[CT Birds] Pectoral sand, etc., and predictions

[Frank Mantlik]

Saturday afternoon (4/12) I got out to do a little
birding in Stratford.
Along the RR trail (refuge) off Long Beach Blvd. there
were 1 PECTORAL SANDPIPER, 23 greater yellowlegs, 1
Wilson's snipe, 1 northern harrier, and a calling
Virginia rail. Around the "warehouse pool" were many
g-w teal, an osprey, 2 E. phoebes, 1 barn and 3 tree
swallows, 1 hermit thrush, 2 BOAT-TAILED GRACKLES, and
a y-b sapsucker (in the cottonwoods). I had 60 species
for the day.

Given the recent weather pattern and the time of
season, now is the time to be on the lookout  (in
suitable habitat) for a number of spring "overshoot"
migrants from the south, which are rare in CT.  These
include white-faced ibis, little egret (check every
snowy), Miss. and swallow-tailed kite (hawkwatches at
Greenwich and elsewhere), Wilson's plover, Ruff,
prothonotary and yellow-throated warblers, Swainson's
warbler, and blue grosbeak.
Keep your eyes to the skies.

Frank Mantlik
Stratford