[CT Birds] Hammo 2-2-08

[Rick Gedney]

Hammo - Feb 2nd , 11:20 AM - 12:20 AM.  From Rick Gedney (with Jack Faller).
Pequot 2 Toilet Building at east end of Pequot Camping area.  

Very Birdy.  Sunny and warm with intermittent breeze this far off the beach
and in cover.  Many birds moving from stream and culvert area, through
brushy thicket to Cedar Trees and lawn in camping area and back. Had
multiple great looks in bright light of Western Tanager. Wow! .bill very
orange in bright sunshine. Quite a few Pine Warblers and the Orange-crowned
Warbler came in to give us look as well with Pines near by for comparison.
I am not that familiar with OC if I did not have it in proximity with Pine
Warbler and not had Jack there (who had seen it before) I would have
struggled.  The absence of wing bars was first clue; under tail coverts were
definitely not white, but did not look that yellow either but rather drab.
The bill was "sharper" as Sibley described and also looked slightly longer?
Did not see the tail fanned.  Going back there tomorrow.  Appreciate any
other diagnostic ID tips anyone wants to post.

  

45 minutes standing in same spot.great mini-sit and a pretty good lunch
hour.  

*	Western Tanager
*	OC Warbler
*	Pine Warblers
*	RB Nuthatch
*	GC Kinglet
*	Marsh Hawk
*	Sharp-shinned Hawk (one of those "half-hardy accipiters" )
*	Many Ame. Robin including the partially leucistic white blotched
Robin
*	Downy Woodpecker
*	BC Chickadees
*	Flicker
*	Cardinals (including one that spent 10 minutes sitting in the
stream)
*	WT Sparrows 
*	DE Juncos
*	Ubiquitous Yellow-rumped Warblers
*	Modos, House Finches, Starlings, H Gulls, .