Category: Trip Report (Page 9 of 18)

Peoples State Forest Beaver Brook Area Bird Walk – 10/15/22 – Submitted by Sylvia Halkin

It was a lovely autumn day with a blue sky and fog in the valleys on the drive to the park for our 9:30 start time.  Our cars quickly filled the little picnic parking area, but Beaver Brook Road was wide enough for roadside parking, so we lined up along one side, and then gathered for a quick round of introductions.  I was grateful that at least 4 people among our 19 were experienced HAS field trip leaders, very familiar with the park, or both, and for their bird-finding and ID skills and those of other excellent birders in our group!  Many thanks to all my de facto co-leaders!  We crossed a little bridge and walked down the road, quickly spotting a flock of White-throated Sparrows foraging under the yellow-leaved arc of a roadside blackberry vine.  We lingered, listening to Black-capped Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, a Downy Woodpecker, and Red- and White-breasted Nuthatches in the trees, with both species of nuthatches and a Tufted Titmouse periodically descending to forage on the road near the sparrows. Were they all collecting fine gravel bits to help their gizzards grind up seeds and tough insects?  Or just checking out their fellow newly arrived companions for the upcoming season of safety in numbers as multiple species join up to forage in flocks?  Merlin’s Sound ID app let us know we had not just a pair of Red-breasted Nuthatches, but a group spread through the trees around us; their calls continued to be part of the soundscape throughout the morning’s walk.  After we identified the birds we could see and hear, we continued up the road; once we left the initial flock, the woods were relatively silent, demonstrating the non-breeding season birding phenomenon of either being surrounded by a mixed-species flock foraging in their species-specific ways, or being in the bird-sparse area between nomadic flocks.  The first long boardwalk started about half a mile down the road from the picnic parking area, across from a signposted former junction with the Agnes Bowen Trail.  The boardwalk took us over a wet area with sphagnum moss and other low-lying evergreen plants; shrubs and small trees including red-leaved blueberries, red-berried American/winterberry holly, and evergreen mountain laurel grew beside the boardwalk.  A Brown Creeper was heard and seen, and a Black-capped Chickadee appeared in a bare treetop.  In the woods at the end of the boardwalk, a second Brown Creeper was heard.  Soon we came to a second boardwalk, shorter than the first, that ended at a platform over a pond with water lily leaves, a Wood Duck nest box (but no waterfowl present), and shrubs, small trees, and interesting grasses and sedges along the edge.  A Northern Cardinal made a brief appearance, a small group of Yellow-rumped Warblers were foraging in the shrubs, an American Goldfinch was heard, and we spent a while watching a large praying mantis slowly making its way through a tangle of plant stems, its forelegs waving in the air and the aqua-green underside of its abdomen bright against the brown of the twigs and the rest of its body.  We returned along the road, spotting a Hermit Thrush, a Barred Owl (which flew off toward the first boardwalk), and a Turkey Vulture flying overhead, in addition to hearing and seeing more of the populous Red-breasted Nuthatches, with their Black-capped Chickadee companions.  We stopped while Chris Fisher used his PictureThis app to identify the beautiful peachy-orange large-leaved viburnum we kept seeing along the boardwalks and the road:  hobblebush, with big flat buds for next year’s growth sticking up between the paired leaves at the branch tips.  A small bear crossed the road far ahead of us and moved down the bank, long gone by the time we got there.  Yellow-leaved sassafras and young tuliptrees kept our eyes busy as we returned to our cars and bade farewells.  Special thanks to Sally Rieger for finding and guiding me along this great walk in the summer, and to Chris Fisher for keeping a count of the birds and reporting them to eBird, as well as helping me to lead this trip.

Bird species seen and/or heard, with approximate numbers of individuals:

1  Turkey Vulture
1  Red-shouldered Hawk
1  Barred Owl
2  Red-bellied Woodpecker
4  Downy Woodpecker
12  Blue Jay
2  American Crow
25  Black-capped Chickadee
10  Tufted Titmouse
18  Red-breasted Nuthatch
7  White-breasted Nuthatch
2  Brown Creeper
1  Hermit Thrush
1  American Goldfinch
3  Dark-eyed Junco
16  White-throated Sparrow
5  Yellow-rumped Warbler
1  Northern Cardinal

Bird and Nature Hike at the Mary Conklin Preserve, Canton.  Sarah Faulkner led a 2-hour leisurely hike for both the Canton Land Trust and the Hartford Audubon Society on September 25th.  Attended by 14 people, we were treated to a sunny, cool and beautiful Sunday morning.  Many attendees were using apps to help with bird identification, such as Merlin and eBird.  Merlin helped us identify the calls of many birds, although not many species were found on this quiet hike. The group made numerous stops to seek birds or identify plants or other items in nature and had a wonderful time. The highlights included a female scarlet tanager, numerous catbirds, and Eastern phoebes. 

Bird and Nature Hike at the Mary Conklin Preserve, Canton. 

Sarah Faulkner led a 2-hour leisurely hike for both the Canton Land Trust and the Hartford Audubon Society on September 25th.  Attended by 14 people, we were treated to a sunny, cool and beautiful Sunday morning.  Many attendees were using apps to help with bird identification, such as Merlin and eBird.  Merlin helped us identify the calls of many birds, although not many species were found on this quiet hike. The group made numerous stops to seek birds or identify plants or other items in nature,and had a wonderful time.  The highlights included a female scarlet tanager, numerous catbirds, and Eastern phoebes. 

Cruisin with bird n brews

Thursday 9/29, 2022 Cruisin with Birds and Brews. Location, South Glastonbury’s bucolic farm setting and CT river space. Started with the walk portion at 3 p.m. With group assembled we watched gulls, ducks, warblers, herons and more from the Ferry Rd parking lot. Next we moved onto the south walking trail and covered 1/3 of a mile. We were a group of 8. The birding levels ranged from new birders to those with many decades of experience. The weather was mild and somewhat dim skies made for challenging IDs of migrating warblers. The group’s tally was 38 species plus an additional – taxonomic. The additional taxonomic – a set of warblers flew from one treetop to the next in the darkening skies. The consensus for the best bird seen was a Northern Thrasher, this striking bird was seen during the walk on the short path, at the paths south end. This bird of the Mimidae family was with many additional birds, all who were working on Virginia Creeper berries. Other highlights, a single Broad-winged Hawk making its way south, many warbler species yellow-rump, parula, magnolia, black and white, blackpoll, redstart. A pair of Belted Kingfishers graced our presence as well as Four woodpecker species. A fun last minute sighting of a Blue-headed Vireo added to our total number. In abundance were cat bird, white-throated sparrow, starling, crow, jay and mallard. On an aside, one of the country’s longest running continuous ferries dating back to 1655 motored back and forth from Glastonbury and Rocky hill. This walk doesn’t end at the ferry, per the norm, we head to Hops on the Hill for happy hour, where we had views from other collectors antique cars. 

Sunday the 25th of September 2022, Keney Park, Hartford, Windsor line entrance. The
morning started out with gray skies making the early part to our very birdy areas a challenge.
Start time of the walk out of the Keney Park golfer’s parking lot began a few minutes after 8:30.
There was a minimal chill to the air, and it went un-noted. The group had been excited to get
going. We were Eleven in total, and all stayed true to the entire counterclockwise walk, west to
south to east to north, as has been the fashion in the two previous walks that were led in the
spring of 2022 and the fall of 2021. Just shy of a 3-hour trek, one is on flat terrain during the
entire time and through woods during a short part of the area circled. In total, distance covered
was 1.93 miles. 35 Species were noted, though warbler species were likely missed during the
earliest first hour, they were high up in the canopy, near the golf course. It was difficult viewing
at that time. An hour in, the sightings became more visible. Highlights included vireos warbling
and red-eyed, Broad-winged hawks, flycatchers Phoebe and pe-wee, three warbler species
blackpoll, yellow-rumped and pine. Many common CT species were in abundance, Eastern
Bluebird and White-breasted Nuthatch. Scarce were catbird (1). No wrens or doves or herons
crossed our skies or paths and though five species of woodpeckers were heard or seen
throughout the walk, sapsucker, downy, hairy, red-bellied (14) and flickers (11) being the most
abundant. When we were at the final stretch a Belted Kingfisher alerted us with it’s rattling and
back and forth crossing of the skies, along with a flock of 18 Cedar Waxwing where from
nearby and above the pitched wheezing stringed calls, produced oohs and ahhh. This adjacent
tree-lined road just east of the parking lot does produce good birds and is where the Warbling
Vireo was noted. The group appreciated the abundant bird facts discussed and shared.

 On a crisp September morning a half dozen birders congregated at Lewis Farm for a chance to stretch their legs and to see some birds, too.  We headed down the hill, binoculars and cameras in hand drawn in by the ever cheerful call of the carolina wren.  We stopped at the clearing to peruse  the map before moving on towards the Billy Goat Gruff Bridge. After checking out the last of the cardinal flowers peeking out behind the bridge, we scanned the trees for activity.  The discussion circled around to cedar waxwings and several appeared in the tree tops shortly after, as if on cue.  We watched them catch insects midflight and admired their elegance.  Not to be outdone, a solo rose breasted grosbeak was spotted by a “hawk eye” in the group.  We zoomed in on him and admired his seed cracking beak and saw just a hint of telltale color on his breast, far from his red ascot that we know and love so much in the Spring.

We continued on the trail, checking out both a downy and a red bellied woodpecker.  The red bellied spent much of the remainder of the walk calling and making his presence known and we were glad of it.

The group encountered a catbird, a few robins and a house finch by Muddy Brook. We heard geese on the move and chickadees calling from the conifers.  One of the birders mentioned the sight of goldfinch in the low shrubs.   We noticed several blue jays flying from tree to tree and vocalizing.  Then we looked to the heavens and saw more blue jays on the wing perhaps heading south.  This prompted discussion of what makes some of the same species of bird head south and some stay put. I guess the same conversation could be had about people, too.

As we concluded our trip, we hoofed it through a big pine grove and kept our eyes on the treetops as more blue jays were especially animated, and we were wondering if they were harassing a raptor in the grove.  But whatever it may have been it was well shrouded by the pine needles, and we headed home pleased to have seen so much yet still driven by unsolved mysteries in the field.

Written and submitted by Trip Leader: Joan Heffernan

Hilltop Farm is a bustling place these days.  The big white cathedral barn is in its final stages of preparation for its first function as a venue for a wedding.  In addition to the excitement of our grand opening, people have been flocking to visit the Hilltop Farm Creamery which debuted this summer.  So the place is ‘abuzzin with people, bees, butterflies, and of course birds and birders!

The walk was postponed for one day as rain was predicted on the morning of the 7^th. Although the rain didn’t fall, the extra day gave the paths some time to dry out from the wonderful and welcomed rainfall on the 6^th that perked up the premises. I know some people couldn’t come because of the postponement but hopefully they can join us next time.  We set out today on a clear, sunny, day with temperatures in the high sixties as we set off.

A small group of six birders, all HAS members began our walk at the red barn atop the hill.  Just as we began our trek a Red-tailed hawk perched on a fence post as if he were the official greeter.  I grabbed my long camera lens to take a few photos and we watched him fly onto a barn roof for another photo opp and then the group headed southeast down the gravelly road towards the CT River.  We passed the fields where Red-winged blackbirds and Bobolinks nested this summer but none were seen today.  One birder suggested that it would be nice to schedule a bird walk when they are active. We did sight several Northern Flickers, Northern Mockingbirds., Eastern Phoebes and Mourning Doves as we walked down the hill.  We visited the Eagles’ Nest viewing station along the boardwalk and observed the area where native plants, purchased with HAS grant money are now nestled in with the beautiful yellow goldenrod. The smell of freshly hung tobacco in the barn along the path wafted through the air as we walked along the newly harvested fields.  And perched on that barn roof were three Eastern Bluebirds.  Robins , Catbirds  and a Carolina Wren were seen and heard. On the wooded trail we observed a Downy Woodpecker and heard a Red-Bellied Woodpecker. Those who navigated down towards the riverbank, saw an osprey sitting on a tower across the river. We searched for the resident Great Blue Heron in the inland pond but he was absent today.  Warbling Vireos, American Goldfinches, and Eastern Wood-Pewee were heard. Before approaching the Community Garden area, we were delighted to spot a Kestrel perched in a tree.  However he was being harassed by 3 Northern Mockingbirds while he was trying to eat his lunch.  The Community Garden area afforded us the sight of several Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and the call of a Raven.  In the Bird Garden, hummingbirds and butterflies were flying among the native plants, also purchased with HAS grant funds.

Twenty species were sighted today.  This was the first trip to Hilltop Farm for three of the birders and one even went home with fresh tomatoes from my community garden plot!

Written and submitted by Trip Leader: Joan Heffernan

Hilltop Farm is a bustling place these days.  The big white cathedral barn is in its final stages of preparation for its first function as a venue for a wedding.  In addition to the excitement of our grand opening, people have been flocking to visit the Hilltop Farm Creamery which debuted this summer.  So the place is ‘abuzzin with people, bees, butterflies, and of course birds and birders!

The walk was postponed for one day as rain was predicted on the morning of the 7^th. Although the rain didn’t fall, the extra day gave the paths some time to dry out from the wonderful and welcomed rainfall on the 6^th that perked up the premises. I know some people couldn’t come because of the postponement but hopefully they can join us next time.  We set out today on a clear, sunny, day with temperatures in the high sixties as we set off.

A small group of six birders, all HAS members began our walk at the red barn atop the hill.  Just as we began our trek a Red-tailed hawk perched on a fence post as if he were the official greeter.  I grabbed my long camera lens to take a few photos and we watched him fly onto a barn roof for another photo opp and then the group headed southeast down the gravelly road towards the CT River.  We passed the fields where Red-winged blackbirds and Bobolinks nested this summer but none were seen today.  One birder suggested that it would be nice to schedule a bird walk when they are active. We did sight several Northern Flickers, Northern Mockingbirds., Eastern Phoebes and Mourning Doves as we walked down the hill.  We visited the Eagles’ Nest viewing station along the boardwalk and observed the area where native plants, purchased with HAS grant money are now nestled in with the beautiful yellow goldenrod. The smell of freshly hung tobacco in the barn along the path wafted through the air as we walked along the newly harvested fields.  And perched on that barn roof were three Eastern Bluebirds.  Robins , Catbirds  and a Carolina Wren were seen and heard. On the wooded trail we observed a Downy Woodpecker and heard a Red-Bellied Woodpecker. Those who navigated down towards the riverbank, saw an osprey sitting on a tower across the river. We searched for the resident Great Blue Heron in the inland pond but he was absent today.  Warbling Vireos, American Goldfinches, and Eastern Wood-Pewee were heard. Before approaching the Community Garden area, we were delighted to spot a Kestrel perched in a tree.  However he was being harassed by 3 Northern Mockingbirds while he was trying to eat his lunch.  The Community Garden area afforded us the sight of several Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and the call of a Raven.  In the Bird Garden, hummingbirds and butterflies were flying among the native plants, also purchased with HAS grant funds.

Twenty species were sighted today.  This was the first trip to Hilltop Farm for three of the birders and one even went home with fresh tomatoes from my community garden plot!