[CT Birds] a challenge -

[COMINS, Patrick]

First off, I just got a report from a friend in Jefferson, NH that he has 74 Evening Grosbeaks at his feeder today.  He will try to send some down this way!

Now, on to the challenge thread.  Perhaps one of my best days in Connecticut featured Roseate Tern, American White Pelican and Sooty Shearwater all on the same trip to Falkner Island...the first state record for the shearwater.  This May, I and several others had Purple Gallinule and Wilson's Phalarope both in Stratford.  Someone (perhaps Steve Mayo?) later had Purple Gallinule, American Coot and Common Moorhen all in Stratford on the same day.

A big day in New Jersey can always make for some strange pairings.  One day we had Purple Finch, Common Raven, Pine Siskin, Northern Saw Whet Owl, Caspian Tern, Royal Tern, Summer Tanager, Kentucky and Prothonotary Warblers and Blue Grosbeak all in the same day.  A nice mix of northern and southern species.

Perhaps my best all-time day of birding featured White-Tailed Tropicbird to start the day, and featured, I'iwi, Io, Oma'o and Elepaio.  Obviously not in Connecticut and only one island on Earth where you can see those species...somewhere I doubt I'll ever get to again!

In other news, we're on the verge of some great news for Connecticut's National Wildlife Refuges, which I'll share once I hear that the President signs the budget.

Patrick Comins, Meriden