[CT Daily] 10/22/2007 COMMON GROUND-DOVE

[Roy Harvey]

A COMMON-GROUND DOVE was found and photographed this morning in East
Haven by Jim Zipp and AJ Hand (Thanks, guys!).  It continued to be
seen through the rest of the day - at least as late as 5:30 or so.
Photographs can be seen at:
http://www.fatrobin.com/Common%20Ground%20Dove.html

This is a first state record (once accepted) for Connecticut, one that
might not be seen here again in a birding lifetime.  Other states in
the northeast that have records are Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania
and Massachusetts.

The location is on Proto Drive / Ora Avenue in East Haven, CT.  (Some
of you may remember goint to the area for the Western Kingbird last
year at the same time as the Calliope Hummingbird was in nearby
Lighthouse Point Park.)  Hopefully this map will get you started:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=104793863447053647228.00043d183b7554241a1f4&ll=41.259678,-72.8774&spn=0.010549,0.014613&t=h&z=16&om=1
Turn off Coe Ave at the corner marked Proto Drive; a cheese company is
on the corner.  Note that many maps and on-line mapping programs show
it mis-spelled as Porto Drive, so searching for it on Google or other
sites can be problematic.

The bird is beeing seen to the right as you drive in, in a spot where
the edge has been pushed back from the road a bit.  This is adjacent
to where a new warehouse is being constructed to the left.  It is
before the turn toward the landfill hill.  Dori Sosensky has been
putting seed in this spot for weeks, as is her annual custom.  Many
birds, including Mourning Doves and many White-crowned Sparrows, are
eating the seed.  Contributions of seed would be appreciated, as the
birds here (and at Lighthouse Pt Park) are going through it at a
stagering rate.

Parking IS an issue.  This may be an unpaved road but it has
considerable truck traffic.  PLEASE park so that TWO LARGE TRUCKS can
pass each other!  That probably means that everyone should park on the
SAME SIDE of the road.  So far we seem to be on friendly terms with
the people who must use the road every day, and it is worth an effort
to keep it that way.

The bird is a bit spooky, and usually disappears when a truck goes
past or a particularly loud aircraft takes off from Twead-New Haven
Airport.  Today at least it always returned after a while.  Keeping at
a reasonable distance - at least across the road - is probably
mandatory.  While a spotting scope is a big help for really good
looks, don't stay away just because you don't have one.

Dori believes she glimpsed the bird on Friday, which would mean it has
been around for a few days.  It seems reasonable to hope it will be
around tomorrow morning (at least one person is hoping to stretch it
until the Christmas Bird Count!), but remember too that the weather is
predicted to be changing again this week.


 From Jim Zipp with AJ Hand:
10/22 - East Haven, Proto Drive/Oro Ave, spot where Dori has been
feeding sparrows.  COMMON GROUND DOVE!  Good photos, no bands.  Also
one ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER.

 From Eileen and Kevin Finnan -
10/22 - Goshen, West Hyerdale Ave / Sunset Beach -- PECTORAL
SANDPIPER;  
Goshen Residence -- 2 PINE SISKINS, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, BROWN
CREEPER, 25  PURPLE FINCHES

 From Andy Thiede
10/22 - Berlin, my yard -- Red-Breasted Nuthatch, Purple Finch, and (a
first for me) Pine Siskins at my feeder.

 From Patrick Comins:
10/22 - Southbury, Southbury Training School (agricultural fields off
Cassidy Road) -- VESPER SPARROW, 50+ AMERICAN PIPITS.

 From Scott Baron:
10/23 - Ansonia, Main St -- 2 BLACK VULTURES
Beacon Falls, west side of Rte. 8, Naugatuck SF -- 4 BLACK VULTURES

 From Melissa Baston:
10/21 - Cheshire yard -- 1pm, 1 BLACK VULTURE soaring with 2 turkey
vultures. BLVU headed towards Castle Craig/Hubbard Park in Meriden. 

 From Ernie Harris:
10/21 - Madison, Hammonasset Beach State Park -- 10AM, American
Bittern west of the blind marsh; Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow.

 From Dan Barvir:
10/20 - New Haven, Lighthouse Pt. Park, Hawkwatch -- 10 am. Got good
looks at a Western Kingbird fighting against  the wind as it fly west
low overhead.