbird
9 Brown-headed Cowbird
3 Common Grackle
5 Northern Cardinal

Sachuest Point N W R – Trip Report – 3/27/2021

March 28, 2021 /
Saturday, March 27 eighteen people gathered for my annual Rhode Island trip at Sachuest Point N W R under a beautiful sunny sky. We started out along the trail at the oceans edge quickly spotting several waterfowl species such as Buffleheads, Common Goldeneyes, Common Eiders and Black Scoters as well as several Horned Grebes and a Red Throated Loon. We soon ran into a local birder who informed us that there were only a couple of Harlequin Ducks present. Boy was she wrong! As we rounded the bend we spotted probably 30 or more of them and they were close in affording excellent views! Also seen on the off shore rocks were a number of Great Cormorants.
Our next stop took us to Trustom Pond N W R where we always add songbirds to the list as well as more duck species. Here we added common birds such as Black Capped Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, White Breasted Nuthatches etc which we see every year but the male Eastern Towhee was a nice addition. Also heard but not seen was an Eastern Phoebe. This was near the bird feeders and the parking lot. As we ventured along the trail near the open field we saw the first Tree Swallows of the day. Upon arriving at the pond we added additional duck species such as both scaup, Common Mergansers and Ruddy Ducks. One birder spotted a far off Northern Gannet  and there was a pair of Ospreys here.
Our last stop was at Ninigret Park where we hoped to see the long staying Lesser Black Backed Gull but unfortunately it could not be found. Here a Killdeer was seen for our only shorebird of the trip. We ended up with 52 species which is somewhat lower than I had anticipated but it still was a fun trip.
Paul Desjardins, guide

Second Annual Hartford Audubon – Day Light Savings Time Bird-A-Thon Results – March 14, 2021

March 23, 2021 /

Seven teams participated in the Bird-A-Thon.

A big congratulation goes to:

“Roger’s Tee-Birds” with 99 points:   Doug and Shirley Beach and Mike Labossiere.

They got early to Station 43 and scored 39 species that means 78 points early in the day. The ducks are amazing at Station 43! Let’s celebrate at the zoom members meeting in April.  They also took first place last year.

   

In no particular order, these are the remaining teams that participated:

“The Timberockets” –   Vicky and Paul Margiott

“The Tennis See Warblers” –  Sharon Straka, Janie Balazs and Becky Miller

“The Bird Brains” –  Sarah Faulkner and Donna Summer

“Birds of Paradise” –  Annette Pasek, Roberta Gowing and Elaine Payne.

“The Blazers” – Jack and Maggie Peretto with Blaze

And just for the fun of it, Chris and Diane Fisher participated part of the day.

Congratulations to all the teams and thank you for your participation.

Please, mark your 2022 calendars for the second Sunday in March.

Hoping that in 2022 we can have a pot luck supper after a day of birding.

Work on your teams t-shirts and hats for next year. It is all about fun with the birds!!!!

Maggie Peretto

Manchester, CT

Glastonbury Meadows (restricted access) Trip Report – September 26, 2020

December 9, 2020 /

CHECKLIST S74079930

Date Sat 26 Sep 2020 7:09 AM

Location: Glastonbury Meadows (restricted access)

Bill Asteriades – 8 total on trip – 6 hours – 5.4 miles

Totals :   66 species / 2096 individual birds 

Observations

  1. Wood Duck Aix sponsa

Number observed:8

  1. Mourning DoveZenaida macroura

Number observed:20

  1. KilldeerCharadrius vociferus

Number observed:7

  1. Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensis

Number observed:5

  1. Great Blue HeronArdea herodias

Number observed:2

  1. Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura

Number observed:1

  1. Osprey Pandion haliaetus

Number observed:1

  1. Northern HarrierCircus hudsonius

Number observed:4

  1. Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatus

Number observed:2

  1. Cooper’s HawkAccipiter cooperii

Number observed:3

  1. Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalus

Number observed:2

  1. Red-shouldered HawkButeo lineatus

Number observed:1

  1. Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensis

Number observed:7

  1. Belted KingfisherMegaceryle alcyon

Number observed:4

  1. Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinus

Number observed:8

  1. Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescens

Number observed:7

  1. Hairy WoodpeckerDryobates villosus

Number observed:3

  1. Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatus

Number observed:1

  1. Northern FlickerColaptes auratus

Number observed:14

  1. American KestrelFalco sparverius Number observed:2
  2. Eastern Wood-PeweeContopus virens Number observed:2
  3. Eastern PhoebeSayornis phoebe Number observed:7
  4. Red-eyed VireoVireo olivaceus Number observed:1
  5. Blue JayCyanocitta cristata Number observed:35
  6. American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos Number observed:12
  7. Common RavenCorvus corax Number observed:1
  8. Black-capped ChickadeePoecile atricapillus Number observed:3
  9. Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolor Number observed:2
  10. Tree SwallowTachycineta bicolor Number observed:1200
  11. White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensis Number observed:5
  12. House WrenTroglodytes aedon Number observed:3
  13. Marsh WrenCistothorus palustris Number observed:2
  14. Carolina WrenThryothorus ludovicianus Number observed:6
  15. European StarlingSturnus vulgaris Number observed:65
  16. Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensis Number observed:10
  17. Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottos Number observed:2
  18. Eastern BluebirdSialia sialis Number observed:6
  19. American RobinTurdus migratorius Number observed:20
  20. House SparrowPasser domesticus Number observed:5
  21. American PipitAnthus rubescens Number observed:20
  22. House FinchHaemorhous mexicanus Number observed:2
  23. Purple FinchHaemorhous purpureus Number observed:2
  24. American GoldfinchSpinus tristis Number observed:15
  25. Chipping SparrowSpizella passerina Number observed:1
  26. Dark-eyed JuncoJunco hyemalis Number observed:2
  27. White-throated SparrowZonotrichia albicollis Number observed:8
  28. Savannah SparrowPasserculus sandwichensis Number observed:50
  29. Song SparrowMelospiza melodia Number observed:30
  30. Lincoln’s SparrowMelospiza lincolnii Number observed:4
  31. Swamp Sparrow Melospiza georgiana Number observed:10
  32. Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus Number observed:6
  33. Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus Number observed:300
  34. Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater Number observed:12
  35. Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia Number observed:1
  36. Tennessee Warbler Leiothlypis peregrina Number observed:5
  37. Nashville Warbler Leiothlypis ruficapilla Number observed:1
  38. Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas Number observed:9
  39. American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla Number observed:3
  40. Northern Parula Setophaga americana Number observed:5
  41. Magnolia Warbler Setophaga magnolia Number observed:2
  42. Blackpoll Warbler Setophaga striata Number observed:2
  43. Palm Warbler Setophaga palmarum Number observed:40
  44. Yellow-rumped Warbler Setophaga coronata Number observed:65
  45. Scarlet Tanager Piranga olivacea Number observed:4
  46. Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis Number observed:5
  47. Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea Number observed:3

Smith Richardson Preserve in Westport, CT – Trip Report – 10/3/2020

October 16, 2020 /

Five birders joined me for a trip to the Connecticut Audubon Society’s Smith Richardson Preserve in Westport, an excellent place to see sparrows and other migrants particularly in fall migration.    The trip lasted for about 3.5 hours and we walked 2.73 miles.

The birds were quite skittish today and some folks had trouble getting on the birds before they ducked into cover, and some birds were only seen by 1-2 participants.

Highlights included:  Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Blue-headed Vireo, Red-breasted Nuthatches, a Marsh Wren, Grasshopper Sparrow (only seen by leader), Clay-colored Sparrow (only seen by two), Field Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrows, Lincoln’s Sparrows, Tennessee Warbler, lots of Indigo Buntings and two Blue Grosbeaks, seen only by a few.

Patrick

Patrick Comins

Executive Director

(203) 259 0416 x107

Woodcock Walk at Nod Brook WMA – Trip Report

March 23, 2020 /

Woodcock walk, March 21, 2020

Ten of us gathered at Nod Brook WMA to see the Timberdoodles do their spring mating dance.

The sky was clear and the wind was calm.  Unfortunately the fields had been mowed, eliminating the low brush that is their favored habitat.

As dusk approached, we started hearing the faint peents.  Gradually more of them came from several directions.  We could not get a fix on the location, as one would be heard and then another from a different place.  Occasionally a very loud peent was heard, but no others.  At times we could hear the winnowing of the wings as they took off.

And as one of our group returned to the parking lot, a woodcock flew by her into the woods.

We probably heard at least five woodcock.

Larry Lunden, substitute leader.

Birding with Your Phone Workshop – 2-29-2020 updated with link

March 2, 2020 /
This workshop was an experiment as a new type of opportunity for our members, and the turnout and response was very positive.
Held at the West Hartford Public Library on a cold Saturday morning, Ken Elkins of Audubon Connecticut led our group of over 40 participants through a variety of phone apps to help our birding.
 He started with bird guide apps from Audubon and Sibley’s, showing some of their features and differences in photos/drawings and sound.  He progressed to apps that help you identify birds when you don’t know what they are, such as Merlin and Birdseye, and expanded with ones that focus on the songs of the birds with Song Sleuth and Bird Genie.
He also showed the Warbler Guide app which is specifically oriented toward warblers and allows for 3-D rotation of photographs (wow – how many times are you looking at a warbler from underneath and can’t ID it?  This helps!). He included iNaturalist to show how you can identify more than birds when walking outdoors, and it was noted that this is a terrific app for children if you’re leading a walk with families or taking out your children or grandchildren.
And, of course, he led the group through the use of the eBird app, encouraging its use both in the field and online from home computers to aid in data collection through citizen science.  eBird can be used internationally and is a terrific source of information for conservation efforts worldwide.
Ken brought along some mounted birds as well as some plush Audubon singing birds for folks to practice with.
https://youtu.be/xRmd0Gp6VCY
All in all, it was a helpful, informative workshop – we’ll offer it again! – Sarah Faulkner

Hammonasset Beach State Park Trip Report – 12/8/2019

December 9, 2019 /
Submitted by trip leader, Ernie Harris
7:55 AM – 10:40 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.5 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: 18 degrees under mostly sunny skies to start with Hartford Audubon Trip led by Ernie Harris ,and three other HAS members
36 species
Canada Goose  55
Mallard  9
American Black Duck  6
Common Eider  14
Bufflehead  2     In Swan pond
Red-breasted Merganser  2     From Cedar Is.
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  9
Ruddy Turnstone  1     On jetty
Dunlin  58
Ring-billed Gull  6
Herring Gull  44
Common Loon  1
Great Blue Heron  7
Northern Harrier  2     In field behind Nature center
Cooper’s Hawk  2
Belted Kingfisher  1     Heard calling while behind Swan pond
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Hairy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  2
Merlin  2     Seen as we were walking back from Willard’s, in field
Blue Jay  2
American Crow  2
Black-capped Chickadee  2
Horned Lark  62
Carolina Wren  5
European Starling  300     Mostly in trees between Willard’s and Cedar Is
Northern Mockingbird  3
American Robin  5     Behind Swan pond
House Finch  4
Chipping Sparrow  1     Behind Swan pond with juniors near and under tables.
Fox Sparrow  3     Along bushes between Cedar Is and Willard’s
Dark-eyed Junco  4
White-throated Sparrow  3
Song Sparrow  6
Yellow-rumped Warbler  5
Northern Cardinal  2

Station 43 Sanctuary Report – December 2019

December 3, 2019 /

I only took over stewardship of the sanctuary in September. It was a very pleasant fall. Jay Kaplan and a few others participated in the Big Sit in October from the platform. I mowed the path into the platform a few times before the hard frost and cut back the brush along the path and around the platform.

I am thinking of having a work party day after the floods in the spring. Some of the members and have asked about the wet areas along the path to the platform and if we could build something over them. I am willing to hear any suggestions, but I think with the nature of the flooding, it will be hard to do anything permanent.

We still have a fair number of visitors to the sanctuary and the birding has been good this fall.  I am hoping the birding continues to be productive through the winter and we have a good showing for the Christmas Count.

Blair Wlochowski, 12-3-19

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