[CT Birds] Sunday NHBC walk at Bent of the River in Southbury

[Roy Harvey]

Nine of us ignored the dire weather predictions (three hours of
thunderstorms!) and spent a pleasant, dry and increasingly warm
morning birding at Bent of the River Audubon Sanctuary in Southbury. 
We totaled 62 species, with the surprise of the day being an Indigo
Bunting up on the Tulip Tree trail - which is to say, in the woods
rather than at the edge of one of the fields.  We also had one make
Orchard Oriole and one White-crowned Sparrow.  Chestnut-sided was the
best Warbler of the day, though the looks at Louisiana Waterthrushes
were more satisfying.  Our big miss was Prairie Warbler, a perpetual
favorite on this trip.  I had one yesterday in the cedar fields but
we could not find one today (though someone else did!)  We totaled 8
warbler species for our group, but combining ours with the other
reports the total was 10 for the day at Bent.

Other interesting sights included a drumming Pileated Woodpecker,
both Common Merganser (female) and Wood Duck (male) perched high in a
tree, 

Our odd bird of the day was a Yellow-bellied Hairy Woodpecker seen in
the Cedar Fields.  Well, it was a Hairy Woodpecker, but the entire
front had a very strong yellow-orange cast to it.  Very strange to
see.

Thanks to everyone who came!

Roy Harvey
Beacon Falls, CT