[CT Birds] Easter birds: GW Teal, W. Snipe, T. Swallows, Hungry raptors

[Boletebill]

Finally got out for a wee bit'o birding.
   
  Mudflats at corner of rte 146 and Sachem's Head Rd in Guilford had approx. 190 GW Teal and a couple of Great Egrets.
   
  Durham Meadows have good numbers of Wilson's Snipe (20+++) but be warned you have to walk through the wet overgrown part of the field to flush them.  Watched a N. Harrier enjoy a Wilson's Snipe Easter dinner for about 10 minutes....didn't see the kill but I did see her enjoy the dinner. Two Savanah sparrows here too.
   
  On rte 17 Northford had a BW Hawk circling the ridgeline and vocalizing.
   
  More Wilson's Snipe at the rte 68 skate pond in Durham.
   
  Male Sharp-shinned Hawk at the Baldwin School in Guilford had an Easter dinner of WT Sparrow.
   
  Although I've been seeing Tree Swallows on the CT River since March 15th today was the first day I saw them elsewhere. Durham Meadows, Skate pond and two other large wet areas I visited all had good numbers of Tree Swallows, not surprising since all these areas had hatches of small black insects as well.
   
                                             Bill Yule
                                             Guilford CT


"For those who hunger after the earthly excrescences called mushrooms."
       
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