[CT Birds] Stratford big day results, highlights

[Frank Mantlik]

As in the past few years, I conducted a one-town Big
Day (Stratford) today 5/10. This was a solo event.  I
tallied 116 species; not a record (which I recall is
124), but respectable.  Highlights were common loon,
gadwall , green-winged teal, dark-winged scoters (2),
red-breasted merganser , northern harrier (2), clapper
& Virginia rails, 18 species of shorebirds, 25
Bonaparte's gulls (including a flock of 23 flying down
the mouth of the Housatonic river), least flycatcher,
only 11 species of warblers, 2 salt-marsh sharp-tailed
sparrows, 3 seaside sparrows, 2 white-crowned
sparrows, bobolink, 8 boat-tailed grackles.

Misses included common tern, any owl, several hawks,
expected warblers, and towhee. 
While afield, I couldn't help think about CT friends
participating today in the World Series of Birding in
NJ.

walk slow...
Frank Mantlik
Stratford