[CT Birds] 3/26 -succinct acct of birding in southeastern Ct today

[Sailcarm at aol.com]

3/26-- Here is my hopefully succinct account of what I saw (or often what I 
didn't see) in several locations between Old Lyme and Pawcatuck today:

Dodge Pond, Niantic:  all ducks gone, 2 pied billed grebes in almost full 
breeding plumage, 2 Am. coots

Four Mile River boat launch, O. Lyme -- a few hooded mergs, no herons or 
egrets, osprey platform empty, song sparrows singing

Smith Neck Rd, O. Lyme -- many ospreys visible from the boat launch at the 
end of the road; also: along the road-- a mixed flock of common grackles, brown 
headed cowbirds, and r w blackbirds in with a zillion robins and lots of 
singing juncos

DEP headquarters, O. Lyme -- no sight or sound of my imaginary least bittern. 
 I even tried imitating its call (if Pat Dugan were to have heard me, he 
would have shed real tears).  But I did get a quick response -- a Carolina wren!  
Anyway, it was a great place to relax and have my lunch!

Tantamorantum Rd, Lyme-  in the pond on the right of the road --
        several eastern bluebirds chattering
       1 eastern phoebe singing
       8 ring necked ducks a courting...
       1 great blue heron a...

Smith Cove, Waterford -- 20 hooded mergansers, no sign of the black vultures 
that have roosted here this winter

several farm fields in Stonington/Pawcatuck area -- I was looking for 
Wilson's snipe but found none mainly because the puddles in the fields are mostly 
dried up.  A North Anguilla Rd field had a huge mixed flock of blackbirds similar 
to the one I mentioned above on Smith Neck Rd,
 with esp. large numbers of cowbirds

St. Mary's Cemetery in Stonington on RT 1 -- all ducks gone

Barn Island, Stonington -- it was approaching dusk, but I still managed to 
see 1 northern harrier, 1 great blue heron and two osprey platforms occupied.

Later this week I hope to get over to Conn College Arboretum to see if the 
tree swallows are back. 

Carolyn Cimino,
Waterford 




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