[CT Birds] Hawks on Rt 34

[Schlesinger, Lee]

In the general area that Gary describes is what is traditionally called
"Grassy Hill" in Orange (the high ground south of Rt 34).  On the New
Haven Christmas Count (as this past Saturday), the Hill falls in "my"
territory.  In addition to birds that Nick Bonomo sighted there on his
"dawn watch" (Cackling & Snow Goose, Lark, Pipit, Snow Bunting,
Redpoll), he then and I later in the afternoon had a nice array of
raptors, including Harriers (one an almost-full-adult-male), Red-Tails,
a Turkey Vulture or two, and a dark-phased Rough-Legged Hawk.  Almost
any wintertime raptor is possible at or near that site, so any bird is
worth checking or doublechecking.

Lee Schlesinger
Port Chester, New York

-----Original Message-----
From: ctbirds-bounces at lists.ctbirding.org
[mailto:ctbirds-bounces at lists.ctbirding.org] On Behalf Of Gary Prestash
Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2007 5:36 PM
To: ctbirds at lists.ctbirding.org
Subject: [CT Birds] Hawks on Rt 34

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.  Proba
 bly worth parking over on Rt 121 to take a better look.

Gary Prestash
Hamden
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