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Showing posts from October, 2011

Northern Goshawk

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This morning Phil Rusch and I made a last-minute decision to take the ferry from New London, CT to Orient Point, NY in hopes of running into a storm-blown pelagic bird. Though the winds were not ideal, our decision was based largely on yesterday's report from Angus Wilson of 300+ Great Shearwaters seen from nearby Montauk Point. With a pool of birds out there, we hoped that one would stray into the sound. But as is typical in the sound, the birds were few and far between. We only tallied a handful of Northern Gannets and just a few scoters and loons. Oh well. From there we headed to Lighthouse Point in New Haven where a nice late-season hawk flight was underway. The highlight while we were there was an immature NORTHERN GOSHAWK that made a pass through the park before continuing west over the harbor, plus an apparent hutchinsii CACKLING GOOSE (tiny white-cheeked goose with slightly paler breast and upperparts) with a flock of migrating Canadas. Here's a crummy photo I managed:

Incredible Early Snow Event

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29 Oct 2011, Norwalk, CT An unusually cold and intense nor'easter has arrived in New England. Autumn nor'easters are not rare, but those delivering measurable snowfall in October sure are! Here are some quick thoughts on how it may affect the local birding world. - The strong NE winds may result in a few birds being blown into Long Island Sound. Expect a pulse of Northern Gannets, probably a scoter/loon movement, plus a shot at something rare (an alcid or jaeger perhaps? Parasitic is the default jaeger in CT waters, but we're entering into the time of year when Pomarine Jaeger should be looked for.) - Check inland bodies of water, especially during Saturday's inclement weather. Waterfowl should be migrating on the northerly winds and will be knocked down when they run into the precip approaching from the SW. Could be a fallout at the reservoirs on Saturday or first-thing Sunday. - Sunday should produce a nice diurnal migration as birds move south to vacate the cold a

25 Oct 2011 - Brown Pelican in New Haven Harbor (AKA Irene Update #6)

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An immature Brown Pelican (well, at least one) continues to be seen up and down the Connecticut coast. It has recently settled into New Haven harbor and been seen by many birders. I happened across the bird on the 25th while I was birding East Shore Park for lingering passerines. It's amazing to think that we're still seeing the effects of Hurricane Irene, but a few pelicans arrived with the storm and at least this one has persisted in Long Island Sound. Below are a few series of dives as it was actively feeding in the rip. Brown Pelican in New Haven Harbor on Oct 25, 2011. Here gliding above the horizon with the West Haven VA Hospital in the background. - NB

Go birding this weekend

If you live in the northeastern US and were considering birding this weekend, go ahead and get out there. We've had two recent bouts of strong SW winds around here (good for western vagrants), and we're now finally going to get some good migration weather which should concentrate birds along the coast (particularly at our east-west coastline here in Connecticut). There may be a few rarities mixed in there. Besides, it's going to be beautiful outside...clear and cool with light winds. I'll be working, but hopefully somebody finds something good enough to make me jealous that I can't be out there. - NB

"The Big Year" review

Not bad at all. - Nick

Bear Mountain hike

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Today I took a solo hike up Bear Mountain, a 6.7-mile loop from the Undermountain Trail at Route 41 in Salisbury, CT. Bear Mountain is CT's tallest peak at 2,316 feet. Interestingly, CT's highest elevation point (2,380 ft) is on a mountain whose peak actually lies in Massachusetts (Mount Frissel). The hike up was not very birdy, as expected. The woods in October can be very quiet, and today's high winds did not help things. Highlights included a single Common Raven and two Hermit Thrushes. View from the summit of Bear Mountain, just before a brief downpour began. Two Black Vultures were soaring over downtown Salisbury on my way home. - NB

6 Oct - Upland Sandpiper in Cape May

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A week and a half ago I spent a fun 48 hours in Cape May, a visit that was long overdue. I had some time off from work that coincided with a couple days of NW winds. I did a fine job of missing two nice rarities...I arrived about 2 hours after a Swainson's Hawk was seen at the hawkwatch on the 4th, and while I was on the dike for the morning flight on the 5th an apparent Gray Kingbird flew past the hawkwatch. 0 for 2! Overall it was a good time though, with many quality birds to be seen. And the morning flight, while not outstanding by Cape May standards, was still fun (and incredibly humbling) to observe. The clear highlight of my visit came while walking the 3rd field at Higbee Beach mid-morning on the 6th. I heard a rustle in the 3-ft tall ragweed to my left. Got a quick flash in the shadows of a walking brown-backed bird with paler markings. Hmm...that description in a tall weedy field in New Jersey in October...Yellow Rail?? Nope. While I stood perfectly still a stupidly tame

Red-necked Grebe (10/7) & LBBG (10/8)

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Oct 7 - juvenile Red-necked Grebe in Norwalk Harbor, Norwalk, CT Oct 8 - juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull at Sandy Point in West Haven, CT - NB