Saturday March 30, 2013

Owl Pellet

Pellet with Lens Cap

If you read my Big Year blog, you would have read that I stated on many occasions that one never knows what one will find when birding.  And so it happened again today.

I went over to Nonnewaug High School to see what might be there.  Nonnewaug has become one of my favorite birding places due to its sports fields, the River that runs behind the school, the many trees, the open field on the other side of the foot bridge, and the garden that is there.

Unknown Fruit

NHS Now (wait until summer)

Species Seen:  Turkey Vulture, Red-Tailed Hawk, Blue Jay, American Crow (2), Eastern Bluebird (2 - m/f), American Robin (12), Cardinal (2 - m/f), and Song Sparrow (2).

Data:  12:55-2:16pm; 48F; mostly sunny; breezy

Barred Owl

But my day was not over!  When I got home, I started to watch "The Big Year", for the who-knows-the-nth-time, and looked up out the window to see a large bird fly by.  At first I thought it was a hawk trying to make a meal out of a bird at the feeder.  I went to the window to scan for the bird but saw nothing so I sat back down and continued to watch the movie.

Barred Owl

But while watching the movie, I continued to hear the birds give out warning calls which made me think the hawk was still around.  So again I scanned the trees and this time I saw the bird - a Barred Owl!  Second time I have seen one (maybe same one) in my yard within the last 6 months!

To see more pictures of the owl, click on this link:
 
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.559711157393459.1073741826.100000637397869&type=1&l=b88c5e2895

Female Bluebird

Male Bluebird

In addition to the owl, I also saw a male and female bluebird going in and out and back and forth between two bird houses I have here.

Data:  4:00 pm; 52F; mostly sunny; slight breeze

Sunday March 10, 2013 - Southport & Westport

Hooded Mergansers

Brants

Between school work, things to do around the house work, and snow, I had not been down to Southport Beach (F airfield) and Sherwood Island State Park in Westport.  So today was the day to go down!

My first stop was Southport Beach - the Beach, the water across the street, and then the house with the pond in front of it. 

Herring Gulls

DATA:  9:45-10:12 am; 42F; clear; sunny; breezy
BIRDS:  Brants 100 ; Herring Gulls 50; male Mallard; Black Duck 2; Hooded Merganser 3 male/5 female; Red-winged Blackbird heard; Mourning Dove; Crow 4





My next stop was Burying Hill Beach which is across from Green Farms Academy School. 
DATA:  10:19-10:45am; 43F; clear; sunny; breezy
BIRDS:  Black Ducks 8; Red-Breasted Mergansers 11; American Goldeneye 2; Herring Gull 10; Long-Tailed Duck 2

On the way out of the gate, I saw birds in the wetlands near Green Farms Academy and decided to pull the car over for a look.
DATA:  10:47 am; clear; sunny; breezy
BIRDS:  Black Ducks 8; Canada Goose 30; Mute Swans 2

Before heading to Sherwood Island, I decided to try the Longshore Country Club and see what might be on the golf course, in the ponds, and on the river near by.  I drove up and parked behind the restaurant.  I did not expect to see much so I did not take my camera with me - bad choice.
DATA:  11:00-11:15am; 44F; clear; sunny; breezy
BIRDS:  Canada Goose 80; American Widgeon 8; Bufflehead 2; Red-Tailed Hawk 1; Hooded Merganser 1m/6f

Mockingbird

I then drove on Hills Point Road to get over to Sherwood Island.  However, just past a beach area, I noticed a gray bird on the ground.  I pulled over onto the side of the road, got out of the car - this time with camera - and started to move slowly towards the bird.  It looked like a mockingbird but it did not have the long tail of a mocker but when it flew off into a shrub, I saw the white wing bars of a mocker.


DATA:  11:20am; 44F; ; clear; sunny; breezy

BIRDS:  Mockingbird, Black Ducks 12

Sanderling

Robin

Finally, I got to Sherwood Island.  I birded the right side from the pavilion to the evergreens at the entrance then over to the viewing stand by the river.



DATA:  11:33-12:25 pm; 43F; clear; sunny; breezy

Sanderling

 

Spot the Sanderling?

BIRDS:  Canada Goose 100+; Starling 100+; Killdeer 2; Red-Winged Blackbird 10; Robin 2; Blue Jay; Titmouse; Chickadee; Grackle; White-Throated Sparrow; Junco 2; Red-Tailed Hawk; Red-Shouldered Hawk; Bufflehead 2 male; Sanderling 2; Mute Swan 2; Black Duck 60; Ring-Billed Gull 3; Herring Gull 100+; Brant 6

Am. Tree Sparrow (digiscoped)

After a water and granola bar break, I went over to the Nature Center area with scope to see what was there.  There had been reports during the week of an immature white-crowned sparrow by the feeder but I did not see it.
DATA:  1:11-2:05 pm; 46F; clear; sunny; breezy
BIRDS: Chickadee; Red-Winged Blackbirds 8; Mourning Dove; American Tree Sparrow 9