Category: Trip Report (Page 14 of 18)

East Rock Park Bird Trip – May 11, 2019

May 12, 2019 / Mona Cavallero

Saturday May 11 was my annual trip to East Rock Park Hamden/New Haven. Our group assembled among many other birders which helped since there were so many migrants we did not want to miss anything. Also we were helped by the beautiful viewing conditions after so many days of wet or overcast days. The prime attraction were the warblers. They were everywhere and many were at eye level. We managed to record 20 species including Cape May, Bay Breasted, Wilson’s and Hooded. Other species included Black Vulture, Common Raven and Swainson’s Thrush. All this occured on the lower level.

Next, as we were making our way up to the upper level I received a call from John Oshlick that his group were looking at a pair of Summer Tanagers! We made it to where they were in time to see the female which afforded excellent views as it perched low and in the open. Also seen here were more warblers including another Cape May.

The last section covered was to the very top to the Trowbridge Road area. This is often a hot spot but not today as birds were scarce. But we did not really care as we had such good birding at the lower levels! 55 species total.

Respectfully submitted,

Paul Desjardins, guide

Hartman Preserve Bird Trip – 5/11/19

May 12, 2019 / Mona Cavallero

A sunny cool morning warmed up a bit as nine HAS members roamed these beautiful woods and power line. We started with an open sighting of a Black-throated Blue Warbler after Redstarts and Ovenbirds at the cars. In all we identified 51 species plus a possible Orchard Oriole. The highlight, most likely,-close looks at a Cerulean Warbler. Beautiful, friendly morning!!

Respectfully submitted, Trip Leader, Ernie Harris

Quarry Park and Connecticut River Floodplain Trip Report

May 8, 2019 / Mona Cavallero

A cloudy and gray day greeted us as we started out the walk. There had been rain the previous days, and the leaves were coming out. Seven of us turned out to see what was in the park.

The upper level had the usual birds. The upper part of the quarry rewarded us with a Pine Warbler and a flyover Osprey. We also found a Yellow-rumped Warbler and a singing Wood Thrush.

On the lower levels we had a flyover Common Raven, a new species for this trip. Also a Common Yellowthroat showed itself briefly.

The meadows were flooded over from the recent rain, so we had to skip that area. Overall we had 23 species, including 3 warblers.

Larry Lunden

Species at Quarry Park:

Canada Goose 1, Mourning Dove 3, Great Blue Heron 1, Osprey 1, Red-bellied Woodpecker 6, Northern Flicker 1, Eastern Phoebe 2, Blue Jay 11, American Crow 2, Common Raven 1, Black-capped Chickadee 1, Tufted Titmouse 3, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1, Wood Thrush 2, American Robin 11, Northern Mockingbird 1, American Goldfinch 3, Song Sparrow 1, Red-winged Blackbird 7, Common Yellowthroat 1, Pine Warbler 2, Yellow-rumped Warbler 1, Northern Cardinal 6

23 species

New this year:

Common Raven

Audibles and Edibles Walk – 4/27/19

April 27, 2019 / Mona Cavallero

Audibles and Edibles’ Trip report-4/27/19

On a just rainy and chilly morning, Kat Conte and Ernie Harris accompanied by Dorina Ademi and Rick Reed had a nice introduction to Burnt Hill Park off East Street in Hebron. The nutritious plants were plentiful. The birds less so but enjoyable- walk up view of Tree Swallow and a broken egg on the ground which Rick ID’d as a Killdeer’s and right away we came upon a pair trying to lure us away. We left just as the park was filling with a crowd for ‘Baseball Opening Day”.

Ernie and Kat

Here is the plant list for Burnt Hill Park. And here the birds.

Mugwort Canada Goose

White Pine Nettle Great Blue heron

Red clover Red-tailed hawk

White clover Killdeer

Staghorn Sumac Mourning Dove

Chickweed Red-bellied Woodpecker

Stinging Nettle Downy Woodpecker

Garlic Mustard Northern Flicker

Cleavers Eastern Phoebe

Bedstraw American Crow

Skunk cabbage Tree Swallow

Dandelion Black-capped Chickadee

Yellow Dock White-breasted Nuthatch

Yarrow House Wren

Curly Dock American Robin

Violet Eastern Bluebird

Plantain (both wide and narrow leaf) European Starling

Trillium Chipping Sparrow

Sorrel Song Sparrow

False Solomon seal Northern Cardinal

False lily of the valley Red-winged Blackbird

Jack in the Pulpit Common Grackle

Wild onion Brown-headed Cowbird

Burdock American Goldfinch

House Sparrow

Wickham Park bird walk

April 13, 2019 / Mona Cavallero

Eighteen birders joined the walk this morning. Was colder than expected and too early for all the beautiful flowers that will be blooming soon.

We had 26 species including three Ospreys circling overhead, Hermit Thrush and the song of a Winter Wren.

We have to try again but in May when we can enjoy the flowers, birds and hopefully a little sunshine.

Maggie Peretto

Satchuest Point trip – Saturday, March 30

March 31, 2019 / Mona Cavallero

Saturday, March 30 enticed only 6 participants to take in my annual Rhode Island trip. Surprising since it was a nice day for birding with temps in the 50s. We got off to a great start with the long continuing Snowy Owl flying around, on the ground and perching on the roof of the visitor center! We began our walk hiking the trail near the ocean where we soon encountered several species of waterfowl including Buffleheads, Common Goldeneyes and Common Eiders. We also spotted a flock of about 25 Purple Sandpipers affording excellent looks as they fed on the rocks. Further along we saw a large number of Black Scoters, the usual Harlequin Ducks, one lone Long Tailed Duck which for some reason we rarely see on this trip, 2 flyby American Oystercatchers, several Horned Grebes in transitional plumage and an even better Red Necked Grebe! In fact I had commented that we sometimes see this species and within seconds there he was!

Our next and final stop after having visited Sachuest Point N W R was the other great refuge Trustrom Pond N W R. The feeders were empty which is unusual but never the less we added to the passerine list with audio Eastern Phoebe and seen were Black Capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White Throated Sparrow, Dark Eyed Junco. Northern Cardinal and Brown Headed Cowbird. It was slow going after leaving the parking lot/feeders area until we spied a couple of Golden Crowned Kinglets, 2 Gray Catbirds and a male Eastern Towhee. The latter two species we usually miss on this trip. Further along we encountered a large raft of ducks where we added Gadwall, American Wigeon, 3 Green Winged Teals, 2 Canvasbacks, 4 Redheads, both scaup and a drake Ruddy Duck in full breeding plumage. This brought our duck count to 19 species, Nice here was to see both species of cormorants together. On the way back to the parking lot we added another Gray Catbird. We managed to record 69 species which was 9 more than last year.

respectfully submitted,

Paul Desjardins, guide

Western CT Shoreline bird trip – 3/24/2019

March 24, 2019 / Mona Cavallero

14 birders attended today’s Western CT Shoreline bird trip.
We saw a total 52 species including 20 killdeers, 2 Ospreys, 2 Fox Sparrows and an early Great Egret at Sherwood. It was cool and windy.

In Stratford at Bird’s Eye boat ramp we had various duck species including an Eurasian Green Winged Teal.

At the Long Beach Boulevard, at the Railroad track trail, we had 2 tree swallows and 1 greater yellow legs sandpiper.

At end of the afternoon a small group went to Long Beach to enjoy the waves, a large number of Dunlins and Sanderlings.

Respectfully submitted by Maggie Peretto

Long Island Sound Gulls & Plankton Trip- March 9, 2019

March 11, 2019 / Mona Cavallero

39 of us, plus 3 crew from the Maritime Aquarium, assembled at the Norwalk CT dock around 9:30 am and departed at 10 am for a six-hour cruise in LIS Long Island Sound. It was a gorgeous sunny morning with temperatures in the 40s. Our primary goal was to find the large flock of gulls which often assemble in these waters in March, apparently feeding on plankton of various types. We wanted to learn more about what these thousands of gulls were eating, more than a mile offshore, and of course, to look for any special gull species, such as Little Gull. We sailed SW around the Norwalk Islands and then went east toward Stratford. As we approached Bridgeport-Stratford waters, we could see a long line of white dots on the horizon, which turned out to be a flock of about 3,000 Ring-billed Gulls (also including 4 Iceland Gulls and 2 Bonaparte’s Gulls), in waters teeming with zillions of 1mm plankton and a few jellyfish. A plankton tow in these waters revealed barnacle larvae, copepods, and phytoplankton (diatoms mostly). We also took an underwater video which revealed small mobile worm-like creatures, with their identity TBD. Are the gulls and other species eating barnacles and/or these “worms”? The plankton samples we collected will be analyzed at several laboratories this month, with some to be preserved at Yale’s Peabody Museum. Everyone enjoyed the gulls, the plankton, the 39 people on board, the ship, the crew, and the amazingly beautiful warm sunny day on the water. Hopefully we can run this trip again next year, and will plan it soon. Details can be found at: https://sites.google.com/view/lisgullsplanktontrip/home

Respectfully submitted, Thomas Robben

Western Shoreline -March 25, 2018

March 7, 2019 / Mona Cavallero

“Western CT Shoreline”
Leaders: Maggie Peretto & Tina Green

Six years old Leon loved the great views of the Great Horned Owl. Tina Green set up her scope low so that he could see the owl. He was a great trooper walking under cold weather for a few hours. At Sherwood Island with the leadership of Tina Green, the group enjoyed close up views of a Gannet, several species of ducks, great looks at a pair of Great Horned Owls, Fox Sparrow, a pair of Eastern Towhees and much more. Later we visited a few points in Stratford where we had Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Pied-Billed Grebes, Black and Yellow Crowned night herons. To end the day with a bang we had a close up look at a Snowy Owl. It was definitely a successful day of birding.

Station 43 Bird Walk – January 5, 2019

January 9, 2019 / Mona Cavallero

On a cold, rainy, foggy morning seven of us took a stroll through Station 43 to see what we could find, which ended up being a total of 26 species. While no rarities were seen, highlights included a Belted Kingfisher, a Winter Wren, a Carolina Wren, and several American Tree Sparrows.

As usual, at the end of the walk, we gathered at Dunkin Donuts to tally our sightings and bemoan all the birds not seen.

Respectfully submitted, Jon Ward