6 May
This week is not all about birding as we are visiting our son before moving on to Long Point Canada.
Fortunately, for us, he lives in New Haven where there are some good little local birding sites. He lives just minutes from East Rock, so this morning we spent a few hours becoming reacquainted with American species.
It was raining when we arrived and that seemed to force birds down from the high tree tops. We first went to Archery Field where we saw quite a few warblers including Myrtle, Blackburnian, Nashville and Ovenbird. There were also Blue Jays, Gray Catbirds, White-breasted Nuthatch, Savannah Sparrow and plenty of American Robins with the bonus of White-tailed Deer and Eastern Chipmunk.
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The last walk for the morning was to go down to the river and take the path along the riverbank. Here we heard Raven and saw Black and White, Praire, Yellow Warblers, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Waterthrush, American Redstart, Baltimore Oriole, Veery, Peregrine, Red-eyed and Warbling Vireo. There were some very close views of Blue-grey Gnat-catcher.
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In the afternoon we went to the Peabody Museum at Yale University to have a look around at our son's work, but couldn't resist a little research for the coming weeks.
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7 May
Another start at East Rock Park, this time parking at the Eli Whitney museum and taking the trail along the Mill River. This area seemed to be popular with local birders and early on there were some interesting birds to see. We started off with Wood Duck, Solitary and Spotted Sandpipers, Warbling and Red-eyed Vireo, Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Cedar Waxwing, Blackpoll, Myrtle, Black and White and Nashville Warblers.
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As the day grew warmer there were fewer warblers to see but we ended the walk with Louisiana Water Thrush and Black-crowned Night Heron.
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We went back to a couple of good spots from the previous day but got nothing much else.
In the afternoon we tried to get into Quinnipiac Marsh wildlife refuge but there were no routes in. We had more luck with a couple of trails at QuinnipiacMeadows Eugene B. Fargeorge Preserve seeing several pairs of Osprey, Northern Mockingbird, Baltimore and Orchard Oriole, Field Sparrow and Greater Yellowlegs.
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This afternoon we headed East to Hammonasset Beach State Park. Much research had been done, and this seemed a real chance for seeing Seaside and Sharp-tailed Sparrow, the second of which we have never seen before.
We tried along the trails and had some nice views of Tree Swallow and Osprey. There were also Willet, Glossy Ibis, Killdeer, Least Sandpiper, Little Blue Heron, Piping Plover, Grey Plover, Semi-Palmated Plover, Snowy Egret and Least Tern. But no sign of the desired sparrows. Perhaps it was too early for them as most sightings on e-birder were from later in the month through to July.
During the walks we had some close views of Yellow Warbler.
This week is not all about birding as we are visiting our son before moving on to Long Point Canada.
Fortunately, for us, he lives in New Haven where there are some good little local birding sites. He lives just minutes from East Rock, so this morning we spent a few hours becoming reacquainted with American species.
It was raining when we arrived and that seemed to force birds down from the high tree tops. We first went to Archery Field where we saw quite a few warblers including Myrtle, Blackburnian, Nashville and Ovenbird. There were also Blue Jays, Gray Catbirds, White-breasted Nuthatch, Savannah Sparrow and plenty of American Robins with the bonus of White-tailed Deer and Eastern Chipmunk.
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Gray Catbird
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Male American Robin
We spent a little time at the summit where we spent most time taking in the view but did notice a number of Cardinals.
The last walk for the morning was to go down to the river and take the path along the riverbank. Here we heard Raven and saw Black and White, Praire, Yellow Warblers, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Waterthrush, American Redstart, Baltimore Oriole, Veery, Peregrine, Red-eyed and Warbling Vireo. There were some very close views of Blue-grey Gnat-catcher.
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Common Yellowthroat
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Brewster's Warbler explained
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7 May
Another start at East Rock Park, this time parking at the Eli Whitney museum and taking the trail along the Mill River. This area seemed to be popular with local birders and early on there were some interesting birds to see. We started off with Wood Duck, Solitary and Spotted Sandpipers, Warbling and Red-eyed Vireo, Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Cedar Waxwing, Blackpoll, Myrtle, Black and White and Nashville Warblers.
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Red-bellied Woodpecker
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Black-crowned Night Heron
In the afternoon we tried to get into Quinnipiac Marsh wildlife refuge but there were no routes in. We had more luck with a couple of trails at QuinnipiacMeadows Eugene B. Fargeorge Preserve seeing several pairs of Osprey, Northern Mockingbird, Baltimore and Orchard Oriole, Field Sparrow and Greater Yellowlegs.
Osprey
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Baltimore Oriele
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Greater Yellowlegs
One last walk along a disused road at East Rock revealed American Redstart, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Scarlet Tanager and a Racoon sleeping with its head stuffed into a hole.
Racoon
8 May
We took a lengthy tour of East Rock and found this a rather quiet morning. Our additional species were Indigo Bunting, Hoary Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe and Eastern Kingbird. A Juvenal's Duskying was the only butterfly.
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A run out to Lighthouse point in the afternoon was very, very warm but gave us our first American Oystercatcher. There were a good number of Baltimore Oriole and Northern Mockingbirds with Song Sparrow, House Finch, our first Magnolia Warbler and Great Northern Diver. A Black Swallowtail was in the vegatation around the lighthouse.
We took a lengthy tour of East Rock and found this a rather quiet morning. Our additional species were Indigo Bunting, Hoary Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe and Eastern Kingbird. A Juvenal's Duskying was the only butterfly.
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Black-capped Chickadee
Juvenal's Duskywing
A run out to Lighthouse point in the afternoon was very, very warm but gave us our first American Oystercatcher. There were a good number of Baltimore Oriole and Northern Mockingbirds with Song Sparrow, House Finch, our first Magnolia Warbler and Great Northern Diver. A Black Swallowtail was in the vegatation around the lighthouse.
Song Sparrow
Northern Mockingbird
9 MayThis afternoon we headed East to Hammonasset Beach State Park. Much research had been done, and this seemed a real chance for seeing Seaside and Sharp-tailed Sparrow, the second of which we have never seen before.
Tree Swallow
During the walks we had some close views of Yellow Warbler.
Yellow Warbler
A Clapper Rail turned out to be very obliging. This is a new bird for us and we got the opportunity to see it really well.
Clapper Rail
Plus a roadside Wild Turkey on the way back, though close to a Turkey farm!
10 May
Was not a birding day, but a Red-shooulder Hawk on a street post alongside the I-95 at West Haven was an addition for the trip.
11 May
Early morning visit to East Rock Park was very disappointing with ver little in the way of migrnts around and no new birds seen.
An afternoon visit to Dinosaur State Park was equally quite apart from a Wood and Swainsons Thrushes and a few butterflies, Eastern Tiger and Palamedes Swallowtails and a Northern Crescent.
Was not a birding day, but a Red-shooulder Hawk on a street post alongside the I-95 at West Haven was an addition for the trip.
11 May
Early morning visit to East Rock Park was very disappointing with ver little in the way of migrnts around and no new birds seen.
An afternoon visit to Dinosaur State Park was equally quite apart from a Wood and Swainsons Thrushes and a few butterflies, Eastern Tiger and Palamedes Swallowtails and a Northern Crescent.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Northern Crescent