Day 56 - February 25, 2012

On the way to the Transfer Station here today with recyclables, I saw a Robin in the shrubs on Ash Swamp Road - bird number 33 for my Big Year!

DATA:  10:34am; 39F; pcloudy; breezy

Day 52 - February 21, 2012 - Part 2 (posted on 2/25

Eurasian Wigeon

Greater Black-Backed Gull

American Wigeons

After leaving Stratford, I headed to Southport Beach to find the American Wigeons that have been reported being there by many CT birders.  I did see the American Wigeons which I photographed by did not realized until Wednesday that an Eurasian Wigeon has also been seen there.  So, I went back and looked through the photos I took to see if I accidentally did photograph an Eurasian Wigeon.  I thought I did and to verify it, I posted an email on the CTBird listserv with a link to the pictures asking other birders if I did indeed photographed an Eurasian Wigeon.  I received a few confirming  replies - now I need to check my Life List to see if the Eurasian Wigeon is a 'lifer' for me.  Besides the Wigeons, there were also Mallards and a Great Black-Backed Gull.

Mallards

Mallards & Wigeons

Finally, I went to Sherwood Island State Park and observed the birds in the wetlands area where the observation platform is.  There I saw some more American Wigeons and a Great Blue Heron.  While walking back to my car, I saw a very red Purple Finch!

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron

Data:  Milford Audubon:        9:00-9:50am; 34F; cloudy; calm
           Birdseye Road:          10:15-10:35am; 40F; cloudy; calm
           Frash Pond:                10:45-10:50am; 41F; cloudy; calm
           Sikorsky Airport:        11:15-11:22am;
           Long Beach:              11:35-11:40am; pcloudy; calm
          Jefferson Street:         11:45-11:50am
          Southport Beach:       1:45-2:05pm; 47F; overcast; very windy
          Sherwood Is. SP:       2:45-3:00pm; 47F; overcast; windy

Day 52 - February 21, 2012 - Part 1 (posted on 2/25/2012)

House Sparrow

After doing the GBBC for three days, I decided to spend the last day of my February vacation (which should have been this whole week but thank to the two storms we had last year, it became a two day vacation instead) birding the shore line.  I knew that any birds I would see would not count towards my Big Year but it is always nice to go down to the shore to see what's there and, to be a bit greedy, the birds would count towards my yearly stats that I have been keeping for over 10 years now.

So I started off at the Audubon at Milford Point.  I did see an American Wigeon and a few Grackles there as well as the 'usuals' - Cardinals, Mourning Dove, Mockingbird, Song Sparrows, House Sparrow, etc.


On my way to the Lordship area in Stratford and Long Beach,

Coots

Mute Swan

 I stopped at the Dock on Birdseye Street.  As I pulled into the lot, I saw a female Belted Kingfisher sitting on top of the Coast Guard Station there, but as I got out of the car, I scared it away.  I then went over to the little stream area across fro the Coast Guard Station to check on anything there but there wasn't anything.  I then went over to the docks and did see 4 Coots.  I then walked across the parking lot to the other wetlands area passing numerous Herring Gulls to discover over 20 more Coots!  There was also a Mute Swan and the previously mentioned Kingfisher (thanks to Henrietta and another birder whose name I have forgotten).  And when I went back to my car, I noticed a Song Sparrow in the grass by the stream I first checked out upon my arrival.

Song Sparrow

 
I also went over to Frash Pond where I saw 6 Buffleheads and 20 Canvasback ducks.  I then went to Sikorsky Airport and saw 20+ Snow Buntings (and when they flew, they showed their white and black wings) feeding where the Corsair Airplane used to be mounted many years ago (what ever happened to that Corsair?) and while checking out  Long Beach, I saw 18 Brants. Finally along Jefferson Street, I saw a male and female Long-Tailed Duck (which I first learned as Oldsquaws back in my college days).

So, I was going to leave Stratford and head out to Southport Beach but driving down Lordship Blvd., I decided to see the 'Warehouse Pond' where I have never been nor was I really sure how to get to.  I was very surprised to see how there was a rustic trail heading to the pond and I could quickly see how this spot is great for birding.  So I will definitely be back here in the spring for the arrival of warblers!

Day 49 - February 18, 2012

Bluebird

Downy Woodpecker & Nuthatch

WB Nuthatch in Flight

I got up this morning and loaded the hopper feeder and placed a suet cake into the suet cage.  I then went back into the house and set up the tripod and camera which I focused onto the hopper feeder and locked it into place so it would be ready to take pictures of feathered visitors on day 2 of the Great Backyard Bird Count.  Of course, I forgot to add water to the bird bath - will remember to do that for tomorrow.

Tufted Titmouse in Flight

In terms of my Big Year, I got a new one today.  While taking the recyclables to the Transfer Station, I saw House Sparrows.  At first I just said to myself, "Huh, oh house sparrows."  But then I realized I had not seen them yet this year (hard to believe after 49 day, you'd think I would have seen one) and then I said, "Wow! House Sparrow! New Bird!"

Male Cardinal & Chickadee

Male  Cardinal

Data:  10:44 am; 45F; clear; calm

 
32)  House Sparrow

.

Day 45 - February 14, 2012

I had some time after school so I decided to give Trolley Bed Road a try.  So I walked Trolley Bed Road then drove up Old Sherman Road and down Tuttle Road back to Route 64 and back down Trolley Bed Road.

Although I did not see anything new, it was nice to be outside for a bit.  But I did hear a Kingfisher and saw: Mockingbird (in its usually shrub), male and female Mallard ducks, Hairy Woodpecker, Robin, Canada Goose (10), and Starling (20).

This little excursion was from 2:58-3:14pm.  The skies were overcast with calm winds and a temperature of 47 F.

Day 42 - February 11, 2012

A few posts ago, I mentioned how when I am out birding in a big enough area I do not have a plan but instead just go where ever I feel like going.  Such is what happened today.

My original plan was to walk the length of South Pomperaug Road today instead of just driving down it.  So I parked the car in New Morning's back area and started to walk towards the complex that Woodbury Ballet is located.  I first walked along the dirt driveway nearest the shrubs down towards the gate for United Water.  I saw a Crow and a Blue Jay and heard a Chickadee and Titmouse.

After looking over the rest of the complex area, I went back onto South Pomperaug Road and headed towards the other end.  I saw more Blue Jays, a Mockingbird and a Cardinal.  but when I came to Pomperaug Road, I decided to walk down it - I never have never driven on Pomperaug Road before so I had no idea what was there.  And as luck would have it, I found out what was there!

About half ways down the road, on the right hand side of Pomperuag Road, is a pond, a wetland area and  a river,  that goes across the street forming a waterfall and continues.  What a great spot this will be in the warmer seasons - water, plants, insects, etc. for birds.  I can hardly wait.

Female Common Merganser

So I walked a little more done the road until I decided to turn around and head back to South Pomperaug Road.  I decided to once more look at the wetland area and saw something swimming and diving into the water - a duck! - for sure,  but not a mallard or another dabbler but a merganser hopefully.  And sure enough, through my binocs I saw a male and female common merganser.  A new bird to add to my Big Year.

The  rest of the walk down South Pomperaug was a pleasant one but with no birds.

 Data time:  11:15am-12:25 pm; 37F with mostly  cloudy skies and a slight breeze now and then.

31) Common Merganser - 1 male ; 1 female

Day 36 - February 5, 2012 - GBBC

Although I did not see any new birds to add to my Big Year, there were two Carolina Wrens at the feeder today.

But more importantly is the upcoming Great Backyard Bird Count which is February 17 - 20 this year.  You can spend as little as 15 minutes or as much as the whole day counting birds.  You can stay in your house and just count the birds you see in your backyard or go to your favorite birding spot and count the birds there. 

All that you need to remember is to count the number of individuals of each species you see at any one time.  In other words, if I see 3 Chickadees at 10:00 am and then see 5 Chickadees at 1:00 pm, my count is 5 NOT 8 since I have no way of knowing if 3 of those 8 were seen before.

I tend to keep track of what I see for the whole day in my backyard.  Then at the end of the day, I log onto the GBBC website and enter my totals and information such as length of observing time, weather conditions,  snow cover, etc.


So, get your feeders ready, your and field guides handy, bookmark the GBBC website, and, if you use Twitter, follow what other people are seeing that weekend by using #GBBC.

Day 35 - February 4, 2012

Male House Finch

I know I have not posted anything in a few days.  Between giving and grading midterm exams, appointments, making recommendations for students for next year's classes, and calculating second semester grades - there has not been much time.  But I have been looking on the way home while driving but not getting out of car and walking.

Male Northern Cardinal

But this morning was nice!  From 8:00-8:30am, there was a flurry of activity at the feeders here.  Although there were no birds to add to my Big Year, it was just nice and relaxing to watch the activity. 

Male Eastern Bluebird

So, here's what I saw in that half hour: 6 Blue Jays, 2 Chickadees, 2 Bluebirds (going in and out of a nest box), 2 House Finches, 1 White-throated Sparrow, 2 Mourning Dives, 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker, 4 Juncos, 3 Titmice, 2 Cardinals (male and female), and 1 Goldfinch. Whew!

I should note that every time I see a bird at the thistle feeder, I get the binocs and check to see if it isn't a Pine Siskins.  I am still spoiled by the irruption we had 2 years ago of pine siskins since they usually stay further north than here.  But for about 2 months, everyday I was able to see at least one pine siskins mixed in with the goldfinches at the thistle feeder.