Note: Sorry for the absence of this report for the last week or so. Nothing unpleasant was happening here, I was just a lot busier than usual. I am not even going to try to fill in the missing days, just take up from today. I hope everyone remembers that they can get everything in the Daily report and much, much more by reading the CTBirds list. Everything in the Daily report appears on CTBirds first. It is archived in multiple places: http://lists.ctbirding.org/pipermail/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org/ http://birding.aba.org/maillist/CT01 http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/CTBirds http://digest.sialia.com/?rm=one_list;id=102 Note: Unfortunately today lots of birders failed to find the Painted Bunting that had been at Cove Island in Stratford for a few days. From Frank Mantlik, Tina Green, and Jory Teltser: 12/29/14 - Stonington, Stonington Point -- we searched for yesterday's Pacific Loon from 2:00-3:20, with no luck. But we saw a distant grebe, first spotted by Tina, that appeared to be an EARED GREBE. It was about Horned Grebe sized, but had a distinctly pointed/ peaked head, a thinner neck, and darker throat than that of two nearby Horned Grebes. It was out near the right end of the distant breakwater that is straight out, and a scope was necessary. Also seen were 19 Common Eiders and usual other ducks and 1 Harbor Seal. From Patrick Comins: 12/29/14 - Stratford -- The Orange-crowned Warbler (and Ruby-crowned Kinglet) continue on the road between the Birdseye Boat Ramp and the animal shelter. No I didn't get a shot though. Warbler was chipping and briefly visible in the arbor vitae hedge inside the fence for the sewerage treatment plant. Meriden, Hannover Pond -- Redheads continue on the pond. From Russ Smiley: 12/29/14 - Wethersfield. Wethersfield Cove -- 4:10 PM: first cycle Iceland Gull at water's edge at parking lot beside cove. From Arthur Shippee: 12/29/14 - Hamden, North Lake Drive -- Common Raven. From John Ogren with Cathy and Chris Malin: 12/29/14 - Old Saybrook, Cornfield Point -- female COMMON EIDER. Otter Cove area -- Marsh Wren. Plum Bank Marsh -- Adult SNOW GOOSE in marsh. This is highly unusual as it was by itself and in 20 years I have not seen one there. From Don Morgan: 12/29/14 - Madison, Hammonasset Beach State Park -- 1 LITTLE BLUE HERON, Juvenile, white plumage. On a platform in the reclaimed marsh. Apparently has been in that spot most of the time for the last week. 1 AMERICAN BITTERN, in the marsh by the rock pond, east end. 4 COMMON RAVENS flying east across marsh and the river at the end of the Moraine Trail, heard and seen well.