Day 148 - May 28, 2012

Robin

As I said in one of my earlier posts, I don't always have a set plan when I bird.  And so it was today.  My original plan was to go up Middle Road Turnpike down Cat Swamp Road back to Middle Road Turnpike to Walker Road to Minortown Road and then home.

I did walk down Ash Swamp Road but then decided to go down Tuttle to Trolley Bed Road to Route 64 then head towards Bacon Pond road to Cat Swamp to Middle Town Road and dthen Home.  In total - about 7.6 miles according to my cell phone 'step counter'.  Whew!!

Male Cardinal

So what did I see?  Well, it wasn't so much what I saw during my walk but what I heard.  So without an order here's a list of what I saw/heard:

Red Eyed Vireo - heard on Tuttle Road
Wood Thrush - heard  a few of them - first one was on Cat Swamp Road
Eastern Wood-Pewee - heard on Tuttle Road
Chestnut-Sided Warbler - saw on Cat Swamp Road near "pond"...reminds me of a miniature eastern Towhee

Red-Tailed Hawk

Red-Tailed Hawk - saw on Tuttle Road
Northern Parula - saw - O&G on Bacon Pond Road

And I saw the 'regulars' - cardinals; starlings; house, song, chipping sparrows; Canada geese; mockingbirds; goldfinch; male/female wood duck; robins; bluebird; mourning doves; tree swallows; phoebe; crow and others.






DATA:  6:30-11:30am; 82F; pcloudy; humid; slight


69)  Red-Eyed Vireo
70)  Wood Thrush
71)  Eastern Wood-Pewee
72)  Chestnut-Sided Warbler
73)  Northern Parula

Day 146 - May 26, 2012 Part 2

Female Common Mergansers

After working in the yard trying to clean up still after the October storm, I decided to talk a walk over to Nonnewaug High School to see what I can find.  This was my third time to Nonnewaug since I started my Big Year.

Male Northern Oriole

I walked down the driveway that takes you right to the loser field and headed over to the river to see what might be there.  I did not see anything new as I walked from that lone bleacher over to the softball field, but I did see:

3 female common mergansers, male northern oriole,  red-tailed hawk, 3 catbirds, 2 cardinals, 2 yellow warblers, 3 robins, grackle, red-winged blackbird, 2 chickadees.

Black-Capped Chickadee

Song Sparrow

But as I got to the bridge that goes from the softball field to that other field, I heard a bird singing - it sounded like it was saying "bees buzz".  A Blue-Winged Warbler!  But since I am not good with bird calls, let alone warbler calls, I wanted, no needed, more proof.  And I got proof!   I saw a bird fly into a bush and before I lost it, I was able to see its back and tail.  The bird was light gray in color and it tail was white on the outer edge.  After checking my book, it was what a blue-winged warbler looks like.

Finally, as I was leaving the parking lot, I saw a song sparrow singing away on top of a spruce tree.

DATA:  3:00-5:00pm; 80F; overcast; humid; slight breeze




68)  Blue-Winged Warbler

Day 146 - May 26, 2012 Part 1

Went to the Transfer Station here in town today and after I was finished, I went up to the upper level where I can look out and see the nesting great blue herons.  I had not been up there in a while and what a difference a few spring months make in terms of vegetation being out (and ticks as well.)

Although I did not see anything new, I was taught a lesson - "Don't leave home without your camera.  It is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it!"

Birds seen:  3 tree swallows, male and female northern oriole, 1 male wood duck, 2 catbirds, 4 black vultures, 5 turkey vultures, 3 red-winged blackbirds, 3 yellow warblers, 2 robins, 4 adult great blue herons and 3 young ones!

Mammals seen:  1 beaver bringing grass to lodge

Data:  9:00-9:30am; 73F; overcast; humid; slight breeze

Day 145 - May 25, 2012

Last night (writing this post on Saturday, May 26th) was another great night of counting the chimney swifts as they entered their roost at the Mitchell School chimney.

I counted a total of 137 chimney swifts entering the chimney with a 5 minute high of 101 birds entering the chimney.

DATA:  7:58-8:51pm; 72F; cloudy; 5-10 mph winds

Day 142 - May 22, 2012

Yellow Bellied Sapsucker

Yellow Shafted Flicker

Finally, after a few days of rain, I was able to visit Trolley Bed Road!


When I got out of the car and headed for the pond on Old Ben Sherman Road, I started two birds.  All I could see as they flew away was yellow flashing from under their wings

Yellow Shafted Flicker

Wild Iris??

Flickers!, I quickly thought but just wasn't 100% sure.  So I decided to walk down Trolley Bed Road with camera in hand and at the ready.  Did not see anything new, so I went back to where I saw the 'flicker'.
But when I got back to that tree, my hunch was proven correctly.  It was a Yellow-Shafted Flicker!  (The red-shafted flicker is found west of the Mississippi River).

 Besides the Flicker, I also saw:  male yellow-bellied sapsucker, great blue heron, 2 robins, kingfisher, 4 Canadian geese, 3 mallards, turkey vulture (feeding on the ground), red-winged black birds, grackles, and a red-shouldered hawk.

Kingfisher

 DATA:  5-5:25pm; 70F; overcast; slight

67)  Yellow-Shafted Flicker Kingfisher

Day 137 - May 17, 2012

male & female Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers

I wasn't sure exactly what I was going to go today other than going up to Logue's Farm for sure.  So as I was driving home, I decided to go down South Pomperaug Road to check out the wetland area.  After all, I have learned in birding: "Here today, gone today."

male & female Sapsuckers

There was nothing in the water so I slowly drove down the road listening for anything - again, I am not good IDing many birds by sound/song.  But I did hear a few interesting birds singing so I pulled off the road onto a little dirt spot, got out of car, and started looking.  Again, I found myself looking up at trees looking for any movement that would indicate a bird.  After a while, I did see a new bird for my Big Year - a male American Redstart.  But being a warbler moving from branch to branch in the blink of an eye, and my longest camera lens being a 250 mm (thinking of getting a 2X converter), I could not get any pictures of the redstart.

male Sapsucker

male Sapsucker

So off I went to Logue's farm but with a stop at Trolley Bed Road.  Wasn't anything new there but I was able to get pictures of both the male and female  yellow-bellied sapsuckers from yesterday.  The male seemed to be fixing up a hole in a tree to turn it into a nest.

Finally, it was off to Logue's Farm.  I parked the car on the side of the road, got out with binoculars and camera, and walked down the road.  I did not see anything new there either but I did hear the fluting sound of a Wood Thrush. 

DATA:  South Pomperaug Road:  3:45-3:55pm; 72F; clear; slight
            Trolley Bed Road: 4:14-4:40pm
             Logue's Farm:  4:55-5:15pm

65) American Redstart
66) Wood Thrush

Day 136 - May 16, 2012

Eastern Kingbird

Well...it has been a few days of wet weather here, so not much opportunity to look for birds.  But the sky cleared up a bit after school today so I decided to go up to Trolley Bed Road - and as it seems to be, I was not disappointed!

Eastern Kingbird

When I got out of the car and walked to the pond, I saw/heard the usual: red-winged blackbirds, grackles, and starlings.  So I decided to turn the corner and start walking down Trolley Bed Road from Old Sherman Road.  As I started to walk, I saw a woodpecker in a tree BUT it was not as black and white as are downy and hairy woodpeckers.  With a little more looking,before it flew into the trees across the street), I saw that it's sides were barred, not plain, and a bit yellowish.  I had just seen a Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker!

I did not see anything new as I walked down Trolley Bed Road, so on the way back to my car I decided to try the trail that leads to the Woodbury Reservoir.  I only checked out the pond that but noticed a bird flying around and then landing on a tree to perch.  After looking at it a few times as it flew and perched, I saw that it had a dark head and white on the bottom of its tail when it perched - a good signal that it is an Eastern Kingbird.  I got some pictures of it but not sure how they came out but will post them if they are good/decent.




DATA:  4-4:30pm; 74F; partly cloudy; humid; calm

63)  Yellow-Bellied Woodpecker
64)  Eastern Kingbird

Day 128 - May 8, 2012

Since I had some time after school today, I decided to check out Trolley Bed Road - yup - even though it was raining (sure you can call me crazy lol)!

As I drove down Trolley Bed Road from Route 64, I saw 2 male BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS!  I did not get their picture but I did take a few pics the other day at Mitchell Farm in Southbury so I posted those here instead.

I also wanted to see what kind of sandpiper has been hanging out in the pond.  So with umbrella in hand, I set up the scope and spent about 10 minutes in the rain looking for that sandpiper.  I first scanned the pond with my eyes looking for any movement and after awhile, I finally saw movement.  Checking the movement with my binocs, I determined it was a sandpiper and then I started to look at it through the scope.  It did not take long to see the distinct white eye-ring to determine that it is a solitary sandpiper!

DATA:  4:14-4:45pm; 57F; raining; overcast; slight

62)  Brown-Headed Cowbird

Day 127 - May 7, 2012

Belted Kingfisher

Belted Kingfisher

In between running errands, I stopped up on Trolley Bed Road to check on the pond and the shrubs.  When I got out of the car and headed towards the pond, I say a belted kingfisher perching on a stump.  Scanning the pond, I also saw a sandpiper but he was far enough away from me so that I could not see whether it had a distinct white circular eye-ring signifying a solitary sandpiper and I did not have my spotting scope :(

Baltimore Oriole

Baltimore Oriole

I then walked down Trolley Bed Road, with camera in hand, searching for that yellow warbler but, alas, no warbler.  On my way back to the car, I did stop to check out the tree tops and saw and got a few pictures of a male BALTIMORE ORIOLE!

DATA:  3:38-3:45pm; 70F; mostly clear; slight

 
61)  Baltimore Oriole

Baltimore Oriole

Day 125 - May 5, 2012

Wow!  What a day in terms of seeing birds without really trying.  After taking the recyclables to transfer station, I saw a SOLITARY SANDPIPER on South Pomperaug Road.

Rose Breasted Grosbeak #1

Then when I came home, I had a wonderful surprise - a SCARLET TANAGER.  Of course, I did not have my camera with me but I did have my binocs in the car (as I always do).  While I was looking at the tanager, I noticed other birds moving quickly in other trees - the habit of warblers - that is, move quickly to find insects especially in oak trees this time of year.

Rose Breasted Grosbeak #2

So after 10 minutes or so, I saw a total of species of warblers but was only able to recognize 2 male Yellow-Rumpeds and 2 male Yellows.  I am still learning to ID warblers by sight and song and need many more lessons.

Besides those visiting birds, I also saw some permanent birds:  downy woodpecker, red-bellied woodpecker, 2 blue jays, male bluebird, 2 titmice and mourning dove.

Finally, before doing some chain-sawing of down limbs from the October snow storm, I checked and saw 5 eggs in the bluebird house and was able to take a few pics of two male rose-breasted grosbeaks.

A nice day for sure.

DATA:  9:55 am for Solitary Sandpiper
            10:20-10:40 am for 'yard' birds; 57F; overcast/misty; calm

60)  Scarlet Tanager

Day 124 - May 4, 2012 - PART 2

What an evening last night (writing this on Saturday).  I am helping to collect data on CHIMNEY SWIFTS and last night was my first night for collecting data.

From 7:38 pm until 8:27 pm, I (with the help of another birder) counted 50 chimney swifts going into the chimney at Mitchell School here ein Woodbury.  I am hoping to get some pictures when I can.

Chimney swifts use chimneys at night to sleep.  For more information go to www.ct.gov/deep/wildlife

DATA:  7:38-8:27pm; 72F; mostly cloudy; slight

59)  Chimney Swift

Day 124 - May 4, 2012

Not the best picture :-(

I stopped at Upper Grassy and Good Hill Roads on my way home from work today to see if the BOBOLINKS  have arrived - and they did!


I saw 6 male bobolinks and saw their gold head feathers very nicely.  Their backs weren't totally white but in a few days, I am sure they will be which gives bobolinks the look of "wearing their tuxedos backwards".

I hope the pictures I took came out ok and, if so, I will add a few tomorrow to this post.

Not too good either  :-(

DATA:  3:50-4:00pm; 73F; mostly cloudy; slight

58)  Bobolink

Day 123 - May 2, 2012

Wow - what a day!  I left school and after having a hot chocolate sundae with everything at the Dairy Delite here in Woodbury, I went up to Trolley Bed Road. The only drawback was that when I spotted that male yellow warbler, my camera was in the car.  When I went back for the camera, the warbler was gone.  But tomorrow is another day!

I then went up to Logue's Farm where there was a report last week of a glossy ibis that was 'here today and gone tomorrow'.  But one never knows.  When I got to the pond on McVeigh Road, I scanned the pond with my binocs and saw lots of male wood ducks but then I saw a sandpiper!  So, to the car I went to get the spotting scope and tripod - I learned from that sandpiper on Trolly Bed Road to bring the scope with me - got the scope onto the tripod and started to observe the sandpiper.  It was dark on its back, white underneath, had dark legs, and an white eye ring - a SOLITARY SANDPIPER!  As I observed the sandpiper, a killdeer flew in so I watched the killdeer for a while through the scope.  And I counted 9 male wood ducks and 2 female wood ducks.

When I got home, I was bringing my laptop to our 'great room' where I work at home and saw a female ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK at the hopper feeder. 

Then as I started the grill, I heard a CATBIRD and when I went back into the great room, a male RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD was at the hummingbird feeder! 

SPRING IS HERE!  What a day!

DATA:  4:50-5:03pm; 56F; overcast; calm  for Logue's Farm
            5:59 pm for grosbeak;  6:03pm for catbird;  6:04 for hummingbird

54)  Solitary Sandpiper
55)  Rose-Breasted grosbeak - female
56)  Catbird
57)  Ruby-Throated Hummingbird - male

Day 122 - May 1, 2012

Decided to go to Good Hill Road/Upper Grassy Hill Road area to see if the bobolinks have arrived.  Well, they didn't but it is still early.  But it was not a lost.

 While checking out the shrubs that are on Grassy Hill Road, I saw an LBJ - 'Little Brown Job' - otherwise known as a sparrow.  I followed the sparrow and saw it landed on some rocks.  Through the binocs I saw that it was a Savannah Sparrow which I saw back in January.  So even though I have already seen them, I was able to get a few pictures of them this time.

Day 121 - April 30, 2012

Had some time today so I went over to Trolley Bed Road (which is becoming a favorite spot for me) to see what, if anything, has arrived - I'm still 'smarting' from not having my scope that day when the sandpiper was there.)

Although nothing was new in the pond, I did walked up and down Trolley Bed Road from Old Sherman Road to Route 64.  On my way back to the car, I did see a flash of yellow in the brush.  Looking at it a little longer, I saw that it was a small all yellow bird with red on it's breast - a YELLOW WARBLER!

That was all that was new for the day.

DATA:  3:05-3:40pm; 68F; mostly clear; slight breeze

53)  Yellow Warbler

Day 120 - April 29, 2012 - PART 3

Jack-in-the-Pulpit

Jack-in-the-Pulpit

After leaving Whittemore, I figured I would try Trolly Bed Road one more time.  I did see a great blue heron and kingfisher besides the usuals - grackles and red-winged blackbirds.  So I decided to walk that trail to the Woodbury Reservoir.

Well, the reservoir does not look like the reservoirs I have seen such as the Hemlock and Aspetuck in the Fairfield-Easton-Monroe area.  I have no idea what the Woodbury reservoir was used as a water source but I will search for info when I have time.

Trillium

I ddi not see anything new but did see/hear:  yellow-rumped warbler, hairy and red-bellied woodpeckers, 2 kingfishers, male and female wood ducks, and chickadees.

So, overall, it was a good day of birding.  I have also added some plant pictures from Whittemore here.

DATA: WHITTEMORE:  9:10-12:40pm; 48F-58F; clear; slight

           RESERVOIR AREA: 12:45-2:10pm; 58F; clear; slight

BIRDS:  48)  Pileated Woodpecker
              49)  Eastern Towhee
              50)  Hermit Thrush
              51)  Common Yellowthroat
              52)  Ruby-Crowned Kinglet

Day 120 - April 29, 2012 - PART 2

After my stop at Trolley Bed Road, it was off to the Whittemore Sanctuary.  However, this time I took a few different trails instead of just the White Trail - I took the White to Red to White to Yellow to Blue.

Old Holes

Close-Up

As I left the Red Trail and go onto the White Trail, I noticed a tree with large holes in it made by a woodpecker.  These holes went into the center of the tree!  Smaller woodpeckers - downy and hairy - usually just chip off pieces of bark to get to insects that are under the bark but Pileated Woodpeckers dig deep into the tree to get to the ant colony, or some other insect colony, that inhabit the inner portion of the tree.  As I looked at the side of the tree facing me, I could tell the holes were old since the wood had developed a weathered appearance.  But as I walked past the tree, I noticed fresher 'drill' holes.

Newer  Holes

 As I continued on my way, I heard the LOUD 'hammering' of a woodpecker but ut wasn't enough information to make an identification - even though there were those big holes.  I did not hear much again for awhile.  Then all of a sudden, I heard this loud, wild sound - like a car engine trying to turn over but just couldn't.  It started out loud then got quieter as it went on for what seemed to be 10 seconds - KUK KUK KUK kuk kuk kuk kuk kuk kuk - PILEATED WOODPECKER! (bird #48).

I continued my walk without expecting to see too much.  Not sure why I thought that other than perhaps that it was chilly that morning and I figured most birds would not be out much since the chilled air might keep the insects from being out.  Boy, was I wrong!

Towhee

 First, I saw an EASTERN TOWHEE (#49) hopping here and there on a shrub.  Then a little later, 2 HERMIT THRUSHES (#50) came close to the trail.  Hermit  Thrushes can be told from their more musical cousins the Wood Thrushes by where there is red/rufous on the bird.  The hermiT thrush has the color on its Tail and the wooD thrush has the color on its heaD.

Towhee

I ended my walk by taking the Blue Trail that went past a large pond.  There I saw Canada geese, male and female wood ducks, 2 red-shouldered hawks that flew overhead, red-bellied woodpecker, red-winged blackbirds, and grackles.  I also checked out the area that is below a beaver dam, I am assuming since it was all made of sticks.

Hermit Thrush

In one of the trees near the pond, I followed a quick moving dull bird which had a dull green/yellow head and neck area - definitely not bright yellow like a goldfinch.  This bird was going after insects like crazy which made it difficulty to keep it in the binocs.  After consulting a few books, I determined it was a female COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (#51).  It moved so much (like most warblers do), that I could not get a picture of it.

Hermit Thrush

In a couple of trees over from where the common yellowthroat was, I found a RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (#52) - a small roundish nondescript bird unless you're lucky enough to see its reddish stripe on its head.