[CT Birds] Hammo 10/13 Red Crossbill, Common Eider, Probable Jaeger sp.

[Daniel williams]

Hello all,
  A good day of birding at Hammo through the snow squalls. The flock of 20-25 Red Crossbills continue in the pines near the West Beach parking lot. After checking on the Crossbills I scanned the sound from the West Beach, I picked up a large dark bird coming off the sound from the south east. In the first instant it was spotted my mind jumped to Peregrine but context, behavior, shape and color rule out peregrine. It was very large and very dark, flying very levelly and powerfully inches off the water, it glided only for a split second over the waves. It appeared heavy chested, small headed and bulky, and as it got closer it appeared all dark, it flew over miegs point four hundred yards down the beach and disappeared flying west. I have limited expirience with Jaegers and do not personally feel like I can responsibly call it one species or another however it is certainly a very interesting encounter. I realize fully the rarity of Jaegers in Long Island Sound particularly in
 the winter. 
           Also, at the end of the Morraine Trail, were 115 dunlin, 1 common Eider, 23 Purple sandpipers.
  Cheers,
  Danny Williams



       
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