[CT Daily] 02/17/2009 REDHEADS

[Roy Harvey]

 From Paul Cianfaglione:
02/17/09 - South Windsor, Strong Road -- 700,000 RED-WINGED
BLACKBIRDS, COMMON GRACKLES and BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS. This, in my
opinion, is a low ball estimate.  Many of the birds had already flown
over the river when I arrived.  I actually walked out into the corn
fields (plenty of ears of corn left in the fields) and was surrounded
by blackbirds that blanketed the ground.  It was an incredible (and
unique) feeling to be in such a position.  As you might imagine,
photography was excellent!  All this blackbird activity caught the
attention of many hawks.  Sharpies, Coops, Redtails and a Northern
Harrier all made multiple attempts at the massive flocks.  I walked
right up to an adult sharpie (who had just hopped under a vegetable
cart and caught a female cowbird) and got great photos of it on the
ground.

 From Frank Mantlik:
02/17/09 - Bridgeport, Captain's Cove (int. Yacht St. & St. Stephens
Rd) -- Pair REDHEADS.  Male amongst flock of 200 LESSER SCAUP behind
dockside shops; female by itself around the boat docks. (male also
seen today by Penny Solum).
02/17/09 - Stratford, Long Beach -- 1st-winter GLAUCOUS GULL
continues.  This continues to be an incredibly reliable rarity.  I've
probably made 25 trips here since late December, and I've seen it
every time!
02/17/09 - Milford, Oronoque Rd., town transfer station -- 1st-winter
ICELAND GULL landed on roof of building, with about 500 Herring gulls.

 From Jim Harris:
02/17/09 - Columbia -- one Common Redpoll at feeder.

 From David Babington:
02/17/09 - Washington, Nichols Hill Rd, between Painter Ridge Rd and
South St -- COMMON RAVEN.

 From Donna Lorello:
02/17/09 - Branford yard -- White-winged Dove #1 present again with
small group of Mourning Doves.

 From Dana Laird:
02/16/09 - Stratford, Long Beach, west area on Lewis Gut -- Snowy Owl
flying at 11:45 am.

 From Dave Rosgen:
02/16/09 - Barkhamsted, Rt. 318 & 219 (Barkhamsted Reservoir, as
viewed from the Saville Dam parking lot) -- 4 immature Bald Eagles &
32 Common Ravens battling over a deer carcass on the ice.

 From Dave Rosgen, w/ Carol Parent:
02/16/09 - Winchester, 121 Laurel Way (Rosgen Wildlife Sanctuary) -- 2
Common Ravens, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 2 Common Redpolls, 3 Purple
Finches.