[CT Birds] Southport Survey 129

[Dennis Varza]

Survey # 129

The Sky was clear with a north wind. The water was calm. Sunken  
Island was just barely exposed. as the island became exposed Black  
Duck flew out to it

Off shore there was little about, mostly flying birds, especially the  
Red-throated Loons. Sitting birds included the scoters and and a  
couple of Red-breasted Mergansers and goldeneyes. Near to shore there  
were the Horned Grebes. A flock of Godleneyes continuded at the mouth  
of the harbor. The ponds in the Golf course were frozen and most of  
lower the harbor was also frozen, and the Hooded Mergansers and  
Buffleheads were in the open areas. The one Great Blue Heron was a  
surprise. They havn’t been around for a couple of months. Overall  
they have been less common this winter.

The Herring Gulls were scattered along the shore feeding, there were  
few Ring-billed Gulls mixed in. Most of the Ring-billed Gulls were  
clustered in sheltered locatons. One immature Ring-biiled Gull made  
it 1.5% immatures.  Im. Herring Gulls made up 3.8% of the birds.


Dennis Varza
Fairfield

Fairfield, Sunken Island, South Pine Creak Beach, Sasco Beach,  
Southport Harbor and Southport Beach 7:55-9:50

January (Tide)   	7(H)	12(L)	16(H)	
Brant        		5	0	30
Canada Goose    	180	102	114
Mute Swan         	2	5	2
American Black Duck	24	40	42
Mallard              	34	22	27
White-winged Scoter	0	0	3
Long-tailed Duck	13	58	8
Bufflehead	            14	22	38
Common Goldeneye	15	155	46
Hooded Merganser	30	6	42
Red-breasted Merganser	6	8	22
Red-throated Loon	14	12	8
Common Loon      	1	1	1
Horned Grebe       	30	28	10
Great Cormorant	3	2	3
Black-bellied Plover	0	1	0
Sanderling         	0	100	0
Dunlin                	0	68	0
Ring-billed Gull    	186	205	71
Herring Gull        	89	112	208
Great Black-backed Gull	7	10	6

P. S.
Took a quick stop at Seaside Park in the afternoon there was a Snow  
Goose in with the Canadas and the Eurasian Wigeon was off shore with  
the Americans. Didn't Notice and White-winged Gulls. There were scaup  
in Black Rock Harbor. They need to be checked out for lessers.