[CT Birds] Fwd: Union, Conn.; Nov. 21

[Scott Baron]

Small correction - the name of the body of water is
more appropriately Mashapaug Pond, not "Lake
Mashapaug"  as I had typed.

Also, a River Otter was casually swimming in Bigelow
Pond.  He would stare at me for a long time before he
would continue on.

Happy Thanksgiving,

SB
--- Scott Baron <brnpelican at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2007 19:21:29 -0800 (PST)
> From: Scott Baron <brnpelican at yahoo.com>
> Subject: Union, Conn.; Nov. 21
> To: "Connecticut listserv) Birds"
> <ctbirds at lists.ctbirding.org>
> 
> Hello, birders.
> 
> Last birding stop of a 5 day New England birding
> trip.
>  Stopped in the Union, Connecticut area this morning
> before heading to my parents' place for
> Thanksgiving. 
> I've wanted to check out Bigelow Hollow State Park
> and
> other nearby parks for years and I'm glad that I
> finally made it.
> 
> I walked a few trails and checked out parts of two
> lakes at Bigelow Hollow State Park and Nipmuck State
> Forest in Union.  I really wanted to find winter
> finches as well as experience the area's scenic
> beauty.
> 
> I heard an unfamiliar call from a flyover that I
> believe was from a winter finch.
> 
> At least 1 COMMON RAVEN was present in the state
> park.
>  It was perched low and was just off the park
> entrance
> road.  It flew off as I watched it.  It was close
> enough so that I could clearly see it's "Roman
> nose." 
> Just up the road, a raven passed my car which I
> believe was the same bird.  I also heard a raven
> call
> two more times this morning but all birds were in
> the
> same general area.  So I believe only one or two
> birds
> were involved.
> 
> 1 imm. DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT was on Lake
> Mashapaug.
>  The typical woodland birds like CHICKADEES and
> TITMICE roamed the woods.
> 
> Just inside the state forest boundary flew an OSPREY
> carrying a fish.  I could clearly see the fish was
> being carried headfirst, which is the norm.  By the
> way, I believe this beats my late date for Osprey in
> Conn. by a week or two.  I saw an Osprey in the
> Ivoryton section of Essex back in 1993.
> 
> I next checked out the Yale Forest/Boston Hollow
> area
> of Union and Ashford but it was quiet.
>  
> What a pretty and still sparsely populated area of
> the
> state that is easily accessible from I-84.  Let's
> keep
> it a secret between us birders.  Shhhh.
> 
> Scott Baron
> Fairfax, Va.
> 
> 
>      
>
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