[CT Birds] Dodge Pond, Niantic and Milford Pt

[Sailcarm at aol.com]

4/10- on my way home from Milford Point I stopped at Dodge Pond in Niantic 
(East Lyme) to see if the two pied-billed grebes that had been there most of the 
winter were still around.  No sign of them.
But I did see the following:
       9 black-crowned night herons roosting
       1 f. canvasback
       1 phoebe
       2 ospreys flying over
       1 double-crested cormorant 

On the cormorant I was able to get a very close look at the curly ear 
feathers/plumes which were jutting out.   It gave him a rather devilish, rakish look. 
 It was a beautiful bird!

What a wonderful afternoon to be at the Milford Pt. Audubon Center with all 
the green-winged teal, American wigeon, gadwall, phoebes, many Am. tree 
sparrows, and still some redpolls.  

I also counted 4 osprey and 1 oystercatcher in the marshes and several    
oystercatchers on the ocean side, 1 northern harrier, and lots of goldfinch in 
many different hues.  There were also lots of very vocal greater yellowlegs. As 
I was driving home, I realized that I had not seen any herons or egrets -- I'm 
wondering if that was unusual or if I just missed them.

Carolyn Cimino
Waterford


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