[CT Birds] 3/29 Derby Riverwalk

[james.bair at snet.net]

Took a walk on the Riverwalk in Derby today (3/29/08). The following is what I saw.

Mallard  Canada Goose  Red-Tailed Hawk  Osprey  4 Black Vultures  Herring Gull  Great Black-Backed Gull
Ring-Billed Gull  Rock Dove  American Crow  Fish Crow  Barn Swallow  Tree Swallow  Black-Capped Chickadee
Hermit Thrush  Starling  American Goldfinch  Song Sparrow

A week or two ago there was a discussion on Veery vs. Hermit Thrush. Because Veeries are much more commonly encountered in Connecticut, when I saw the bird, my first impression was indeed Veery. The bird was also walking along a wooded creek, which is Veery habitat. It was too cold and too early for them, and once I had my binos on it, it was definitely a Hermit Thrush. A Hermit Thrush is superficially more similar to a Veery than any other American thrush. Many Hermit Thrushes do have fewer spots than what you usually see in the field guides, but the contrasting rusty tail is a giveaway.

Jim Bair