[CT Birds] Survey # 136 2 March 2008

[Dennis Varza]

Survey # 136 2 March 2008

The tide was high and falling, the water calm and the sky clear.

Off shore there was a flock of several hundred gulls feeding well off  
shore. It was odd seeing no gull on the shore.  Mixed in the flock  
were Brant, Greater Scaup, Black Duck, and American Wigeon.  Horned  
Grebes were in little cluster of 5 to 10 birds. There were a few more  
White-winged Scoters. The ponds in the golf course continued to be  
frozen and the harbor partially frozen. The Geese and Hooded  
Mergansers continue inside  Southport Harbor and the Bufflehead  
returned. By the end of the survey at Southport Beach, the gulls were  
roosting on the beach. The only shorebirds about were about were 30  
Ruddy Turnstones working the end of the Jetty.

Dennis Varza
Fairfield

Fairfield, Sunken Island, South Pine Creak Beach, Sasco Beach,  
Southport Harbor and Southport Beach 7:00-9:00 Am

February / March (Tide)	6(H)	24(L)	2(H)	
Brant                 	12	0	26
Canada Goose	330	428	350
Mute Swan      	6	4	1
American Wigeon	4	4	12
Gadwall             	2	2	6
American Black Duck	38	18	22
Mallard               	13	36	48
Greater Scaup 	0	0	4
Ring-necked Duck	0	1	0
White-winged Scoter	4	4	6
Long-tailed Duck     	18	24	14
Bufflehead               	0	0	6
Common Goldeneye	10	8	11
Hooded Merganser     	32	26	9
Red-breasted Merganser	19	16	20
Red-throated Loon   0	2	2
Common Loon         4	3	3
Horned Grebe	        15	15	30
Great Cormorant	3	2	2	
Great Blue Heron	0	1	1
Black-bellied Plover	0	13	0
Killdeer              	0	1	0
Ruddy Turnstone	0	0	30
Ring-billed Gull	42	73	179
Herring Gull        	132	262	95
Great Black-backed Gull 	9	10	9