[CT Birds] Eagles & hawks

[Gary Prestash]

Decided to look for eagles near the Quinnipiac River off of State St. in Hamden/No. Haven late this afternoon.  Spotted a juvenile eagle perched in a tree across from 2520 State St and an unidentified hawk a bit further south on State St, across from Graybar Electric.  Driving over to Sackett Point Rd and going down to the Q River boat launch by the trap rock plant, two other birders and I watched 3 eagles in and around the large nest that can be seen way across the river to the south and east when you are standing on the river bank near the osprey platform which is very close to the parking area.  While standing there chatting, we had a Norther Harrier pop up from behind the phragmites along the bank of the river and fly up into a small tree nearby.  He turned his back to us and spread his wings, catching some of the sun's fading rays before flying across to the snow covered osprey nest and then on into the marsh.  Finally, a red tailed hawk flew across Sackett Point Road and into a tree to the east of us.  He made two dives down to the ground, catching nothing, and then flew farther off to the east.  Packed it in then as the sun was quite low.

Gary Prestash
Hamden, CT