From Bruce Gerber via Chris Elphick: 01/26/13 - Coventry -- I spotted a very white Snowy Owl around noon eating up in a tree overlooking the hay field on Brigham Tavern Rd.  It took off south from there following the Willimantic River as I lost sight of it.  It made my day! (Chris Elphick adds: "I spent a couple of hours looking this afternoon to no avail.  It sounds as though the bird has been around for a week though, so maybe worth a look if you're in the area. The field Bruce refers to is quite small, but there is a moderately large set of fields directly across the river at Spring Manor Farm, which is UConn property.") From John Marshall: 01/26/13 - South Windsor, Vibert Road -- NORTHERN SHRIKE, last tree with a tangle on the right, flew left to the tops of the trees and the back right across the field to the next tree line toward Station 43. Last seen just before 7:00 am. From Mona Cavallero: 01/26/13 - Ellington yard -- 2:30 to 3:30 PM; Many thanks to Deb McTigue for her hospitality And guidance in helping me and my friend Maria Talcott get good Looks at the Bullocks Oriole first in the tangle of vines behind the property and then at the mealworm feeders. From Robert Dixon: 01/26/13 - Voluntown, Rt 49 / Gallup Rd -- GOLDEN EAGLE, first seen soaring turkey vulture-like over tree line occasionally cupping wings, eventually gaining altitude giving good binocular and scope views, Overall chocolate brown with buff and silvery tones in wings maybe a trace of white, small buff head, very large bird. Plainfield, Quinebaug fish Hatchery -- with Bill Asteriades and Rick Macsuga, WINTER WREN. Sterling yard -- with Bill Asteriades, Rick Macsuga and John Marshall; PINE SISKIN (30), FOX SPARROW (4). Stonington, Stonington Pt -- WHITE-WINGED SCOTER (2). From Timothy L Thompson: 01/26/13 - Madison, Hammonasset Beach State Park -- Red-breasted Nuthatches, Snow buntings, Short-eared Owl, Northern Gannett. From Patrick Commins: 01/26/13 - Madison, Hammonasset State Park -- One White-winged Crossbill in the west beach pines, but it only stopped briefly as far as I could tell. A dozen or so Red-breasted Nuthatches. From Patrice Favreau: 01/26/13 - Rocky Hill, Rocky Hill Meadows -- 2 Rough-legged Hawks seen simultaneously on opposite sides of road (area near 1st left bend in road as noted by others). One had paler head & pale eyes of a juvenile(good scope look); other bird appeared adult & I think based on tail probably female, though I understand there is variability & I probably could use another look (got cold). From Paul Cianfaglione: 01/26/13 - Farmington, Riverside Cemetery (behind Miss Porter's School) -- 1 dark morph SNOW GOOSE, 1 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, 2 PINE SISKIN. From Bill Asteriades, Rick Macsuga and John Marshall (John for the crossbills only): 01/26/13 - Madison, Hammonasset State Park -- 10 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, 1 RED CROSSBILL seen in the West Beach pines at 2:00PM. They flew to the campground near the pitch pines by the marsh but we coud not relocate them. Plenty of cones on these pines so it may be worth a check. Lyme, Ely's Ferrys Road -- 4 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS. Waterford, Harkness Memorial Park -- 5 PURPLE SANDPIPERS. From Annie and Mike Perko: 01/26/13 - Old Saybrook, yard -- Rusty Blackbirds continue at feeders for the 9th day along with Pine Siskins since the end of Nov. From Bev Propen: 01/26/13 - Orange backyard -- 1 Fox sparrow has been here all week, feeding on the ground. From Paul Wolter: 01/26/13 - Stratford, Sikorsky airport -- Lapland Longspur and Snow Bunting (with 43 Horned Larks) in the circle. Flock flew off over the airport buildings, presume they will return. Stratford, Raven Pond, Brookside Drive -- drake Northern Pintail (and Mandarin Duck). From Tammy Eustis: 01/26/13 - Chester -- A YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER visited our suet feeder this morning. From Dan Rottino: 01/26/13 - South Windsor, Vibert Road -- 8 Rusty Blackbird. From Mike Warner: 01/25/13 - Westport, Longshore Golf Park -- 3 PM; Cackling Goose. At the end of the entry straightaway, on the right hand side are two small ponds. Yesterday a large flock of Canada Geese were there with a slightly smaller individual. This bird had a noticeably smaller bill and a breast much the same color of the Canadas just a half shade darker. I looked at photos of Cackling Goose on natureinstruct / dendroica, and there is a very good representation of this bird on the left side of photo #2.