[CT Birds] January birds 1/19, Chat - yes

[ctredbird at comcast.net]

Did a bit of travelling around today in an effort to bolster my January list.  Here's what I found that might be of interest to January listers:

>From Jamie Meyers (1/19) --
Plainfield, Quinebaug Fish Hatchery: HERMIT THRUSH, EASTERN PHOEBE (!) both in area near the ponds, also PURPLE FINCH with goldfinches in wet area beyond the ponds; BROWN CREEPER and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET in brushy area north of the parking lot.  No ICELAND GULL, unfortuantely.  There was a female SCAUP sp. on the pond but she flew off before I ID'ed her.

Old Lyme, 17 Lieutenant River Road: YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT appeared briefly around 9:50 AM.  I also spotted a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER fly into a tall pine a couple houses down.  There were singing RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS in the distance.

Old Saybrook, the marina just south of the Baldwin Bridge: 2 PIED-BILLED GREBES easily seen from a parking area right off the road

Madison, Hammonasset Beach SP: SHARP-SHINNED HAWK near Willard's Island Trail, 2 LAPLAND LONGSPURS with lark flock near the nature center.  Also a PINE WARBLER feeding with sparrows on the east side of the main access road, about halfway between the entrance gates and the rotary.  This is a different bird than was recently with the crossbills on the west end, a much more colorful one.  I am told that the crossbills were there today but I didn't check.

I could not find the SNOW GOOSE at East Shore Park in New Haven today.  Those of you who still need grackle or cowbird, I had a mixed flock at the Ansonia Nature Center, around the pond and at the feeders.  There was also a WINTER WREN there and a flyover BLACK VULTURE.

Jamie Meyers
Canton, CT