[CT Birds] New Haven Bird Club May Field Trips

[Larry Bausher]

Folks, please note the following schedule of May field trips of the  
New Haven Bird Club:

East Rock Park with Ranger Dan Barvir.  Saturday, May 3, 2008, 8:00 AM
Join Ranger Dan at this premier site for viewing warblers and a great  
variety of other spring migrants. Meet at the Rice Field (baseball  
field) end of East Rock. Directions: From Whitney Ave. take East Rock  
Rd. to Farnham. Turn right and follow Farnham a short distance past  
Orange St. intersection. The large baseball field is on the right.  
Leader-Ranger Dan Barvir: 203.946.6086

Bird Walk for Kids at East Rock Park
Saturday, May 3, 2008, 9:00 AM  (Rain date: Sunday, May 4, 2008)
On this walk by the park's Mill River, children, accompanied by  
adults, will search for warblers and other spring migrants. Other  
interested adults are also welcome to join the walk in this famous  
spring birding site. Meet at the Eli Whitney Museum parking lot.  
Bring binoculars and a field guide if you have them.  Leader-Florence  
McBride: 203.288.6777, j.mcbride at yale.edu

Chatfield Hollow/Cockaponsett State Forest, Killingworth
Saturday, May 3, 2008, 8:30 AM
This 356-acre wooded stream valley is a popular stop throughout the  
year for birds and birders. At least 20 species of warblers have been  
recorded in the spring, along with a healthy variety of other avian  
migrants and nesters. Easy walking. Depending on the group-and the  
birds-the trip may meander over to the adjacent Cockaponsett State  
Forest. Directions: The entrance to the park is on Rt. 80 in  
Killingworth, between the Rt. 79 and Rt. 81 traffic circles. Meet in  
the parking lot at the entrance.   Leader-John Himmelman:  
860.663.3225, jhimmel at comcast.net

Bent of the River Wildlife Sanctuary, Southbury.  Sunday, May 4,  
2008, 7:30 AM
Explore a prime birding location along the Pomperaug River where more  
than 100 species of birds have been observed in a single day. This  
beautiful and highly diverse, 650-acre habitat is owned and  
maintained by the National Audubon Society. Directions: Exit 14 off  
I-84. Go north on Rt. 172, to the village of South Britain. Turn left  
onto East Flat Hill Rd. next to the church. Continue to Sanctuary  
entrance on the left.).  Leader-Roy Harvey: 203.888.5757,  
rmharvey at snet.net

Big Day Marathon.  Saturday, May 10, 2008, 6:00 AM
Join Steve Mayo for all or part of this event. We'll focus on New  
Haven area hotspots, seeking 110-130 species. We start at East Rock  
and search several other local migrant traps as well as the coast  
from Lordship/Stratford to Hammonasset. Meet at the Eli Whitney  
Museum parking lot at 6:00 AM, or if you prefer a later start, at  
7:30 AM. Participants gather there at both those times.  Leader-Steve  
Mayo: 203.393.0694, smayo at sikorsky.com

Racebrook Tract in Orange and Woodbridge.  Sunday, May 11, 2008, 7:00 AM
Racebrook is known as a good local birding spot for warblers and  
other spring migrants. Formerly Regional Water Authority land, it is  
now owned by the two towns as open space. Several hundred acres in  
size, the tract is comprised of deciduous and evergreen woodlands,  
fields, and thickets-a good mix of habitats. Today is Mother's Day.  
Bring Mom along for a special Mother's Day walk filled with  
serenading birds. Meet at the property's parking lot on Rt. 114,  
Racebrook Road in Orange, just north of Rt. 34.  Leader-Chris  
Loscalzo: 203.389.6508, closcalz at optonline.net

Barn Island Wildlife Management Area, Stonington.  Saturday, May 17,  
2008, 7:00 AM
This will be our fifth annual trip to this excellent birding spot in  
southeastern CT. We meet at the commuter lot at Exit 55 of I-95 and  
then carpool to the refuge. The management area consists of large  
expanses of salt marsh, tidal pools, wetlands, woodlands, and open  
fields. We should see wading birds, shorebirds, and area residents  
such as Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed and Seaside Sparrow, Marsh Wren, White- 
eyed Vireo, Willow Flycatcher, American Redstart and many other  
species. We will be coordinating our efforts with the Hartford  
Audubon Society which will be running its Barn Island trip on the  
same day.  Leader-Chris Loscalzo: 203.389.6508, closcalz at optonline.net

White Memorial Foundation, Litchfield.  Bird Walk and Paddle on the  
Bantam River
Sunday, May 18, 2008, 7:00 AM
This will be the second half of our "opposite corners" weekend.  
Yesterday took us to Barn Island in the southeast corner of the  
state. Today we head for the northwest part of the state. We will  
meet at 7:00 AM at the commuter lot in Orange on Greenway Rd. off Rt.  
34, near the entrance to the Wilbur Cross Pkwy.-Rt. 15. (From the  
Wilbur Cross, take Exit 58.) We will then carpool to White Memorial.  
Or meet at the White Memorial parking lot at 8:00 AM. We will walk  
many of the trails and boardwalks at this fabulous nature preserve,  
looking for spring migrants as well as unusual resident species that  
include Brown Creeper, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Bobolink, Purple  
Finch, and Blackburnian Warbler. Bring a picnic lunch. After we break  
for lunch anyone who has a canoe or kayak can join in for an early- 
afternoon paddle on the Bantam River.  Leader-Chris Loscalzo:  
203.389.6508, closcalz at optonline.net

Thanks,

Larry Bausher
Publicity Director, NHBC