Eagle Trip at Echo Farm
(Machimoodus Park) Feb. 2, 2008.
Nine participants gathered together in the gravel parking lot of Machimoodus Park on a clear, sunny, and tolerably seasonable morning. Bluebirds, Juncos, Song and white-throated sparrows immediately made themselves known. As the party walked up hill along a logging road both native and invasive plants and trees were identified. Tree of Heaven were particularly dense in disturbed areas. Soon after reaching the promontory over looking Salmon River cove, two immature Bald eagles hovered low over the tree tops and fanned out at eye level before the awed group of birders. Three other eagles were also seen. A good selection of woodpeckers were present; Downy, Red-Belly, and Flicker. White-Breasted Nuthatch, and the elusive Brown Creeper made an appearance. Also notable were a squawking Raven, a cooperative Hermit Thrush, and a Mockingbird. Twenty-eight species were counted.
Pat Rasch

 

 

 

Birders look out over Salmon River.

 

 

 

Immature Bald Eagle overhead.

Salmon River Christmas Count, December 22
The final tally was not available at Wingbeat publication time. We expect to post the final numbers on the MAS website later in January. Notables mentioned at the Christmas Count soirée at the Cypress Restaurant: Pine warbler seen and photographed (below) by Clay Taylor; large numbers of robins, waxwings, and blackbirds; ducks were scarce but most still water was completely frozen; and all of the woodpeckers on our Count list were found, including one Red-Headed woodpecker (seen by the swamp off of Chestnut Hill Road, and near Route 16 in East Hampton).
Joe Morin / Pat Rasch

Clay Taylor's Christmas Count Pine Warbler

Dave Titus Memorial Sparrow Crawl
October 13: A group of five birders was treated to a good selection of sparrows: song, field, savannah, swamp, white-throated, chipping, and mature and immature white-crowned. White-crowned sparrows were seen in greater numbers than on any past sparrow crawl. Also very numerous were Purple finches, especially in the Middletown Nature Garden on Randolph Road. Only one Yellow-rumped warbler was seen. 34 species were recorded, including a good selection of raptors, with Black vultures seen over the field near Lyman orchards, as well as a Peregrine falcon that flew over the Middletown Nature Garden. (Thanks Dave!)
Pat Rasch

Annual Swallow Cruise
Sept. 15th started out with pouring rain but by afternoon, the sun was shining brightly, but the front brought in a good breeze. The river was a little choppy as we set out, but there were some birds to be seen as we headed for the calmer waters of Hamburg Cove. As we entered the cove, an adult Bald Eagle crested the ridgeline for a great view of its white head and tail glistening in the sunlight. It hung around to be seen again heading out of the cove. We had some great close-up viewing of Double-crested Cormorants. There was also a Red-tailed hawk whose bright colors were emphasized by the good light. A Kingfisher followed us around the cove, and a couple Great Blue Herons were bookends on exiting the cove. We also saw Great egrets and some plovers.

As we made our way down the river to see the eagle’s nest on Nott Island, Captain Mark explained that this pair of Bald eagles had nested there successfully for 13 years, rebuilding their nest a few years ago when it fell out of the tree. This year, however, their nest was a victim of predators and the nestlings were found dead, one on the ground under the nest and one in the nest. There was a loud sigh from all on board.

We arrived for the swallows a little early. A few could be seen around the phragmites, and a few groups came in behind the boat as we waited, watching a gorgeous sunset. Suddenly, there was a huge flock almost the whole length of Goose Island. As we continued to watch, they came closer to us and to each other like a cloud of mosquitoes. As they bunched closer together, they began their descent into the phragmites. While they dove rapidly, there were so many that it took quite a while, and part of the group hesitated and swarmed a while longer and finally made its decision to go to bed and dove into the island for a good night’s sleep.

Alison Guinness

David Titus Memorial Warbler Walk
May 5: Seven individuals sought out tradition and neo-tropical avians when they gathered together in the parking lot of River Highland State Park in Cromwell. Proceeding along the railroad tracks lying adjacent to Field Road, bird watchers and naturalists reminded each other that as raw novices they once followed mentor David Titus down the same railroad right-of-ways. Warblers included: yellow rump, ovenbird, worm-eating, black and white, pine, prairie, and yellow. Species total was 44.

A special side trip, also a Titus specialty, took participants to the flood plain forest across from Gildersleeve Island where they were treated to the sight of a Bald Eagle in its nest tending to its progeny. Brown Thrashers in the shrubs were a pleasant gift. All thanked Dave for showing the way.

Breeding Birds of Wangunk Meadows
May 26: A diverse number of species greeted birders on a brilliantly-lighted morning in late May as they wound down a sandy pathway towards the Wangunk Meadow floodplain. Seen along the way were Northern Oriole, Black and white warbler, Warbling vireo, Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, Great Crested Flycatcher…

The culmination of the expedition was a glimpse of a Great Blue Heron rookery. At least 60 active nests were counted, as well as over 100 birds. Many nests had three and a few even had four chicks apiece. The parents were taking off and landing; there was much squabbling and gutteral clucks of the numerous chicks — an altogether lively and inspiring nursery display. Although mosquitoes delivered unpleasant calling cards, all were pleased and gratified after the trip.

Birders view heron rookery on Wangunk Meadows trip

 

This fossilized footprint of a small crocodilian was found on a large slab of broken Jurassic red-mudstone on King’s Island on our canoe trip
A canoe adventure in search of biodiversity
June 2: Two canoes and four acolytes knelt at the altar of nature and came away blessed by discovery. Swift upper Connecticut River waters carried the four onto Kings Island, where a Mesozoic fossil was found, a type of small crocodilian track. Birds seen included Canada Goose, a Mallard with nine offspring, neo-tropicals such as Great Crested Flycatcher, and Warbling Vireos. Clouds and heat built up throughout the afternoon, but canoers were able to get off the river before the tempest burst.
Larry Cyrulik

Breeding Bird Census
June 10 and 11: A total of 5 groups took part in the Spring Census. It was a tough time (the BioBlitz was that same weekend), but we did record a total of 77 species and a total of 759 individual birds. Notables on this year’s list were two Bald Eagles soaring north along Saybrook Road near Aircraft Road. A single Whip-por-will along River Road was unusual only because we used to be able to hear several in one night. Warblers seem to be doing fair: we tallied 18 yellow warblers, 13 yellow-throats, and 12 prairie warblers. The champion on most lists would be starlings, and ours was no different. We had 72 followed by a close second for the robin family with 51. Cedar waxwing numbers were up with 31. These numbers might seem low, but we had 5 groups spending a combined total of 10 hours observing and traveling 28 miles by car and 4–5 by foot. The Saturday group also did Maromas section of Middletown in order to add to the BioBlitz totals. Additionally, we had Gray Fox, Fisher Cat, and a Banded Pennant dragonfly — rare in CT.
Joe Morin

Echo Farm Eagle Trip
An eagle-viewing expedition to Echo Farm in East Haddam, January 20, led to a revealing exploration of the sloping woodlands enveloping the property. A brisk north wind marking the true beginning of winter spread through the hemlocks and white pines, where a number of wintering birds were seen: hermit thrush, downy, hairy, and red-bellied woodpecker; dark-eyed junco, titmouse, black-capped chickadee. Bluebirds, white-throated, field, and song sparrows were seen in the brushy, grassy areas. From a promontory overlooking Salmon River Cove, several immature Bald Eagles appeared – brown smudges soaring against the gray background of the flood plain forest lying along the Connecticut River. Black ducks, mallards, mute swans and the inevitable gull species: herring, black-back and ring bill, floated on the surface of the lead-colored cove.
Larry Cyrulik

2007 Connecticut River Eagle Festival
The birds and the weather during the Connecticut River Eagle Festival this year (17 and 18 Feb 07) were the best we have had in many years as the MAS volunteers served as guides at the eagle-viewing site across the river from the Goodspeed Opera House.

Saturday was clear and sunny with a bright blue sky, a mild breeze, and a temperature that was above the freezing point. We enjoyed the warmth of the sun and by mid-day we were shedding gloves and hats. Sunday, on the other hand, was totally different. It was overcast in the morning with an intense snow shower and a strong wind at noontime. The afternoon, however, was reasonably pleasant with some sunshine.

Birds were also the best we have had in years despite the fact that the river was frozen solid at our location. By the end of the weekend we tallied at least 4 adult Bald Eagles, 6-8 immature Bald Eagles, 1 immature Golden Eagle, 6-10 Red-tailed Hawks, 2 Red-shouldered Hawks, and 1 unidentified Accipiter.

A highlight on Saturday, besides the immature Golden Eagle that flew over the Goodspeed Opera House, was the adult Bald Eagle that flew upriver in lazy circles, gradually advancing northward – all without flapping its wings. As it turned we all had excellent views of all of its plumages, both dorsal and ventral. We easily saw its bright yellow legs and feet that were tucked under its white tail.

In addition, on Saturday, was a pair of Red-shouldered Hawks perched in a tree near the Goodspeed Opera House. One was facing us and the other was facing to the side, so we were able to see both the front and side plumages through the spotting telescope.

On Sunday we were treated to a pair of adult Bald Eagles that perched for more than an hour in a tree above the river’s edge, just past the south end of the airport runway. Occasionally one or both would fly around and land in a different tree. Alison wondered if these birds could be the pair that nested by Chapman Pond. As people came to our viewing site, all were delighted to see these adult eagles.

There were eight viewing sites along the river from Essex to Haddam. We had more than fifty visitors on both Saturday and Sunday at our site. The ten volunteers at the site were Mary Augustiny, Debbie and Ann Goodrich, Alison and Bill Guinness, Marcy Klattenberg, Joanne Luppi, Lorrie Martin, David Rathbun, and George Zepko.
George Zepko