[CT Birds] Hawks on Rt 34

[Gary Prestash]

My route home from work takes me south down Rt 34 from Derby toward the Merritt Pkway (Rt 15) every day.  Because the traffic is heavy at that time of day, I haven't been able to get a good ID on the specific type of hawk(s) but probably more days than not, I spot one or even a pair in the tall trees along the road across from the Hein Farm (the trees are on the open field side Rt 34 - the open used to be a pasture for the farm) but down closer to the DOT garage end of the field.  I have even spotted a kestrel on the sign advertising the new housing development going up (too bad) in the old pasture.  Today though, I spotted a fairly large hawk perched only about 6 ft off the ground, in the brambles alont Rt 34 but at the Rt 121 end of the pasture and before the white sign advertising the new homes.  Again, driving by quickly in heavy traffic, I could not make an ID, but these guys are usually in the trees on the edge of that field 3 or 4 days out of my 5 day work week.  Probably worth parking over on Rt 121 to take a better look.

Gary Prestash
Hamden