Hi all,
I'm reposting this because I inadvertently left Stefan Martin off the team list. My apologies to Stefan; we wouldn't have done so well without him... Thanks again, Stefan.
Hi all,
The B. W. Surf Scopers had a fantastic Big Sit! at the outer platform at Milford Point Sunday, ending the day with 111 species. This is our third highest total since the inception of the event in 1993, and only the 7th time we've broken the 100 species mark. Our cumulative total is 200 species. There was an amazing pre-dawn movement of songbirds, especially thrushes, mostly Hermit, Swainson's and a few Gray-cheeked. We could hear them and see them passing over by the dozens using thermal imaging. There wasn't much of a morning flight, but there was a steady stream of birds throughout the day. It was a great day for ducks and shorebirds. Highlights included the Hudsonian Godwit that's been around, a Pectoral Sandpiper, a Red Knot, a Wilson's Snipe, 3 American Golden Plovers, a Least, 6 Semipalmated Sandpipers, and two Short-billed Dowitchers. An early Horned Grebe appeared just off the outer spit, and a Great Cormorant joined the Double-crested on the breakwaters. Scoters were flying by nearly all day. We saw all three Scoter species, both Scaup, 2 Pintails, and a few Buffleheads. We enjoyed watching an adult, White-crowned Sparrow, and several Field Sparrows feeding near the tower all day, and the spartina was full of Nelson's Sparrows, a Saltmarsh Sparrow, and one late Seaside Sparrow at High Tide! I want to thank the Team, Patrick Dugan, Frank Mantlik, Stefan Martin, Tom Murray, and Kate Wong. Emily Keating and Dave Woolery lent a hand, and thanks to Charlie Stebbins and Susan Doherty for their support.
This is a fundraiser for the Connecticut Audubon Coastal Center, and you can support the team and the Coastal Center at https://www.ctaudubon.org/2020/09/bigsit/
Frank GalloNew Canaan