adult Glaucous x Herring Gull (hybrid)

While gulling in the Hartford area this afternoon I noticed a hefty adult Iceland Gull flying in - or so I thought. A closer look at the perched bird and I quickly realized that this was actually a hybrid Glaucous x Herring Gull, a bird I don't often see around here, especially of this age.

What jumped out first, other than the sturdy structure of the bird, was its staring pale lemon yellow eye. Scope views confirmed that there was not a single dark fleck to the iris, which is something that you'd expect to see in our "Kumlien's" Iceland Gulls. The orbital ring was yellow-orange, not reddish. The fine streaking on the crown and nape was not typical for Iceland Gull either, which usually shows a blurry/smoky pattern.

Glaucous x Herring hybrid

first cycle "Kumlien's" Iceland Gull

 - NB

Year-End Notes

Well, there's no denying that relative to other years in memory, 2020 was mostly a bag of shit. But there is hope for a much better 2021, despite what is guaranteed to be a rough start. The vaccine rollout signifies what is very likely the beginning of the end of this pandemic. Also, here in the U.S. we will be welcoming a President that will almost certainly make our country and our world better off in many ways. So let's drink to that tonight!

On the local bird front, I have ended the year with a goose search, one more northwest finch tour, and a couple CBCs (one more to go).

As I have been focusing some on my state Self-Found list, the "rare goose" section shows a pretty massive gap. I have yet to find my own Barnacle, Pink-footed, or Ross's in Connecticut. My own town of Wallingford was formerly a bit of a mecca for rare geese, but that all changed about the time I moved here some 11 years ago. My theory is that it has something to do with the declining role of agriculture. Most fields that were planted annually are now left alone, leaving very few plots with food for the geese. It is probably not a coincidence that goose numbers and variety have plummeted with the exception of an occasional migrant flock.

So recently I have been venturing further from home in search of geese, so far with plenty of Greater White-fronted, Cackling, and Snow Geese to show for it. A tour along the upper CT River Valley on the 10th had one CACKLING and one SNOW.

"Richardson's" Cackling Goose

Though finch reports have been sparse the last few weeks, I ventured to the NW corner of the state on the 23rd and was lucky to encounter 4 PINE GROSBEAKS near the Great Mountain Forest headquarters in Canaan. They have remained in the area for several days and have been seen by many birders. Other than redpolls at a few locations, it was pretty quite up there. We're always talking quality over quantity in Litchfield County during winter.

Pine Grosbeak, playing hard-to-get high in the conifers

Several of us took a ferry ride on Christmas Eve and enjoyed several Razorbills.

Razorbill

On the way out of the harbor, we spotted Santa getting in some training time before the big day

This year marked the second annual Norwich Christmas Bird Count, and I took the "South" section once again. This time, having worked out many of the kinks from the inaugural run, I tallied 67 species in my section. Highlights included VIRGINIA RAIL, MARSH WREN, 8 flyby EVENING GROSBEAKS, and this Cassiar-like Junco.

"Cassiar" Dark-eyed Junco

Happy New Year! Stay safe. And whenever you're offered the vaccine, please do your part to end this pandemic by taking it.

 - NB

First cycle "COMMON" MEW GULL in New London, CT

When seen in Connecticut, Mew Gulls are pretty much always seen in the company of Ring-billed Gulls. So I was not expecting to find one at a tiny beach near the mouth of the Thames River where a whopping six Herring Gulls were resting. And yet that's exactly what flew in soon after I hopped out of the car for a quick scan of the river.

Coming right at me, I picked up on a medium-sized gull and stayed on it until it banked slightly, revealing an upperwing that was very low-contrast for a Ring-billed and a starkly black-and-white tail.

Hmmmm.

The bird landed in the water not far from the beach and had an obviously tiny, round head with an even tinier bill. It was a slam-dunk Mew Gull of the European subspecies canus. No trouble determining the subspecies of this one!

I had been keen on finding a first cycle Mew Gull locally, as all prior records were of adults or nearly so. So I was pumped about this one.

Luckily it stuck around long enough for me to grab the camera and get some shots. It lazily flew around the adjacent marinas for nearly 10 minutes and appeared quite settled-in, landing a few times, so I figured it would be relocated with relative ease. Wrong! It was not seen again the rest of the day, but it could absolutely still be in the area.

first cycle "Common" Mew Gull, L. c. canus

Also on site was this smart adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, a returning bird to the area for a few winters now

 - Nick

November in New Haven

Cold fronts in November are no joke. When I stepped out of the car this morning at Lighthouse Point in New Haven, with the temperature near freezing and the wind howling at 15mph, my enthusiasm was punched square in the mouth. 

"$%&# it's cold" is a thing I said a few times this morning.

Once the shock had worn off, I angled the car perpendicular to the wind and parked myself in its lee. Forgetting my wind pants at home did not help matters, but there was nothing to do about it now.

November cold fronts usually mean a viz-mig watch along the coast. Today I chose Lighthouse Point for its ability to deliver a combination of finches, swallows, and raptors. And because I would be able to keep my car right next to me for periodic warm-ups.

As expected, birds were moving. Below average temps and a harsh northwest wind tend to do that. The volume of finches was actually somewhat low compared to the numbers that had been pouring through on less windy days. Still, AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES were moving pretty steadily throughout the morning, with a few PINE SISKIN, PURPLE FINCH, and HOUSE FINCH. Two each of EVENING GROSBEAK and RED CROSSBILL also passed through.

To put this in perspective, we are in the midst of a rather fantastic finch flight. Boreal breeding species, some of which we can go several years without seeing in Connecticut, are moving south in numbers we haven't seen in some time. Most of the RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, PURPLE FINCHES, and PINE SISKINS are already through, having moved to points south. EVENING GROSBEAKS and RED CROSSBILLS have really kicked into gear now. COMMON REDPOLLS, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, and PINE GROSBEAKS are just getting started. We are even expecting HOARY REDPOLL and BOHEMIAN WAXWING at some point. This should make for a fun winter around here.

Back to the task at hand, just before 8am a CAVE SWALLOW popped up by the lighthouse and disappeared as it moved westward. This species' story in New England is a fascinating (and recent) one. Unheard of some 25 years ago, Cave Swallows are now expected annual vagrants ("migrants", really) from their expanding breeding range in the Texas/Oklahoma region. Southwest winds in November bring these birds to our region, and when the winds shift to come out of the northwest, they get pushed to the coast where they can be seen migrating back southward in an attempt to flee the cold. We have had quite a bit of southwest wind over the past week and a half, so their appearance along the coast had been anticipated. It is a predictable pattern.

The landbird flight at Lighthouse died down mid-morning, which sent me on my way. As I was driving about a quarter mile up the road from the park, I spotted a fairly low GOLDEN EAGLE naked eye over one of the side streets. It was headed right for the park. I called to give the hawk watch crew a heads-up, and I went back to join them. Eventually the eagle did pop above the horizon to the north for everyone to see.

Soon I was back on the road towards my next stop, East Shore Park, just up the harbor a bit. Sure enough the eagle was headed the same way, so I got ahead of it again and planted myself for some photos as it passed overhead.

Golden Eagle

At East Shore itself a few minutes later, further up the road, I saw Frank Mantlik and let him know that a Golden Eagle was about to grace us with its presence. This time the bird had gained altitude, but we still enjoyed prolonged views as the bird climbed higher and higher before continuing its journey around the harbor, seemingly unwilling to cross the body of water.

East Shore Park is known to hold lingering warblers into November thanks to the insect-producing abilities of the sewage plant immediately adjacent to the park. Frank, Gina Nichol and I tallied seven species of warbler, darn good for November 18th. We had TENNESSEE, ORANGE-CROWNED, NASHVILLE, YELLOW, PALM, PINE, and YELLOW-RUMPED.

Orange-crowned Warbler

Pine Warbler

Red-tailed Hawk

This was a quality day in the field. I didn't luck into anything mega rare, but the front delivered some good birds and shook up the local birding scene by delivering fresh migrants!

 - NB

Oct 2 - Hammonasset 'Big Day' - 123 species including COMMON RINGED PLOVER

I had a stretch of free time last week and aimed to spend one entire day at Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison, CT. This is arguably the best all-around birding location in the state. After several days of "blocking weather" (= weather not conducive to migration), back-to-back cold fronts were forecast to pass through the region on Oct 1st and 2nd. Sandwiched between the two fronts were very light north winds (essentially calm at the surface) and cloudy skies on the night of the 1st into the 2nd.

Friday the 2nd seemed as good a day as any to try this: migration conditions seemed halfway decent, and a cloudy, cool, dreary day would keep this popular park mostly free of visitors.

I arrived at 5:10am for some predawn owling, railing, and NFC (Nocturnal Flight Call) listening. Upon opening the car door, I was greeted by the sounds of passerines calling overhead. The good migration conditions, low ceiling, and lack of wind helped create an ideal scenario for hearing nocturnal migrants. At first the NFC density was moderate, and some lulls in the action were interrupted by a calling GREAT HORNED OWL. Rails were quiet at night, despite my attempts to get them going (I would later hear Clappers calling from the salt marsh).

As first light approached, the intensity of the flight calls increased. Thrushes dominated the skies. SWAINSON'S were by far the most numerous, followed by GRAY-CHEEKED. I could not pull out a Bicknell's by ear, and early analysis of my phone recording seems to show all Gray-cheeked-like calls at or below 4.5kHz peak. There were also a few VEERIES, HERMIT, and WOOD THRUSHES. Rounding out the calls were SCARLET TANAGER, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, and some warblers and sparrows, most of which I could not confidently identify to species given my experience level with this tricky craft of nocturnal migration.

As dawn approached, the intensity of the NFCs reached overwhelming status.

nbonomo · NFC mayhem

Just that right there would have made the day a pretty special one.

Finally it was time to get to Willard's Island for the early morning diurnal songbird migration/reorientation. I did not do a dedicated Morning Flight watch this time; movement after daybreak actually seemed quite modest and there didn't seem to be much flying out. Instead I birded Willard's on foot and ended up tallying 14 warbler species there, all common ones, plus an assortment of seasonal migrants like both KINGLETS and BROWN CREEPER. A LINCOLN'S SPARROW was the only one I would see all day.

After Willard's I drove to the west end and walked around part of the campground, picking up a few new things here and there, though nothing unexpected.

As the tide came in, shorebirds were flushing from the marshes and actually chose to roost on the Nature Center parking lot. An assortment of common shorebirds paraded in, including a couple PECTORAL SANDPIPERS. 

At 11am I began to fill in the eBird list to see how many species I had wracked up. Without many uncommon birds on the list, I was guessing somewhere in the 70-80 range. The actual number - 97 species - surprised me. And I hadn't looked off Meigs Point yet.

Sure enough a Sound Watch produced a handful more species including WHITE-WINGED SCOTER and a lone AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER on the beach. I'd hit 100 species by noon. I wasn't about to quit then!

From here on out I kept picking up new birds as I worked my way back and forth through the park, checking sections of scrub and dune that I rarely get to explore. One of the reasons for this exercise was not just to see what species total was possible in early October...it was to force myself to scour every inch of the park I could. I was really enjoying it.

Not long after a brief spritz of early afternoon rain, the skies cleared as cold front #2 passed. The sun came out for the first time, and that brought a few new species all at once: both VULTURES and RED-TAILED HAWK lifted up from the mainland. Another check off Meigs Point (the second of three on the day) revealed a few migrating shorebirds (mostly Dunlin) and a few FORSTER'S TERNS.

Finally at the end of the day I found myself relaxing on the Cedar Island platform as sunset approached. I had the place to myself while COMMON NIGHTHAWKS hunted the skies and BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS squawked in the distance. A few shorebirds squabbled on the mudflats. The air was still and the setting was incredibly peaceful.

Then, from behind me came a call I had been waiting to hear in Connecticut for a while now...the mournful "poooo-yip" of a COMMON RINGED PLOVER. I spun around, spotted a single small shorebird flying over the marsh, and put my bins up to see a Semipalmated/Ringed Plover-type bird by itself. It called a second time, confirming what I had heard the first time. Realizing that an identifiable photo was out of the question as it whipped past me, I reached for my phone and got a recording going, but not before the bird silently disappeared behind a stand of Spartina marsh grass, presumably landing on the mudflat behind the grass where several shorebirds had already gone to feed.

Totally thrilled by the encounter but also frustrated at the lack of documentation, I waited until it was too dark to make out field marks and left the park, which had technically already closed. The rangers were rounding up the stragglers, which was only me tonight. No further sight nor sound of the bird. Not about to quit, I soon regained entrance to the park using the Night Birding pass and returned to the platform with phone actively recording in hopes of a repeat performance that did not happen.

[An extensive effort to relocate the bird the next day was unsuccessful.]

Still, it was an unexpected cap to an awesome day in the park. Hammonasset really shines at this time of year, and its rarity track record continues to grow.

Clearing skies after frontal passage

As an aside, the ABA's October Big Day record for the state of Connecticut stood at 92 species, which is a total that several birders have unknowingly beaten on their own many times, I am sure. Nobody really does ABA Big Days by month. Heck, I hit 123 by myself on this day in October...in a single park. So, for now, that is the new October ABA number.

Full list: https://ebird.org/checklist/S74339672

- Nick

Willard's Island Morning Flight Update

This past weekend I spent both mornings monitoring Morning Flight at the north tip of Willard's Island inside Hammonasset Beach State Park. On the heels of a strong cold front, birds would be moving. The flights were reasonably productive relative to other regional Morning Flight locations, so I have hope that this site will prove to be a reliable location to observe this phenomenon to some degree when the weather is right. Time will tell.

Saturday (9/19) was the better day. From 630-930am, 420 individual warblers flew out the north tip of Willard's (2.33 birds/minute). Twelve species of warbler flew out, the best being one CONNECTICUT WARBLER. Northern Parula was the most common warbler. Forty-six Flickers were on the move too. 

It was a slow but steady movement throughout the entire time period. Nearly all birds seen were solely in flight, as I positioned myself too far from the trees/shrubs to see birds there. Identifications were made from a combination of field views and "back-of-camera" views. Most birds were giving flight calls.

I added two warbler species on the walk back, and others reported a few more around Willard's, making the island total at least 17 warbler species for the morning. But overall, Willard's Island itself was rather quiet after the flight died. It did not seem to hold many birds, simply serving as a conduit to the mainland for reorienting passerines.

Morning Flight stationary eBird checklist:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S73805215

Click images to enlarge:

Blackpoll Warbler

Blackpoll Warbler

Northern Parula (left) and Black-and-white Warbler

Cape May Warbler

Cape May Warbler

Blackpoll Warbler

Tennessee Warbler

Blackpoll Warbler

"Myrtle" Yellow-rumped Warbler

"Yellow-shafted" Northern Flicker

"Yellow" Palm Warbler

"Yellow" Palm Warbler

Sunday (9/20) was quite slow at the tip. From 700-845am, 60 warblers flew out (0.57 birds/minute), some doubling-back to land as they would not commit to crossing the marsh. We tallied nine warbler species flying out, Parula being dominant. Contrary to the day before, there were some warblers lingering on Willard's itself and near the trailhead/outhouse, fifteen species counted to my knowledge. There were also a couple each of both kinglets, Blue-headed Vireos, and Dark-eyed Juncos, all hinting that October is not far away.

Morning Flight stationary eBird checklist:

https://ebird.org/checklist/S73834360

For those not interested in frustrating views of warblers shooting through the sky (most of you), I would not be surprised if many of these birds stop in the vegetation on Willard's and filter northward to its tip before making the marsh crossing. In other words, anywhere along those trails might be a fine place to view these birds in the trees and shrubs in their brief visit before they continue northward into the wind. I may give that a shot one day instead of doing the Morning Flight thing.

Remember that Hammonasset Beach State Park's "Early Entry" option ends at 6:30am and requires a CT Duck Stamp purchase. The park then opens to the general public at 8:00am.

 - NB

Willard's Island for Morning Flight?

Bluff Point State Park in Groton, CT is well-established as one of the best places in the region to observe "Morning Flight" of passerines during autumn migration. Discovered years ago by Dave Provencher, Dave and other eastern CT birders monitor the site each year and log thousands of songbirds as they funnel out the northwest corner of the park after each cold front. During the first few hours of daylight, these birds  "reorient" into the wind after their night's migration, moving back into preferred habitat after being pushed offshore by northwest winds overnight.

I usually visit Bluff only once or twice per season because it is a bit of a haul for me at just over an hour's drive. I have half-heartedly been trying to find a closer Morning Flight spot over the last several years without much consistent success. I've dabbled with a handful of spots along the coast between New Haven and Madison. A couple have been total duds, and a couple others have been decent but inconsistent.

One spot I've been eyeing is Willard's Island, part of the well-known and heavily-birded Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison. Willard's looks intriguing as it is the first decent patch of green that birds should see as they hit that particular point of land.

Hammonasset Beach SP circled in yellow

Arrow pointing to Willard's Island

A closer look. A small oval patch of green surrounded by saltmarsh.

This is not a large piece of woodland by any means, but it should theoretically suck in some birds during morning flight. Willard's is actually pretty well known as a migrant landbird trap as-is, and it is large enough to hold some birds for the day, especially in late spring when the occasional fallout occurs.

Its north-south orientation is likely advantageous in funneling reorienting birds to the north tip before they fly out from there.

Up until recently, the park did not open to birders until 8am (essentially too late for morning flight of nocturnal migrants). Well, it still doesn't officially open until then, but the Connecticut Ornithological Association has negotiated birder access to the park before its official opening, under a certain set of conditions. During the warmer months, the park booth is already manned overnight to allow access to/from the park's campground. They have always allowed in fishermen as well. Now, birders are also allowed inside after hours with proof of purchase of a Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation stamp.

I made a recent visit following an early season cold front. My decision to try Willard's for morning flight was a late one, and I did not arrive to the north tip of the island until 6:50am. Over the next 45 minutes I had ~35 warblers of eight species fly out, plus a few flycatchers, nuthatches, gnatcatchers, and a Baltimore Oriole. Not exactly hopping, but there were birds, and I had missed some of the peak time.

Given all of the above, I think that Willard's Island shows promise for a reliable morning flight event of some degree, though my expectations are tempered. As my availability coincides with cold fronts, I plan on keeping an eye on it.

 - NB

Guest Post by Tim Spahr: Finding Connecticut Warblers in Fall Migration

In recent years, thanks to good old fashioned field work, Tim Spahr of Massachusetts has developed a knack for finding Connecticut Warblers in southern New England during autumn migration. He is kind enough to share his secrets with us here. Thank you, Tim!

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Copyright Tim Spahr

Finding Connecticut Warblers in Fall Migration
by Tim Spahr

Connecticut Warblers are sought-after species due their shy and retiring nature, elusiveness, and overall rarity. Northeastern United States birders are fortunate to get a shot at these birds during the fall migration period, as they often stop in our area to refuel ahead of their long, overwater flight to South America. The sheer difficulty of locating one of these gems in migration can also make finding one a satisfying conclusion to any fall birding outing.

Copyright Tim Spahr

General information:

Connecticut Warblers breed from Western Quebec westward across the boreal regions of Canada (and the northern United States) into Manitoba and even Yukon. Their preferred breeding habitat is bogs and swamp edges, and some spruce and upland forest as well. Connecticut Warblers follow an odd racetrack-shaped migration route, with spring migration being through Florida and up the Ohio Valley before spreading out into Canada. In fall, the birds take the same northeastern route as Blackpoll Warblers, filling up on fat before a 3+-day overwater flight to South America.

Fall migration is late, with the bulk of the birds passing through the Northeastern States in the second half of September. While they can be located coastally, in locations such as Plum Island in Massachusetts, or Cape May in New Jersey, their preferred habitat is around 50km inland and surprisingly in overgrown fields, preferably dense with ragweed and with sumac edges. In Massachusetts, the birds love untended squash and pumpkin fields lined with staghorn sumac. They also will use swampy forest edges and red maple swamps less frequently.

Once the proper habitat is located, finding the birds is still a great challenge. The birds are extremely shy and wary, and often will simply run away on the ground, similar to rails. Often they will fly directly into thickets when flushed and vanish immediately. There are keys to identifying even these fast flying birds. Look for the direct flight, similar to a thrush, and the thrush-like proportions but with a contrastless greenish look in flight. They often frequently give their buzzy flight note—identical to Blackpoll and Yellow Warblers—and this will separate them from any other warbler with these colors. Once safe in thickets or field edges, they often call an odd ‘pwik!’ call note, not really similar to any other bird in this habitat. Birds can sometimes be coaxed into the edge with playback of call notes or mob tapes, but just as often the birds are located simply by flushing them randomly while working these field edges.

nbonomo · CONW chip (Tim Spahr)

Confirming these birds can also be a challenge, as silent Connecticut Warblers can be mistaken for Common Yellowthroats, Mourning Warblers, or Nashville Warblers. Many overeager birders see Common Yellowthroats with eye rings and follow this pitfall to misidentification. Key ID points for Connecticut Warblers usually include an extensive dull brown or gray hood, coming further down into the chest than Mourning Warblers, extremely long undertail coverts; a full and complete white or off-white eye ring (never broken at the front of the eye) and lastly a grayish or buffy throat, never showing bright yellow. When in full view, the proportions of a Connecticut Warbler will appear strange, as often these birds are storing so much fat they are bulging like a shorebird ahead of long migration.

So this autumn, starting in mid-September, how about checking your local fallow pumpkin or squash field, or other field overgrown with ragweed, and see if you can find a Connecticut Warbler? You will be adding a good scientific data point about a tough-to-find Northeastern specialty.

Copyright Tim Spahr

Copyright Tim Spahr

Copyright Tim Spahr

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[Nick's note: I put Tim's tips to work last autumn and was able to find a few CONWs in exactly the habitat he described. Two of the birds were flushed from the fields themselves (one ragweed, one overgrown squash), and one responded to pishing the tangles at the base of staghorn sumac at the edge of a pumpkin field that was overgrown with ragweed. Thank you again, Tim, for the fantastic information, photos, and sound clip.]