[CT Birds] Any Ospreys yet?

[Clay Taylor]

Sarah -

For years, we always expected to see the Ospreys return to their nest poles
at Great Island, Old Lyme on St. Patricks Day - March 17.   It's kind of
like the CT version of the swallows returning to San Juan Capistrano, CA,
the Turkey Vultures to Hinckley, OH, etc.    The truth is, some years they
were probably there as much as a few days earlier, but it was always a
reassuring sign of spring.

Now, in these Days of Global Warming, it would not surprise me to see many
breeders arriving earlier than usual.   Down in TX, the locals are all
atwitter because the Golden-cheeked Warblers just arrived a full 7 days
earlier than ever recorded.   One time is curious, twice may be a
coincidence, but multiple times sounds like a conspiracy, or maybe it's A
Movement .....(now I gotta wait for the git-tar to catch up before I sing
the chorus...)

Seriously, though, in recent years there are many examples of birds arriving
at breeding grounds earlier than their historical dates, and if the pattern
holds over multiple breeding seasons, we will have to revise out Early
Arrival and Late Departure dates for species.

Clay Taylor
Moodus, CT
ctaylor at att.net



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Peregrine Information Consultants" <info at peregrineinfo.com>
To: <ctbirds at lists.ctbirding.org>
Sent: Monday, March 03, 2008 1:41 PM
Subject: [CT Birds] Any Ospreys yet?


> Has anyone seen any Osprey yet, inland? I just glanced out my window
(Farmington)  in time to see a glimpse of a very large raptor - silhouetted
against the midday sky. I only caught about 3 wingbeats before it
disappeared behind the trees. First thought was Bald Eagle (often seen
around here), as this bird was much bigger than our resident RedTails. Then
I noted a longish narrow tail (folded) and narrow wings - the bird was
flying very directly, not soaring. Definitely NOT a Turkey Vulture or
Goshawk (both also seen around here recently). Somewhat slim, like an
Osprey, but I did not notice the characteristic crook at the "elbow" of the
wing. But it was only a glimpse so I cannot say for sure. The Farmington
River is open so there would be food. My Farmington home is midway between
the Farmington River and Batterson Park, and we frequently have Osprey
flyovers here in spring and summer.
>
> Feeder observations today:
> * Sign of spring -- pairs of Blue Jays feeding each other. Love that.
> * Red-Breasted Nuthatches - no sign of our wintering pair for about a week
now
> * Male Cooper's Hawk terrorizing the Blue Jays. Boy, that bird is FAST.
Easily differentiated from our resident female - she is HUGE, easily 30%
bigger than this male. Heard him vocalizing. Wonder if they are a pair -
hope so.
>
> Sarah
>
> Sarah Hager Johnston, BMus, MLS
> 860-676-2228
>
> Peregrine Information Consultants
> www.peregrineinfo.com
> Research and writing for insurance, risk management, safety & health,
business, and medical professionals
>
> Grace Notes
> www.grace-notes.com
> Program annotations, research, and writing services for classical musical
ensembles and the professionals who serve them
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA)
for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut.
> For subscription information visit
http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org