[CT Birds] crossbills, purple sandpipers at Hammo

[Sailcarm at aol.com]

 12/9 Hammonasset SP from 12PM - 4PM -  22 RED CROSSBILLS in the West Beach 
pines.  I observed them not only feeding in the trees but also partaking of 
water and ice from a semi-frozen  puddle under one of the pine trees. It was 
interesting to watch them break up small chunks of ice with their bill.

other afternoon highlights for me at Hammo included:
         1 pine warbler - in with the crossbills
         4+  red-breasted nuthatches - in with the crossbills
         34 snow buntings (there were no longspurs in this group) in the 
                           East Beach parking lot
         10 purple sandpipers
           2 red-throated loons
           3 common loons
           1 surf scoter
         12 yellow-rumped warblers - Willards Island
           2 flickers - Willards Island
           1 northern harrier ( I saw the harrier several times and I always 
wonder if I am seeing the same one or more than one????)

There were also flocks of horned larks in the nature center lot and the West 
Beach lot but I did not check them for longspurs.

home feeders :
       3  PURPLE FINCHES (f.), of which one had no tail!

Carolyn Cimino
Waterford
       
     


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