[CT Birds] Ruff & male Orchard Oriole

[peeplo at aol.com]

Frank Gallo
4/30/08
Grace Salmon Park, Fairfield:? High tide, late afternoon.?1 adult Male Orchard Oriole (first of year), and a Yellow Warbler?singing near the parking area.? The Ruff was sitting on the long bar with the benches to the north.? I haven't been following the thread, so I'm not sure what the concenus is, but the bird appears to me to be a young male.? It is larger than a Greater Yellowlegs, not lesser yellowleg-sized. It appears to be?molting a plane face outlined in a black hood, much like a hooded warbler, and shows a?small rusty ruff.? The?scapular, back and wing?feather centers and covert barring look better for Ruff than Reeve.? I've not had stellar looks, but that's my take..? What do others think?

Frank Gallo