[CT Birds] Salmon River CBC - Moodus section

[Clay Taylor]

Hi all - 

While the Salmon River CBC-ers are right now in Middletown doing the compilation, I had to phone in my highlights to Joe Morin.   Hopefully they will post the results, but I'm so pumped up with my day, I'll give you mine.

I cover the area east of the Salmon River, south of Rt 16, and west of Rt 149 - that's pretty easy to figure out.   I first did the count in 1975, the very first day it was held, and I have the luxury of having my house smack in the middle of the count area (check the feeders, potty stop, etc.)

Over the years, I have had some pretty good days (Golden Eagle flying over my house, Northern Goshawk chasing a Crow at my house, 70+ White-winged Crossbills down in the Salmon River State Forest, etc).    But today was pretty amazing - I personally had 64 species, and the total list for the area was 67.    Wow!

FIRST TIME bird species for me on this CBC -
Savannah Sparrow - 3 at the Salmon River Boat Launch
Gadwall - Salmon River Cove (Cove Road)
Pine Warbler - in a front yard on Banner Road, Moodus
Northern Harrier - ADULT MALE flyover at the Rt 149 powerlines
Rusty Blackbirds - two at the seed I put down at Machimoodus SP
Snow Buntings - 3 flying south down the center of the CT River at 7:10am
Note - after 32 years doing this count (I missed one), 6 new species is nothing short of amazing!

Other notables -
Common Raven - "Jonathan" calling at Machimoodus
Chipping Sparrow - the one at my feeder on 12/19 never returned, but this one at Machimoodus was only 1/2 mile from my house
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 2 locations
Brown Creepers - total of 9 at three locations!
196 Mute Swans - whoop-de-do
Red-shouldered Hawks - 3 adults, gorgeous flying over the snow
Bald Eagle - 2 at Cove Road, Moodus

Crazy misses - 
Great Blue Heron - had one yesterday!
Myrtle Warbler - one at my house yesterday (but I'll take the Pine Warbler instead!)

Ok, so now it's off to chase Bohunks, and then the New London / Old Lyme CBCs next weekend.

Clay Taylor
Moodus, CT
ctaylor at att.net