Participating in the summer bird count is always fun. We get to see what species of birds use the varied habitat of CT as breeding grounds. And, there are many species that do so. There are often surprises, whether they be unexpected breeders, late spring migrants, or non-breeding summer visitors. And, we get to see the birds in breeding plumage and engaged in behaviors related to nesting and defense. This weekend was no exception as I participated in the New Haven SBC. The local birding consisted of birding in natural spaces in Woodbridge and Orange. I was joined by Marianne Vahey and Judy Moore. The highlights for us included a MOURNING WARBLER (fits into the late migrant category), a HOODED WARBLER (uncommon breeder), BROAD-WINGED HAWK (also uncommon in our area) and nesting YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER (formerly uncommon in our area but, as the CT Bird Atlas will demonstrate, has extended its breeding range into southern CT in the last decade or so). We witnessed an interesting behavior in the woods on Sunday morning: numerous birds, including Flickers, Jays, Grackles and Robins were clearly agitated by some form of predator on the ground. Initially thinking it might be a fox or bobcat, I approached cautiously. Much to my surprise, the object of their aggression and distress was a 2-3 foot long snake that, after reviewing the snakes of CT carefully, I am quite sure was a Northern Copperhead. I am glad I didn’t get too close. This afternoon, I kayaked on the Quinnipiac River in New Haven to add to the SBC efforts. I was rewarded with the sighting of a pair of NORTHERN HARRIER. The male and female were interacting in flight. They were flying over the marsh that is immediately west (and across the river) from the River Trail that begins near Target in North Haven. Thus, if these birds are breeding in the marsh, they will be visible from the trail. I hope that many CT birders will go birding for the Summer Bird Counts in the weekends to come. Your efforts will add to the database for the SBC and for the CT Bird Atlas and you will create some wonderful birding memories for yourself. Chris Loscalzo, Woodbridge Sent from Mail for Windows 10

I second everything Chris Loscalzo said, and if you want to participate in any of the remaining three SBC counts, click on this link for contact information, for the NewMilford/Pawling, Storrs and Barkhamsted counts. https://www.ctbirding.org/wp-content/uploads/COA-Bulletin-36-2-2021-Summer.pdf Tom Robben Glastonbury CT On Sun, Jun 13, 2021 at 6:46 PM Chris Loscalzo <closcalz@optonline.net> wrote: > Participating in the summer bird count is always fun. We get to see what > species of birds use the varied habitat of CT as breeding grounds. And, > there are many species that do so. There are often surprises, whether they > be unexpected breeders, late spring migrants, or non-breeding summer > visitors. And, we get to see the birds in breeding plumage and engaged in > behaviors related to nesting and defense. ETC. ETC.