[CT Birds] Southport Survey 141

[Dennis Varza]

Survey # 141 31 March 2008

It was high tide,  Sunken Island was completely covered, the water  
was calm and the sky overcast.

Off shore. The Long-tailed Ducks were flying about. Also about were  
the Red-throated Loons and a few Horned Grebe.The White-winged  
Scoters remain. The Gannet was a surprise, I only have seen it 9  
times on the route and this was the second spring record.Closer to  
shore Most of the Horned grebe were in seveal big flocks the bigest  
one was 30 birds (when the water is flat they tend to be further off  
shore).  The puddle ducks continue at the mouth of the creek at  
Southport Beach. Still no Double-creasted Cormorants. It looks like  
the Ring-billed Gulls have mostly moved through but it is hard to  
tell. Immatres made up 10% of the birds.

The Osprey returned, actually I saw it several days ago. This osprey  
nets on channel marker off Southport harbor. It first showed up about  
3 years ago. Every year the sticks get blown away during the winter  
and they must start from scratch. And, they pile the sticks at least  
6’ high to get the platform above the big green sign!

Near by at the Pine Creek Open Space the Ospreys nest on the lights  
of a baseball field. (This year I saw the same situation at Calf  
Pasture Beach in Norwalk. In the past there was one at Cummings Park  
and had Monk Parakeets nesting in the bottom)

Dennis Varza
Fairfield

Fairfield, Sunken Island, South Pine Creak Beach, Sasco Beach,  
Southport Harbor and Southport Beach 7:20-9:10

March (Tide)	15(H)	24(L)	31(H)
Brant	54	222	47
Canada Goose	56	123	72
Mute Swan      	4	3	4
American Wigeon	16	28	32
Gadwall              	0	12	20
American Black Duck	6	33	26
Mallard                     	42	48	25
White-winged Scoter	6	6	2
Long-tailed Duck      	11	84	82
Bufflehead               	7	18	14
Common Goldeneye	1	3	2
Hooded Merganser  	3	16	3
Red-breasted Merganser	21	30	24
Red-throated Loon	8	5	8
Common Loon	        1	1	0
Horned Grebe    	27	8	77
Northern Gannet	0	0	1
Killdeer             	2	0	0
Bonaparte’s Gull	0	48	0
Ring-billed Gull	38	58	48
Herring Gull      	79	306	77
Great Black-backed Gull	7	8	2
Osprey                	0	0	1