[CT Birds] Barrow's Goldeneye, Milford Point

[Kenneth Elkins]

At about 6pm tonight, I spotted a female Barrow's Goldeneye at Milford Point.  The bird was actually quite close between the river and the wooden observation platform straight out from the front doors of the Coastal Center.  It was by itself, and after taking a full minute to take in all the field marks (almost all-yellow bill, steep, almost vertical forehead shape for starters), it dove.  I tried to get some photos, but it moved off into the mouth of the river to feed, associating loosely with some 2 red-breasted mergansers, but most of the rb mergs and common goldeneye were 200 yards away on the LIS side of the plover nesting bar.  I'll try to find it again tomorrow am.

>From Ken Elkins
3/13 - Milford, Milford Point -- 1 BARROW'S GOLDENEYE (female), 2 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS, 4 NORTHERN PINTAIL, 15 COMMON REDPOLLS

Hopefully it sticks around for other to enjoy.

Good birding,
Ken Elkins
Milford, CT