![]() |
2010 Bird SightingsMid-summer Bird Sightings. Although we have had many days in the mid to high 80's, the mornings have been absolutely glorious. An early morning start will give you lots of birds and get you back into where it is cooler before the day really heats up. Birding has been very good. Two observers reported 49 species along the bike trail between Rte 287/Rte 6 and Ansonia, including a number of shorebird species -- sollitary sandpipers, killdeer, and various peeps. Shorebirds are among the first to migrate, Mid June Bird Sightings. The birding may seem to have slowed down a bit, now that many of the migrants have continued their way north, but there are still plenty of birds to be seen. Of course, the warmer weather means that the peak of activity is much earlier in the morning now, so you have to get up earlier to see them. Balitmore orioles seem to be everywhere this year. A good place to see them and their hanging nests is at the Darling Run Access to the Pine Creek Rail Trail. Take a look around while you are Mid-Late May Bird Sightings. Warblers continue to be seen at Colton Point State Park, although not in great numbers. Perhaps initially cool days and strong winds of early May have played a role here. Yellow warblers and common yellowthroats are in abundance along the bike trails, and on 20 May many alder flycatchers were seen at the Rte 287/Butler Road end. A Baltiimore oriole's nest was seen in the same area. Plenty of them are around, especially along the creeks. There have still been only a few ruby-throated hummingbirds reports. The bald eagles at Darling Run Access to Pine Creek Rail Trail have hatched at least two young. The adults should be very busy flying around the area looking for food soon. Other birds newly arrived in the area include wood thrushes, veeries, scarlet tanagers, spotted and solitary sandpipers, great-crested flycatchers, and green herons. Of course, there is now much nesting activity, and it can be very interesting watching the birds carry nesting material to their chosen sites. Early May Bird Sightings. It is only the beginning of May, but reports are pooring in. A variety of warblers and thrushes were seen at Colton Point State Park, and a winter wren was reported in the vicinity. Three Caspian terns and two Forster's terns were seen on May 2 at April Bird Sightings. Although the leaves on the trees are seemingly making an early debut, one can hardly say the same for the birds. Nevertheless, some migratory species are starting to appear. Two eastern meadowlarks were seen at Cowanesque Lake on April 4, and two common loons were seen on Hills Creek lake during the 17-April bird walk. Don't mistake them for the double-crested cormorants, which have been visiting the lake in small numbers. A yellow-rumped warbler was also seen during the walk, the first one of the year. Ospreys are on both nesting platforms at Hammond Lake/Crooked Creek, and a pair is showing great interest at Hills Creek State Park on the platform next to the bridge/dam. Please stay in your car when you cross the bridge; no ospreys have nested here before, and these two seem to be very nervous. We would not want to cause them to abandon the nest if possible. Lot of bald eagle sightings at Hills Creek, both adults and juveniles. Highlights for the month so far are 5 Bonaparte's guills seen on April 4, and the appearance of two Caspian terns on April 11, all at Hammond Lake . ![]() March Bird Sightings. Spring is on the way, and our warm-season birds are starting to return. The Muck already resounds with the calls of red-winged blackbirds, American robins are just about everywhere, and eastern bluebirds are building nests in their boxes. The Lakes and streams are open now, and waterfowl are beginning to show up: hooded and common mergansers, mallards, wood ducks, and horned grebes have been seen at Hammond and Hills Creek Lakes. Three black vultures were reported near Pine Creek Gorge, and turkey vultures were seen near Millterton. Incidentally, this would be a good time to clean out your bird houses if you have not done so already. Also we will be getting into bear season, so you may want to start putting away your feeders for the night. Eagle Survey On 9 January Phil Krajewski and Gary Tyson started a new eagle survey route between Ansonia If you have seen anything interesting that you would like to share or if you would like help identifying a particular bird, please let us know at raven@tiaudubon.org. We will try to help you out and/or pass the information on to our other readers. |