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Connecticut Birds

Updated on Friday, October 19 at 04:49 PM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.

>From Bev Propen   10/17
CACC posting.
 
I would like to post a correction to my listing of 6  semi-palmated 
sandpipers at CACC on the marsh on 10/17. After reviewing Sibley's , Peterson's 
and a 

few other bird books, and consulting with Frank  Gallo,
they were 6 Dunlins, which are in great  numbers there now.  Sorry about the 
wrong  posting.



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Oh, Great Fount of CBC Information -

You are correct in all those things, except I should add that I was with
George that day as we paddled the breakwaters in 20-something degree
weather.   The next year I inherited Ridgely's Branford area as he had moved
to PA during the year, found no Guillemot, but I'm pretty sire that's when I
found my first CT Glaucous Gull on the rocks off Indian Point.     The same
rocks on which we would ground the Coast Guard boat during the NH CBC.   ;-)

It's fun to remember the old days, and then apply what we learned to today.

Clay Taylor
Moodus, CT
ctaylor AT att.net

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Linda & Steve Broker" 
To: "Clay Taylor" 
Cc: "CT BIRDS" 
Sent: Friday, October 19, 2007 1:44 PM
Subject: Re: [CT Birds] Bohemian Waxwings and crossbills


> Clay,
>
> You are recalling the famed 1980-81 New Haven CBC on which the New
> Haven Bird Club and friends tabulated the still-standing New England
> record of 138 species.  In addition to the 6 Bohemian Waxwings
> observed by Noble Proctor's group, the count circle list included
> both crossbill species, 3 Pine Grosbeaks, Rose-breasted Grosbeak
> (Mary Lane, fide Fred Sheldon), Black-headed Grosbeak (NSP et al.), 1
> Black Guillemot (Robert Ridgely), 2 Blue-winged Teal, also Red-necked
> Grebe, American Bittern, and a bunch of additional good birds.
> Regarding the Black-headed Grosbeak found near the site of the old
> Branford toll booths, this is where Tony Bledsoe shouted across
> Interstate 95 to Frank Gallo, from Area K to Area H, "What have you
> got!  What have you got!" or some such.  Frank can elaborate on
> this.  It's also the count when George Zepko canoed out to the New
> Haven Breakwaters (with which you are very familiar) and tallied a
> North American high count of 502 Purple Sandpipers.  I regret to say
> that I missed this count because I was two years away from getting
> into birding.  If any of the above is incorrect, someone had better
> reeducate me soon or the story will remain solidified in my brain.
>
> Steve Broker
> Cheshire
>
>
>
>
> On Oct 19, 2007, at 12:29 PM, Clay Taylor wrote:
>
> > All -
> >
> > Years ago (1970s?), Noble Proctor and his birding group saw a Bohemian
> > Waxwing flying by Lake Saltonstall during the New Haven Christmas Bird
> > Count.   This could very well be a situation like Julian has proposed.
> > Keep your eyes open!
> >
> > Clay Taylor
> > Moodus, CT
> > ctaylor AT att.net
>


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Regarding Mark's goldfinch note, it appears at the moment that the Am 
Goldfinch flight is rather light when compared to the Purple Finch flight. 
This past Monday at Lighthouse Point hawk watch we logged 600+ Purple 
Finches and just a small number of goldfinches. We get major goldfinch 
flights (1,000+/day) there, so it appears at the moment goldfinches aren't 
making a big push. However, we sometimes get the biggest movements there in 
early Nov. Of course goldfinches are so common that there still are plenty 
around. When I birded Crookhorn Road a couple days ago a big flock was 
feeding in the weeds.

Regarding Julian's idea of hitting places such as Lightouse after hawk 
season, that's a good idea. I don't have notes in front of me, but I went 
down once or twice on big Dec cold fronts in the past and had significant 
Common Redpoll and Pine Siskin movements.

Greg Hanisek
Waterbury




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark Szantyr" 
To: 
Sent: Friday, October 19, 2007 2:28 PM
Subject: [CT Birds] Something new at my feeders


>I became aware today, as I watched my feeders, that this fall is the first
> time since I have been feeding birds that Purple Finches have outnumbered
> House Finches in my yard ( or any yard I have lived in).  Another
> realization I made was that since this flock af about 30 Purple Finches
> arrived, the usual flock of about 40 American Goldfinches has been absent.
> Anyone else experience an exodus of goldfinches in the past month?
>
> Mark
> Mark S.Szantyr
> 80 Bicknell Road
> Apt. 9
> Ashford, CT 06278
> USA
>
> Birddog55 AT Charter.net
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) 
> for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut.
> For subscription information visit 
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>
> 




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>From Dave Rosgen:

10/18 - Litchfield, White Hall Rd. (White Memorial's Museum Area) - 4
Red-breasted Nuthatches, 1 Brown Creeper, 5 White-crowned Sparrows, 41
Purple Finches; Also, 2 Blue-headed Vireos, 3 Carolina Wrens, 18 Eastern
Bluebirds, 5 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 30 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 1 Pine
Warbler, 90 White-throated Sparrows

(White Memorial's Pike Marsh) - 1 Osprey

Constitution Way (White Memorial's Cemetery Pond) - 6 American Black Ducks

 

Goshen, Rt. 4 & E. Street South (Kelley's Pond) - 2 Blue-winged Teal, 70
Green-winged Teal

 

>From John Eykelhoff:

10/18 - Litchfield, N. Shore Rd. (Bantam Lake's Outlet & Pt. Folly) - 5
Pied-billed Grebes, 1 Great Blue Heron, 2 American Black Ducks, 3 American
Coots

 

>From Jeff Greenwood, w/ 12 kids:

10/18 - Litchfield, S. Lake St. (White Memorial's Little Pond) - 2 Great
Blue Herons

 

Dave Rosgen

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Just had a call from Charlie Barnard passing along a call from Frank
Mantlik.  Frank had a possible Pacific Loon at Compo Beach in
Westport.  Frank was working and did not have his scope, only
binoculars.  The bird was directly off the beach, and if I got the
message correctly between the pavilion and something about a canon or
a canon memorial.

Roy Harvey
Beacon Falls, CT

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Bohemians are already being seen in northern Wisconsin, which in my  
experience (I grew up there) is pretty early for them to show up, so it could 
be an 

interesting year for them everywhere. 

                    Best, Tom de Boor                              Branford, 
Ct   


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I became aware today, as I watched my feeders, that this fall is the first 
time since I have been feeding birds that Purple Finches have outnumbered 
House Finches in my yard ( or any yard I have lived in).  Another 
realization I made was that since this flock af about 30 Purple Finches 
arrived, the usual flock of about 40 American Goldfinches has been absent. 
Anyone else experience an exodus of goldfinches in the past month?

Mark
Mark S.Szantyr
80 Bicknell Road
Apt. 9
Ashford, CT 06278
USA

Birddog55 AT Charter.net
 



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Patrick Dugan called to report an immature Blue Grosbeak this morning from 6:45 
a.m.-8:45 a.m. at Cove Island Wildlife Sanctuary in Stamford. 

   
  Brian O'Toole
  Greenwich

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Clay,

You are recalling the famed 1980-81 New Haven CBC on which the New  
Haven Bird Club and friends tabulated the still-standing New England  
record of 138 species.  In addition to the 6 Bohemian Waxwings  
observed by Noble Proctor's group, the count circle list included  
both crossbill species, 3 Pine Grosbeaks, Rose-breasted Grosbeak  
(Mary Lane, fide Fred Sheldon), Black-headed Grosbeak (NSP et al.), 1  
Black Guillemot (Robert Ridgely), 2 Blue-winged Teal, also Red-necked  
Grebe, American Bittern, and a bunch of additional good birds.   
Regarding the Black-headed Grosbeak found near the site of the old  
Branford toll booths, this is where Tony Bledsoe shouted across  
Interstate 95 to Frank Gallo, from Area K to Area H, "What have you  
got!  What have you got!" or some such.  Frank can elaborate on  
this.  It's also the count when George Zepko canoed out to the New  
Haven Breakwaters (with which you are very familiar) and tallied a  
North American high count of 502 Purple Sandpipers.  I regret to say  
that I missed this count because I was two years away from getting  
into birding.  If any of the above is incorrect, someone had better  
reeducate me soon or the story will remain solidified in my brain.

Steve Broker
Cheshire




On Oct 19, 2007, at 12:29 PM, Clay Taylor wrote:

> All -
>
> Years ago (1970s?), Noble Proctor and his birding group saw a Bohemian
> Waxwing flying by Lake Saltonstall during the New Haven Christmas Bird
> Count.   This could very well be a situation like Julian has proposed.
> Keep your eyes open!
>
> Clay Taylor
> Moodus, CT
> ctaylor AT att.net


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Hi all - 

I meant to write something like this during June, never got to it, but was 
spurred into it yesterday. 


Jonathan is still here. No, not my son Jonathan (who is now a demanding 17 
year-old), but the young Raven I named Jonathan back in June. 


Here's the story - after seeing common Ravens at nearby Echo Farm State Park in 
Moodus (now called Machimoodus S.P.) for the past four or five winters, I was 
elated to finally see and hear Ravens from my yard on March 5, 2006 (Yard Bird 
# 143). They were often flying together, and then they disappeared sometime in 
April (I was traveling a lot in that time period) In June they "returned", 
flying with at least two immature birds. I saw them on and off for the next few 
weeks, and couldn't resist breaking out in a big grin every time I heard that 
unmistakable Raven croak. 


The spring of 2007 was more of the same - Ravens flying overhead, seen sitting 
on the ground in the little cemetery just up the hill from the house, etc. They 
disappear, but when late May comes, here are the Ravens again. This year one of 
the immatures is REALLY vocal - a loud YOW!, higher-pitched than the typical 
Raven call, but unmistakably Raven-ish in its tone and volume. What started as 
flybys became much more intimate - the bird would sit in the woods behind the 
house and call for minutes on end. That was OK during midday, but the morning 
it started in at 5:15 am, my wife grumbled "can't that thing SHUT UP?" and 
pulled the pillow over her head. 


The bird was obviously begging for food from an adult, so the YOW! became NOW! 
in my mind, and since my Jonathan was in the habit of demanding things (food, 
money, etc.) from his parents, I decided to call the young raven Jonathan, or 
Jonathan Junior, and occasionally Jonathan David Raven (with apologies to 
Richard Bach). I never tried to "stalk" him, but often enough I saw him moving 
around in the trees, and usually one of the parent birds was present. That's 
why he was so vocal and persistent - the adult was perched in the forest 
understory, foraging for prey, and Jonathan was nagging from above "Feed me 
NOW!" It's a wonder that Mom caught anything with all that racket going on. 


One day he was calling so frequently, I stopped the lawnmower, started my 
stopwatch and counted the number of times he yelled. In 5 minutes he called 81 
times (sometimes evenly-spaced, then a few staccato ones, and then some pauses 
of 10 - 15 seconds) - that's one call every 4 seconds. No wonder he drove my 
wife nuts. Me, I just did my yardwork with a big you-know-what-eating grin on 
my face. I had RAVENS in my yard - HOW COOL IS THAT!!!! 


Wednesday afternoon, Debbie and I took a walk through Machimoodus - it was a 
beautiful afternoon. The birding was good, but nothing noteworthy except there 
were no Ravens visible or audible, and I commented that we hadn't seen or heard 
Jonathan Junior in quite a while. We got back to the house, and not 15 minutes 
later the local Crows started squawking in my woods, and here comes a Raven 
flying from my yard to the neighbor's yard with 6 noisy crows in hot pursuit. 
Hah - he's still here! Yesterday morning, he was calling as I left for work - 
still the high-pitched immature Raven call, but not quite as frequent and 
insistent. I wonder when his voice cracks? 


I just might start collecting roadkills and leaving them out on the lawn for a 
Raven Feeder. Oohh, what a cool Halloween decoration! 


Clay Taylor
Moodus, CT
ctaylor AT att.net 
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All -

Years ago (1970s?), Noble Proctor and his birding group saw a Bohemian
Waxwing flying by Lake Saltonstall during the New Haven Christmas Bird
Count.   This could very well be a situation like Julian has proposed.
Keep your eyes open!

Clay Taylor
Moodus, CT
ctaylor AT att.net



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "julian hough" 
To: 
Sent: Friday, October 19, 2007 9:27 AM
Subject: [CT Birds] Bohemian Waxwings and crossbills


> Since the winter finch forecast looks better than previous years, as
others have suggested, we should be on the lookout for them. Bohemian
Waxwings already in New England this early could herald an irruption.
>
>   I have always thought Lighthouse Point would be one of the better places
to connect with Bohemian Waxwings and winter finches, since the diurnal
movement there is marked.
>   The only problem is that few people bird there after the hawkwatch has
ended.
>   I think birding there in winter after a cold-front could easliy produce
migrant Bohemian Waxwings, especially given the number of Cedar Waxwings
that go through..and crossbills.
>
>   Julian Hough,
>
>
> ctbirds-request AT lists.ctbirding.org wrote:
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Hi Ross -

Just so you know up front, I am Swarovski's field guy, and of course I have
a certain bias.   However, I have also worked at retail selling binoculars
and scopes since the 1970s, and have always tried to sell the customer what
fits THEIR needs best.

1) is the Leica a standard Televid, or the Apo Televid?    That is a crucial
point.   The scopes designated Apo / HD / FL / ED are all clearly superior
to their "standard" bretheren, especially given the needs of birdwatchers -
excellent resolution, contrast AND color fidelity.   Most of the good
birding shops don't even bother to stock the "non" scopes anymore.

2) I checked out your website photos - excellent.   Are you considering
using the scope for ultra-telephoto photography?    Using either a D-SLR or
good-quality P&S digital camera, a top-shelf (HD, ED, Apo, etc.) spotting
scope can operate like a telephoto lens of 2000+ mm focal length, and
produce some stunning images.   Plus, the setup is waterproof, rugged, and a
lot lighter than hauling around a 600mm f/4.    I'd be happy to send you a
few sample images.     The Leicas have the fewest options for camera
adapters, with the Kowas and Swarovskis having the most.

3) Years ago Pete Dunne wrote  something to the effect of  "spend as much as
you possibly can on your optics, you will not be sorry".    While it is
surely a temptation to get a "deal", if you take the difference between the
"deal" and buying a top-shelf scope, and spread that cost out over your next
few photography trips, can you afford NOT to?

4) I was just at a birding festival in GA, and Leica has not yet even shown
a pre-production model of their new scope to the industry.    In point of
fact, it was supposed to have been introduced in February 2007 and shipped
to dealers by July 2007.    They stopped production on the "old" scopes from
their supplier, and then realized that the "new" scopes were not going to be
ready.    There are no prices announced for the "new" scopes, and the April
date for shipping the Apo is certainly not etched in stone.   Caveat emptor.

5) That said, are you planning on taking another trip between now and April
2008?    If you buy the "old" Televid to have for the trip and intend to
sell it and buy the new one when it is out, what guarantee do you have of
even getting your money back out of it when you go to sell it in the spring?
Of course, if by then you find you are happy with it and don't have any
intention of selling it, the point becomes moot.

6) As for the Other Guys - as much as I think everybody should own a
Swarovski, I fully recognize that every customer is different, and reacts
differently to products.   I have always likened it to a buyer looking at a
Mercedes, BMW and a Lexus - they are all excellent cars, and sometimes it
comes down to which one has something intangible and seemingly minor (like a
cupholder that securely holds your favorite travel mug) that makes you
purchase it.   Try out all the scopes (Fat Robin, Audubon Shop, North Cove
Outfitters, Mass Audubon, etc.) and see if any one of them fits your needs
better.

7) Practical advise - can you use the scope in the field before buying it?
Take it to Lighthouse Point or wherever there are birders, and compare it to
the other scopes that are there.   If the Leica compares favorably, then the
price is right.  If some of the others are better, will it bug you in the
future knowing that the guy with the Swarovski or Kowa next to you might be
seeing the birds better than you are?

Good luck,

Clay Taylor
Moodus, CT
ctaylor AT att.net

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ross Geredien/Good Migrations" 
To: 
Sent: Friday, October 19, 2007 9:10 AM
Subject: [CT Birds] Birding Optics Question


> Hi, everyone,
>
>         I'm hoping to invest in a high-end scope very soon, and I'm
looking for some feedback.  I've been birding with a Nikon RC scope for 10
years now, purchased for $260 back in 1997.   I have the opportunity to get
a significant markdown on an angled Leica Televid 77.  What I'm wondering
is, since this is a discontinued line, am I better off waiting until the new
Televid 82 to come out, or going with some of the other top-end scopes, like
the new Kowa 880 series, Swarovski, etc?  Are the (now) old Leica Televids
going to be fairly obsolete and out-dated now that these three major brands
will have come out with higher performing models?  Will peformance be
significantly lower?  The scope I'm interested in is new, but the price
would be nearly half as much less than say a new Televid 82, Kowa 880, or
Swarovski scope.  I don't have big bucks to spend, and I've tried the Kowa
and the Swarovski's.  They say go with "feel", but I like them all.  In
fact, I really like the
>  Kowa, and apart from the weight and the cost, I'd go with that one, but
at 66% the cost, if performance is not significantly compromised, this seems
like a good value.
>
>   Any feedback is appreciated, and you can reply offline.  Thanks!
>
>   Ross
>
>
> Ross Geredien
> Good Migrations Photography
> www.goodmigrationsphoto.com
> 
>
>
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Hi--
 
I heard and saw three Red Crossbills 2-3 days ago near downtown  Branford.  
They were headed north over Main Street.  Moments later, I  heard a 
Ruby-crowned Kinglet in full song.  Weird.
 
Tom de Boor
Branford, CT



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I went to a few ponds today in East Windsor and Somers. In E. Windsor, at Broad 
Brook Pond was a pair of hooded mergansers, at a small pond on Broad Brook Road 
was 1 ring-nedcked duck. At the pond at the corner of Hutton and Ninth District 
Roads in Somers were 8 green-winged teal. 

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It was a busy week at Birdcraft (314 Unquowa Road, Fairfield, CT) with 123 
birds banded.  We had just one catbird but they have been replaced by a 
tremendous influx of white-throated sparrows.  The gray-cheeked thrush 
migration is being replaced by the hermit thrushes, the last of the thrushes 
to migrate here.  Species banded:  hermit thrush, myrtle warbler, winter 
wren, gray-cheeked thrush, white-throated sparrow, ruby-crowned kinglet, 
golden-crowned kinglet, song sparrow, swamp sparrow, blue-headed vireo, 
mourning warbler, black-throated blue warbler, black-capped chickadee, 
tufted titmouse (we got the whole family in one net!), eastern towhee, 
northern cardinal, eastern phoebe, common yellowthroat, brown creeper, 
American robin, gray catbird and Carolina wren.  There were numerous birds 
who escaped the nets including the rusty blackbird reported by Birdcraft 
bander Will Haffey a couple of days ago.

Kathy Van Der Aue, Southport, CT
kvda AT optonline.net 


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Paul's post reminded me that Rusty Blackbirds are another important species to 
track on eBird when you have significant concentrations. Any site that 
regularly supports 90 or more rustys in winter or migration could qualify as a 
globally significant IBA. If the situation deteriorates for this species, it 
could be an even lower threshold, so it is important to keep track of any 
significant migratory or winter habitats for them. Thanks! 


Patrick Comins, Meriden



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Last week  my computer busted. a new one is coming.
But at Bakersville swamp last monday I had a fantastic day.........

At 4:45 - saw: 75+ RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, they were everywhere! as were 50+ 
PURPLE FINCH many eating  multaflora rose hips, and uncountable SWAMP 
SPARROWS -stopped counting them at 50.
had 1 very late Empidonax Flycatcher - guess a Willow, at grassy ball 
field past swamp - 6+ WHITE-C-SPARROW, many Chippers, and an unusual 
gathering of 7 FLICKERS all together on a 6' area of grass.
What an unusual day -
The next day here seen was just about nothing - typical for Bakersville 
Swamp.

At  my feeders in Harwinton, 6 WHITE-C-SPARROWS feeding for 2 weeks now, 
with 2 adults.
as mentioned previously, the seem to be everywhere.,........

Paul Carrier


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A white morph Gyrfalcon was reported from Rhode Island yesterday at 11AM
headed south. No other details.

 

Cheers,

 

Andy

 

Andrew Griswold, Director

Connecticut Audubon Society EcoTravel

35 Pratt Street, Suite 201

Essex, CT   06426



 

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Julian brings up a good point but there is a caveat I think. Crossbills are
truly food source specialists and tend not to land where there isn't a cone
source. Bohemian Waxwings are a little less specialized in their food
source but still tend to only land where there is fruit or berries to be
had. So the caveat is this, places like Lighthouse Point or Bluff Point do
offer good potential for these species, and others like Redpoll, but most
likely as heard only birds when they fly passed. Of course now that I've
said that there will be huge flocks that spend all day there! There is a
very important truth in what Julian brings up, and that is while we
sometimes tend to think that the northwest of CT is THE place to look for
winter finches, coastal locations are superb places to find some of the
earliest birds during an incursion year. I have heard many early Redpolls,
Siskins, and even some Crossbills flying over places like Hammonasset or
Great Island Marsh at the mouth of the CT River in the very early stages of
an incursion. So coastal birders should always be alert for incursion
species early in the flight period. One species I'm really hoping to show
up is Boreal Chickadee. While I've seen tons of these in my montane hiking
in NH, I've never managed one in CT. Fingers crossed!

I know I have said this before but it is extremely useful to learn the
flight calls of these species. Most commercial recordings offer at least a
limited selection of the species in question. The one species that seems
the toughest to find a recording of (in terms of flight calls) is
White-winged Crossbill. They actually sound rather similar to Redpoll's
flight call.

Dave




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Since the winter finch forecast looks better than previous years, as others 
have suggested, we should be on the lookout for them. Bohemian Waxwings already 
in New England this early could herald an irruption. 

   
 I have always thought Lighthouse Point would be one of the better places to 
connect with Bohemian Waxwings and winter finches, since the diurnal movement 
there is marked. 

 The only problem is that few people bird there after the hawkwatch has ended. 

 I think birding there in winter after a cold-front could easliy produce 
migrant Bohemian Waxwings, especially given the number of Cedar Waxwings that 
go through..and crossbills. 

   
  Julian Hough,
  

ctbirds-request AT lists.ctbirding.org wrote:
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Hi, everyone,
   
 I'm hoping to invest in a high-end scope very soon, and I'm looking for some 
feedback. I've been birding with a Nikon RC scope for 10 years now, purchased 
for $260 back in 1997. I have the opportunity to get a significant markdown on 
an angled Leica Televid 77. What I'm wondering is, since this is a discontinued 
line, am I better off waiting until the new Televid 82 to come out, or going 
with some of the other top-end scopes, like the new Kowa 880 series, Swarovski, 
etc? Are the (now) old Leica Televids going to be fairly obsolete and out-dated 
now that these three major brands will have come out with higher performing 
models? Will peformance be significantly lower? The scope I'm interested in is 
new, but the price would be nearly half as much less than say a new Televid 82, 
Kowa 880, or Swarovski scope. I don't have big bucks to spend, and I've tried 
the Kowa and the Swarovski's. They say go with "feel", but I like them all. In 
fact, I really like the 

 Kowa, and apart from the weight and the cost, I'd go with that one, but at 66% 
the cost, if performance is not significantly compromised, this seems like a 
good value. 

   
  Any feedback is appreciated, and you can reply offline.  Thanks!
   
  Ross


Ross Geredien
Good Migrations Photography
www.goodmigrationsphoto.com

   

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On October 20th Aton Forest Inc. will hold its annual open house at
its headquarters in Norfolk, CT.

Aton Forest is a 1100 acre research forest created by its founder,
Dr. Frank Egler, in 1990.

At 10:00 AM Executive Director John Anderson will lead a walk through
the Forest.

Between 12:00 - 3:00 PM a silent auction and sale of water colors by
ornithologist Roland C. Clement will be held. Roland Clement is a
founding board member of Aton Forest and has served 8 yrs as Director
of Rhode Island Audubon; 19 yrs as a senior scientist with the
National Audubon Society and been active with CT Audubon Society, CT
Ornithological Association and CT Botanical Society.

At 12:30 a Ceremony to celebrate the conveyance of a 1097 acre
conservation easement to the Norfolk Land Trust.

At 1:00 PM Roland will talk about his watercolors and how he started
painting.

A complete agenda, directions and some of Roland's paintings can be
seen at: http://www.atonforest.org/af_open_house.htm

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>From Frank Mantlik, with Charlie Barnard
10/18, 4:30pm Stratford, Long Beach- 10 NELSON'S
SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS along the marsh side beyond the
end of the parking lot.

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Hello, birders.

A walk on the beach to the Bpt. city line, edge of the marsh area and the end 
of Oak Bluff Ave. produced migrants. The Sound was calm and almost birdless. 
Visibility was only fair at best over the Sound. It was nice to experience such 
warm weather in October. 


Nothing rare seen but some of the cooler birds were Am. Bittern (3), Merlin, 
Monk Parakeet and both sharp-tailed sparrows. I also had a brief look at what I 
believe were 3 large shorebirds They were in flight low over the marsh before 
they flew behind one of the grassy islands. I believe that they were Whimbrels 
since they seemed too big to be any other shorebird. 


I managed to see several Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows as well as Saltmarsh 
Sharp-tailed. A public "thanks" to everyone who suggested Long Beach for this 
species! I had leisurely looks at them, esp. the first bunch that I saw which I 
watched for at least 15 min. while they fed on seeds in the spartina. 


It was interesting to see woodland migrants on this long, mostly treeless spit. 
Chickadees, a Brown Creeper, both kinglets and even a White-breasted Nuthatch 
were in the bushes and small trees in between the marsh and Sound. The 
chickadees were mostly in groups and were flying west down the spit, stopping 
here and there to forage. 


Gulls seemed to be catching a lot of food today. At least two of them had a 
crab. 

 
The full list follows: Every species that was seen in the neighborhood was also 
seen in the beach/marsh area except for Titmouse, Parakeet and Chipping 
Sparrow. I'm also including birds seen from my car in nearby marshes along Rte. 
113. Numbers are conservative. 


8:30am - 2:15pm
Foggy, 60F at start.  Turning m. cloudy, high around 73F.

Mute Swan, 1
Am. Wigeon, 1 female
Am. Black Duck, 13
No. Pintail, 1 female
Common Loon, 6.  All in the Sound.

P.b. Grebe, 2
D.c. Cormorant, 15
Am. Bittern, 3.  Each seen in flight.  Definitely different birds.
Gr. Blue Heron, 2
Gr. Egret, 13

Snowy Egret, 3
Osprey, 1
No. Harrier, 1 imm.
Sharp-shinned Hawk (prob.), 1
Merlin, 1 female

Blk.-bellied Plover, 12
Gr. Yellowlegs, 9
Lsr. Yellowlegs, 1
Whimbrel (?), 3
Ruddy Turnstone, 2

Sanderling, 1
Dunlin, 13
Ring-billed Gull, 18+
Herring Gull, 88+
Gr. Blk.-backed Gull, 2

M. Dove, 10
Monk Parakeet, 5
Downy Woodpecker, 2
No. Flicker, 1
E. Phoebe, 1

Am. Crow, 1
Tree Swallow, 2
B.c. Chickadee, 21
T. Titmouse, 1
W.b. Nuthatch, 3

B. Creeper, 1
G.c. Kinglet, 2
R.c. Kinglet, 10
Am. Pipit (prob.), 2
No. Mockingbird, 3

Yel.-rumped Warbler 6
Chipping Sparrow, 4
Savannah Sparrow, 7
Nelson's Sharpt. Sparrow, 6
Saltmarsh Sharpt. Sparrow, 8

sharpt. sparrow sp., 2
Song Sparrow, 10
Swamp Sparrow, 2
E. Meadowlark, 1
House Finch, 3

Am. Goldfinch, 3
House Sparrow, 5

Butterflies were common, mostly Monarch and Orange Sulphur.

Scott Baron
Fairfax, Va.



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I just wanted to share some pictures from the last few weeks. As some of you 
know I've only been birding for 10 months and got into photography 15 months 
ago but love doing it. 


These are some from several places located by these lists. I couldn't have 
gotten some of these pictures without everyone's help. 


Hope you Like them.  I've listed the locations of each of the pictures.

You can click on the pictures for view them larger.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lnvttc/sets//detail/

Thanks

Mark Jankura
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Woodridge Lake area, Goshen- Golden crowned kinglets -5, White crowned
sparrows- 3, Greater yellowlegs not seen today. Huge flocks of juncos, white
throated sparrows mixed with some song sparrows, blue jays still migrating
overhead.

Ann Orsillo


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One point to keep in mind about the cone crops for the crossbills is
that producing cones is a multi-year process.  This means that simply
having cones is not sufficient, the cones have to be at the right
stage.  It also means that if crossbills like a tree this year they
won't like it next year.

Roy Harvey
Beacon Falls, CT

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Here is the link.  I forgot to add it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lnvttc/sets//detail/
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I just wanted to share some pictures from the last few weeks. As some of you 
know I've only been birding for 10 months and got into photography 15 months 
ago but love doing it. 


These are some from several places located by these lists. I couldn't have 
gotten some of these pictures without everyone's help. 


Hope you Like them.  I've listed the locations of each of the pictures.

You can click on the pictures for view them larger.

Thanks

Mark Jankura
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Hi all,

Now that the reports of "winter finches" are picking up, I am
increasingly curious about the food crop in Connecticut this autumn.

On a regional level, doe anyone have any information on the crops of
seed/cones/fruit produced this year in New England? Patrick Comins
mentioned a good apple crop in a previous post, which may help keep
around Bohemian Waxwings (and Pine Grosbeaks for that matter) if they
make it this far south. Does anyone have any info on this subject, or
links to articles, etc?

On a more local level, I would be very interested to hear of crop
reports from anyone out there. If we share our observations from our
local patches, we can know where to concentrate our efforts on finding
certain irruptive species. For example, the pitch pines at Hammonasset
SP are a traditional spot for crossbills. I checked out those pines
when I birded Hammo a couple weeks ago, and they do have a decent cone
crop. Not a great crop by any means, but several trees were pretty
well endowed with cones of the year. Dori Sosensky reports some pitch
pines with cones at Lighthouse Point, Fort Hale Park, and along
Commerce Street in East Haven. Also, East Shore Park in East Haven has
several pitch pines from what I remember...I will try to check those
out this weekend.

Hearing from birders in the northwest corner would be especially
helpful, since this is the part of the state where these irruptives
are most likely to settle for the winter.

Nick Bonomo
Orange, CT

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I'm tailgating on Patrick's email about Bohemian Waxwings in Maine. Small
numbers of them have now shown up in New Hampshire and in Provincetown
Mass. Too early to know if means a real incursion or not but it's worth
checking Waxwing flocks in CT carefully.

Dave




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I stopped by the little pond on Dorset Lane at 3:30 this afternoon for close-up 
looks at approx. 4 Gadwall, 15-20 Wood Ducks, 6 Green-Winged Teal, a pair of 
Black Ducks, and small flocks of Mallards and Canada Geese. 


This is a nice spot for close-up viewing; you can see down to and across this 
shallow little pond from the side of the road. The pond is on private property, 
so stay on the paved road. But it's a wide road in a quiet cul-de-sac, so 
there's little traffic to contend with; OK to park there for as long as you 
like, I guess. This is about 1 minute's drive off Main St/Rt 10, if you're 
passing through. From Main Street just south of Miss Porter's School (before 
the Meadow Rd traffic light), turn left on Hatters Lane, then take the next 
right on Dorset, and the pond is straight ahead several hundred yards. These 
aren't "rare and exciting" birds, but for me it has been a pleasure to see them 
close up and hear them vocalizing as they preen and dabble. 


Sarah

Sarah Hager Johnston, BMus, MLS
Farmington


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For what it's worth, I was in Rangeley Maine for
Columbus day Weekend and there were White-crowned
Sparrows absolutely everywhere along the logging roads
in the Cupsuptic campground area.  It was so
springlike that there were displaying woodcock and
drumming Ruffed Grouse around the camp.

Glenn Williams
Mystic, CT

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>From Dave Rosgen:

10/16 - Litchfield, White Hall Rd. (White Memorial's Windmill Hill) - 1
Pileated Woodpecker

(Ongley Pond Trail) - 1 Great Blue Heron, 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 1 Pine
Warbler, 60 White-throated Sparrows, 20 Dark-eyed Juncos

(Pike Marsh) - 50 White-throated Sparrows

 

>From Dave Rosgen, w/ John Marshall:

10/16 - Litchfield, White Hall Rd. (White Memorial's Museum Area) - 2
Red-breasted Nuthatches, 1 White-crowned Sparrow, 19 Purple Finches; Also, 7
Eastern Bluebirds, 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 43 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 1
Palm Warbler, 50 White-throated Sparrows

 

>From Jeff Greenwood, w/ 14 kids:

10/17 - Litchfield, White Hall Rd. (White Memorial's Ongley Pond) - 1 Great
Blue Heron

 

>From Lois Melaragno:

10/17 - Litchfield, White Hall Rd. (White Memorial's Museum Area) - 1
Pileated Woodpecker

 

From: John Marshall:

10/17 - Litchfield, White Hall Rd. (White Memorial's Museum Area 8:00 am -
9:00 am) - 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 8 Purple Finches, 2 Yellow-bellied
Sapsuckers, 2 White-crowned Sparrows; Also, 8 Eastern Bluebirds, 7 Chipping
Sparrows

S. Lake St. (White Memorial's Little Pond, 5:15 pm - 6:15 pm) - 1 American
Bittern; Also, 3 Pied-billed Grebes, 1 American Coot

 From Dave Rosgen:
10/17 - Winchester, 121-126 Laurel Way (Rosgen Wildlife Sanctuary) - 2
Red-breasted Nuthatches, 2 Purple Finches; Also, 6 Golden-crowned Kinglets,
2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets                                      Rt. 263
(Crystal Lake) - 2 Wood Ducks, 1 Hooded Merganser

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Visiting my suet feeders in the past 5 minutes:

Golden-Crowned Kinglet (female)
Carolina Wren - such a warm buffy golden wash on the belly
Downy Woodpeckers
White Breasted Nuthatches
Red Breasted Nuthatches
BC Chickadees
Tufted Titmice

Hoping "my" brown creepers will be back soon. We had a pair visiting regularly 
all last winter. 


Sarah Johnston
Farmington

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White-crowned Sparrow:

Shown below are the data for White-crowned Sparrow reported on  
Connecticut Christmas Bird Counts for the period 1950-51 through  
2006-07.  These are the total numbers of White-crowned Sparrows  
reported statewide on our Christmas Bird Counts, not adjusted for  
numbers of observers in the field and at feeders (hence, also not  
adjusted for numbers of CBCs held and land area covered year-by- 
year).  The average number of total observers (field + feeders) by  
decade is 216 (1950s), 367 (1960s), 790 (1970s), 949 (1980s), 806  
(1990s), and 663 (2000s).  This indicates a big increase in observers  
during the 1970s and through the 1990s, with a noticeable decrease in  
observers in the last seven or so years.  Most, but not all, of the  
recent decline in observer numbers is attributable to a reduced  
number of feeder watchers.  The number of Connecticut CBCs held has  
increased as follows:  8-9 in the 1950s; 9-13 in the 1960s; 14-16 in  
the 1970s;  15-17 in the 1990s; 17-18 in the 2000s.  Barkhamsted  
(1984-85), Edwin Way Teale - Trail Wood (1986-87), and Napatree  
(2002-03) are the most recent additions to the Connecticut CBC list.   
That said, the number of CBCs held in Connecticut and the number of  
total observers participating has remained more or less constant for  
the past 25 years.  (Under year below, 1951 = the 1950-51 CBC season,  
etc.)

Year	Number		Average per 5 year period


TOTAL	708

Without attempting an explanations for the numbers, they suggest that  
White-crowned Sparrow experienced a noticeable upswing in its early  
winter populations in Connecticut by the early 1980s, had several  
years in the late '80s and early '90s where numbers were down, and  
has gone through a significant increase in early winter numbers since  
the latest 1990s.  The peak CBC year was 1999, but White-crowned  
Sparrow numbers reported on State Christmas Bird Counts since then  
have been robust.  It will be interesting to see how many of these  
handsome zonotrichians are reported for the 2007-08 CBC season.

The complete schedule for this year's Connecticut Christmas Bird  
Counts will be published in the next issue of The COA Bulletin and  
will be put on this listserv.

Steve Broker
Cheshire
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10/18 Waterford, Stop & Shop parking lot, Common Raven being harassed by six 
Fish Crows Fred Caples Waterford 

--------------------
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Thanks to all who chimed in. I'm particularly grateful for Chris Elphick's
note on population data. So we really don't have good data on what's going
on with the population in eastern Canada, which is where most of our birds
come from. Still, even if that population is increasing, it's unlikely to be
increasing so dramatically as to explain the numbers we have seen here
recently. They are seemingly everywhere and I have found them places where
there should have been more likely species while the likely species have
been low in numbers or absent. So I'm sticking with my original guess about
the compressing of the southbound migrants into a relatively tight band due
to the weather supplemented by the apparent increase in the number of
migrants that Greg and Frank noted. Whatever the cause, it's great to see
such a handsome bird so often.

 

Dave

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Hi all -

I am probably the only one in CT to have NOT seen a White-crowned Sparrow in
the past few days   ;-(    but I hope that everybody making these sightings
will enter theirs reports into eBird.   You don't even have to give the
whole list (although it would certainly be a good idea).   The WCSP
sightings will make a fascinating map animation, and may well give us an
idea of which direction the wave originated - due north of us, northwest, or
maybe even coming down from the Maritimes, as Frank relates below.

Clay Taylor
Moodus, CT
ctaylor AT att.net

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Frank Mantlik" 
To: "Birds CT" 
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 10:39 PM
Subject: [CT Birds] WCSP observations


> Regarding the numbers of White-crowned Sparrows in CT
> lately, I have a few observations to share.  In my
> experience, the numbers of WCSP in CT in the past 10
> years are noticeably higher than they were 20+ years
> ago.  And more are appearing in spring (May) than did
> long ago, as well.  I can't begin to explain the
> reasons for this apparent increase.
> Nowadays, it is not uncommon to see 5 or more at a
> time, including a fair number of adult males, at least
> in sw CT (lower Fairfield County).
>
> And one final note.  While Linda & I were at Monhegan
> Is., Maine (a small Island of approx. 0.5 mi X 1.5 mi)
> Sept 30 -Oct 3, there were huge numbers of both
> White-crowned Sparrows and Purple Finches. Derek
> Lovitch had estimated 175 WCSP on the island on 9/29.
> And I personally counted 60 in view at one time in Tom
> Martin's small yard (where he spreads birdseed on the
> lawn) on 10/2.  Also large numbers of purple finches
> coming in for the seed as well.
>
> Frank mantlik
> Stratford, CT
>
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Ditto on 10/18 - in a Cottage Street yard in New Haven, first Brown
Creeper observed here.

Mark Aronson
New Haven

On 10/18/07, Sailcarm AT aol.com  wrote:
> 1 BROWN CREEPER in yard -- this is the first time I have ever observed one in
> our yard.
>
> Carolyn Cimino
> Waterford
>
>
> **************************************
>  See what's new at
> http://www.aol.com
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>

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Hello from the Northwest Corner: There was a GREATER YELLOWLEGS on the east
shore banks of Woodridge Lake in Goshen on Wednesday, October 17 late in the
afternoon.   This is the first time there has been one on the lake shore.
The lake has been drawing down for repairs and there is much mud and rocks
exposed.  There were 7 cormorants (not unusual but late in season to be
hanging around) and a COOPERS HAWK.  There have been bigger flocks of purple
finches lately (purple finches are in Goshen year round and bring their
young to the feeders).

 

Ann Orsillo


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I have to concur with Frank on the apparent upward trend in White-crowned 
Sparrows in recent years (although what we're seeing now tops anything to 
date). I've noted this in preparing field notes, although I haven't crunched 
numbers. It's just an overall impression. 


Maybe if Steve Broker's out there, he'll do one of his patented Conn CBC break 
downs. 


Greg Hanisek
Waterbury
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1 BROWN CREEPER in yard -- this is the first time I have ever observed one in 
our yard.  

Carolyn Cimino
Waterford


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Regarding the numbers of White-crowned Sparrows in CT
lately, I have a few observations to share.  In my
experience, the numbers of WCSP in CT in the past 10
years are noticeably higher than they were 20+ years
ago.  And more are appearing in spring (May) than did
long ago, as well.  I can't begin to explain the
reasons for this apparent increase.
Nowadays, it is not uncommon to see 5 or more at a
time, including a fair number of adult males, at least
in sw CT (lower Fairfield County).

And one final note.  While Linda & I were at Monhegan
Is., Maine (a small Island of approx. 0.5 mi X 1.5 mi)
Sept 30 -Oct 3, there were huge numbers of both
White-crowned Sparrows and Purple Finches. Derek
Lovitch had estimated 175 WCSP on the island on 9/29.
And I personally counted 60 in view at one time in Tom
Martin's small yard (where he spreads birdseed on the
lawn) on 10/2.  Also large numbers of purple finches
coming in for the seed as well.

Frank mantlik
Stratford, CT

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>From Dori Sosensky via Lynn James
 10/15 - 17 East Haven Ora Avenue - 1 Lincoln's Sparrow, 1 Field Sparrow, 5 
Swamp Sparrows, 24 immature and 5 adult White-crowned Sparrows, numerous Song 
and White-throated Sparrows. Numbers are greatest number counted at one time. I 
am feeding on the right side in the last clearing before the left turn to the 
land fill. 

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David's Option #4 sounds quite plausible to me. I've noticed many reports of 
White Crowneds throughout the mid-Atlantic after the passing of last week's 
cold fronts, and I myself had 3 in West Virginia this weekend. With the 
extended periods of southerly winds and warm temperatures, I think there was a 
backing up of many migrants, raptors included. Interesting that we had a 
similar backup in reverse this past April with the late cold snap. This poses 
another interesting question about seasonal weather patterns and climate 
change: could one possible effect be the extention/lag time in the changing of 
the seasons, not just longer summers, but delayed winters and springs as well? 
Perhaps this could be a short-term trend as climate and weather patterns become 
increasingly unstable. 

   
   
  Ross
   
  

David.F.Provencher AT dom.com wrote:
  
My understanding of White-crowned Sparrow (WCSP) population is that it has
suffered significant declines in recent history. Yet currently we seem to
be experiencing perhaps the best Fall ever for them in CT. This seeming
paradox is intriguing. So what's up? The following are some thoughts on
possibilities. It's just speculation that I hope will elicit positive
discussion. This is a bit long so click the delete button now if not
interested.

Possibility 1. A weather driven eastern bias to this year's migration has
moved more birds than usual into CT. Certainly each migration is subject to
weather driven east-west bias, if on a small scale. If this were the case,
one would expect to see other species showing up in greater than usual
numbers in the East. Yet this year there seems to be no solid evidence of
that so far. If anything, there seems a relative dearth of western migrants
so far this fall.

Possibility 2. There are more birders in the field and there is more
sharing of info than ever so more WCSPs are getting reported. This is
undoubtedly true in terms of relative percentages. But individual birders
(myself included) are finding more WCSPs than usual and the flocks are
larger than usual. Indeed there have been surprisingly few reports of
single birds this Fall.

Possibility 3. There is a recent population boom occurring. Don't know.
Haven't heard evidence one way or the other but it would be bucking known
trends. Certainly the great majority of reports are of immature birds,
meaning birds hatched this year. But that is usually the case. Are the
percentages skewed this fall with more immatures than usual? Maybe. The
reports will have to be gathered and analyzed and compared to previous
history to be able to make an educated guess.

Possibility 4. The migration has been spatially compressed. We experienced
that prolonged stretch of stalled weather front right at the start of the
WCSP migration. Perhaps the WCSPs "piled up" immediately to our north
during that period and then moved into our area as concentrated wave when
the weather broke. Evidence that might support this would be lower than
usual numbers of WCSPs to our south now. Personally I think whatever the
reason for so many WCSPs around CT now, this possibility is in play at
least as part of the answer.

Possibility 5. Going way out there now. The WCSP migration was affected by
urban light concentrations exacerbated by cloud cover. OK quit laughing.
What we do know is that under experimental conditions most immature WCSPs
during migration orient to the direction of the most intense horizon glow
(Gauthreaux 1982). So could the immatures have been attracted to human
population centers due to the cloud cover of the stationary front
reflecting urban light causing unusually intense areas of horizon glow?
Well certainly we know migrants concentrate (with deadly results) around
nocturnal "glows" caused by human light sources in cloudy/foggy conditions.
But could such an event happen on such a large geographical scale? I'm
rather skeptical about that.

Possibility 6. Global Warming. Personal opinion: Global Warming is real.
Personal opinion: Global Warming is not significantly affecting the
direction of WCSP migration. We believe migration in WCSP (as well as many
other species) in guided in part by visual information derived from stellar
patterns and also in part from geomagnetic information. Global Warming (on
the current scale) does not alter either of these. Admittedly the magnetic
field of the earth is changing fairly rapidly right now (Part of a
long-term natural cycle where the magnetic poles actually flip. We are in
one of those cycles now.) but if it is affecting avian migration, more than
WCSPs would be being affected.

So what's my guess? I dunno. But if I were to hazard a guess I would start
with possibility 4, the spatial compression idea, where the migration was
concentrated immediately to our north. But it's just wild speculation at
this point.

Dave




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Ross Geredien
Good Migrations Photography
www.goodmigrationsphoto.com

   

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I'm going to bravely offer some simplistic thoughts (the  only kind I have) 
on the subject because there are a few possible factors I  haven't seen 
mentioned. First, I think there are several other birds of which we seem to 
have 

bumper crops,  Everyone  has  noticed the numbers of red-breasted nuthatches 
this year.  Recently people  have commented on  the exceptional number of 
brown creepers. The only bird I am really familiar with over a number of years 
- 

ruby throated  hummingbirds - came through in August and early September in 
numbers I have  never seen before.
Additionally, it appears to me that the  numbers of white  throated sparrows, 
yellow rumps, palm warblers and kinglets are extremely high,  but I cannot 
make any comparison of them to previous years.  
It has obviously been very dry this year, and, in addition, we  have had very 
little if any severe weather.   I think its likely this  has led to a very 
high nesting success rate for many species. It has certainly been true for the 

birds in my own neighborhood, with some having 3  broods this year.  I have 
no doubt it contributed to the hummingbird  explosion.  I know the weather to 
our north has been somewhat wetter, but  no more severe, so it seems to me the 
same factors could have led to an  exceptional breeding season for many 
species.  
In addition I remember reading - possibly on this list but I'm  not sure - 
about conditions to the north and west of us where very little food  was 
produced for some species, which might lead to them being forced to come 
through 

our area in higher than normal  quantities.  
That's my 2 cents - I'll just step back and start ducking  now.
Don Morgan, 
Coventry



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The White-Crowned Sparrows in my neighborhood have left, and the Sparrow
numbers dropped overall today. But I had to say something in response to
Dave's speculations (which I do not think were THAT wild).

"Possibility 2. There are more birders in the field and there is more
sharing of info than ever so more WCSPs are getting reported. This is
undoubtedly true in terms of relative percentages. But individual birders
(myself included) are finding more WCSPs than usual and the flocks are
larger than usual. Indeed there have been surprisingly few reports of
single birds this Fall."

While I am sure all of the reports make it seem like there are more birds, I
can testify on an individual level that there was never a single
White-Crowned Sparrow in our yard until this fall. My father cannot recall
ever seeing one here or on Forest Road. That I was able to host them at the
feeders and find them around the neighborhood is astounding to me after
years of nothing. They have been easy to spot, and in the case of the
feeders, they have been surprisingly conspicuous. For two days, the birds
were all over all the feeders, in the bath, on the ground, on the stone wall
- the point is, I think that one of us would have noticed them in past years
if this was a typical number.

-- 
Scott Kruitbosch
Stratford, CT
kbosch AT gmail.com
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Today as I was filling the waterfall I could hear what I was sure was snow 
geese. I finally found them very high up flying north west! There were 25 birds 
with one of the birds standing out as a dark phase adult white head, dark body. 
NEAT! 


The goldfinch horde has finally thinned out. I had around 100 birds hitting the 
feeders and waterfall hard, and now probably have around 20-30 birds still 
evident. Yellow rumps are around and I also got one into rehab, yet another 
window strike. The pileated wp showed up today for a handout and has completed 
his molt. His red crest couldn't be any brighter and the white throat stripe 
any cleaner. He was really dirty by summers end. What a gorgeous bird is 
now!!!! A sharpy is terrorizing the yard so bird activity has quieted down with 
everyone trying to avoid being its next meal. 


Jayne Amico/Southington

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I don't have much insight into Dave's wild speculation, but I can provide some 
information on population trends in white-crowned sparrows (all based on USGS 
Breeding Bird Survey data). 


Dave is right that there are some signs of a decline, but the situation is a 
bit more complex (isn't it always). The decline is really in the US breeding 
population, data for which is shown in this graph here: 



http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/cgi-bin/plotpgm0.pl?/sula/jrs/bbs06/htmind/05540.us 


If you look at data from Canada there is no evidence for any change over the 
past few decades, as shown here: 



http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/cgi-bin/plotpgm0.pl?/sula/jrs/bbs06/htmind/05540.can 


Because there are more data from the US, this information tends to dominate the 
overall impression, but most of the US data relate to the western populations 
and a large chunk of the white-crowned population (and probably all of those 
that show up in CT) actually breed in northern Canada where no data are 
collected. 


This is reflected by this map, which shows how trends vary spatially:

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/htm03/trn2003/tr05540.htm

On the map, red colours indicate areas where white-crowneds are declining and 
you can see that things look bad in the western US. But the map also shows that 
there is essentially no information from the eastern half of the species range 
(and the couple of spots in the east are actually blue - hinting at increases 
.. though I probably wouldn't put a lot of stock into such limited data). 


Thus, the BBS data - although better than anything else - are still biased in a 
way that means they probably can't tell us much about the trend in the 
white-crowned population that passes through the northeast. 


If you want all the gory details - region by region population trends (which 
essentially show that the declines are all concentrated in the west: 
California, Oregon, Idaho and Colorado), etc., go to this site here: 


http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/cgi-bin/atlasa99.pl?05540&1&06

Chris




Chris Elphick
Storrs, CT
elphick AT sbcglobal.net
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>From Bev Propen  Orange- 10/17
Wright's Pond, Orange
 
Wright's Pond is turning out to be a local treasure of ducks,  other than our 
regular crowd of mallards and Canada geese.
Mark Jankura  found a female American Wigeon  there  this afternoon .
I drove  over to check it out.  Bluish bill,  blackish, brown smudge by the 
eye, grayish head and neck,  and rest of  body a warmish brownish color.  When 
she flapped her wings and lifted them  to preen I noticed white underneath.  
When I drove up to the pond (5:15PM), the Great Blue Heron was  fishing there 
again.  The female Green Winged Teal  joined the  mallards in a procession to 
my car, obviously anticipating getting a free  handout.  Many of the locals  
here bring bread to feed the  ducks.  And swimming in the pond was the female 
American Wigeon  as well.
This past May there was a female ring necked duck there.   This local pond is 
turning out to be a nice little respite for some  ducks.



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Hammonasett, Wednesday, Oct. 17:   2 female Red  Breasted Mergansers off the  
east end of the Meig's Point Moraine Trail,  then off the rocks south of it. 
(Same birds.)
Don Morgan,     
Coventry



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