Finally Got The Photo Of The Iceland Gull!

Paul and I have been trying to get photos of our resident Iceland Gull. For the past 10-plus winters, our Iceland Gull has been visiting Middle Beach in Westbrook, Connecticut, mixing with his Ring-Billed and Herring Gull friends.

It seems, however, that whenever I try to get the great photo of the gull, something goes wrong with the camera, the sunlight isn't right, or he just isn't cooperative. But today, I knew the conditions were good, and that I had a few scraps of food to create enough of a gull commotion. and I had my camera.

And there it was, sitting on a sand bar just off Middle Beach. It is a bit larger and fuller than the other gulls around, so it is relatively easy to spot. With a gentle toss of bread in the air, the gull frenzy commensed, and my Iceland Gull came in for its candid shot.

More Winter Visitors--Common Mergansers

Every December, our annual visitors from the waters of the north--Common Mergansers--land in Middle Cove in Essex, Connecticut. First, the red-headed females land, followed several days later by the males.

When the temperatures dip well below freezing, like this week with highs in the teens and twienties, the cove will ice over. However, the bubblers near the marina docks keep the water ice-free. The mergansers find sanctuary there.

Today, there was one male, in its white body and bright green head, flaunting its deep red bill, showing off to 10 females all swimming near the ednge of the ice. I finally got my camera later in the day to find only the male still around.

One of the Beautiful Sparrows--White Throated

Every year, our Connecticut yard is filled with snow birds, including two of my favorite sparrows--American Tree Sparrow and the White Throated Sparrow. During the Christmas Bird Count in Old Lyme on December 31, Paul and I found a striking White Throated Sparrow in a thicket along a side road.

The black and white crown was vivid, along with the bright yellow right in front of the eye.

A question was asked about the black crown. We sometimes see brown crowned White Throateds and assumed they were juveniles or even females. But someone in our group said that there is a brown crowned morph, and that even though they are the exact same specie, the two morphs never interbreed. Have to think more about that.

Lazuli Bunting Very Cooperative At Hammonasset

Went back to Hammonasset to look for the Lazuli Bunting. The sun was perfect for my camera, and I was hopeful for some great shots. Well, my expectations were more than met. I met up with Julian Hough who had located the bunting earlier, and invited me into the back seat of his car as we crept toward the feeding bird.

For the next 15 minutes, we had incredible views of this rarity, the first of its kind in Connecticut. Not only its buffy breast, but the wash of blue in its primaries and back jumped out in the sunshine.

It is clear from these pictures, that the female bunting is very different from the female Painted Bunting, with the clear breast and noticeable wing bars. Loved the time I had with this bird.

Barrows Goldeneye and Pink-Footed Geese

There are some birds that just elude Paul and I no matter how many times we go for them. I guess they are called "nemesis birds."

We haven't had that many chances to find these two species, but every year, it seems like the Barrows Goldeneye is spotted off some shore in New England. And then everyone gets excited whenever a Pink-Footed Goose shows up.

Well, we had the chance this weekend to pick up both birds on Newport, Rhode Island. It was rainy and generally miserable, but all three boys and I piled into my truck for the 90 minute drive to Sachuest. Armed with pretty good directions, we were optimistic.

Our first bird, the Barrow's Goldeneye, was successfully located, mixed with a small group of Commons. With its crescent patch on its face, and generally darker back and shoulder patch, it was obviously different than those around it. Despite the rain, I valiantly tried to take photos, but failed miserably.

The second bird, the Pink-Footed Goose, failed to be at its designated spot, and several birders and I raced around the Newport Country Club looking for collections of Canada Geese into which we would find it. But no luck.

In our search for the birds, we did find a nice flock of Snow Buntings perched on a monument along Ocean Drive on Newport. As well, we were successful in our annual visit with the Harlequin Ducks, Common Eiders and Horned Grebes at Sachuest. All in all, a good day out.

Now This Is Birding When You Have Kids!

Paul and I read that a Red-Headed Woodpecker was being spotted in New Haven, Connecticut. With pretty specific directions to Edgewood Park in New Haven, Paul, his two brothers and I piled into my truck and we headed to New Haven hoping to find our target bird.

Upon reaching Edgewood Park, we stepped out and walked a short distance down a path, past a rec house and skateboard park, and next to a dog pen. This is where the direction said the bird was being sighted.

Within seconds, Paul heard a tapping, looked up....and there was the bird. Incredible views of an immature Red-Headed Woodpecker. With the diagnostic white patches on the bottom of the wings, there was no mistaking our bird. I snapped several photos, and watched as the bird flew to several nearby trees. Fifteen minutes later, we were back in the truck, heading back home.

When you have kids, these are the kinds of birding ventures that make up for the hours of looking and finding nothing.

Two Rarities In One Week!

Generally Paul and I have to drive a bit to find rarities. Not far, but just enough to test the patience of an 11-year-old boy.

But this week, we have been fortunate to have two rarities discovered right at our doorstep:

On December 31, during the Christmas Bird Count in Old Lyme, Connecticut, a member of our team discovered a Western Grebe swimming happily about 200 feet off the beach at Griswold Point in the Long Island Sound. This species hasn't been recorded in Connecticut for 33 years, and caused quite a stir. Within 30 minutes of discovery, birders from all 0ver the Connecticut Shoreline began showing up to see the bird. Needless to say, this exciting bird was a lifter for Paul and me.

Then today, January 5, I went to Hammonasset Park in Madison Connecticut, in the rain to try to locate a suspected female Lazuli Bunting. It was dark and wet, but four very experienced birders and myself found the bird and got very good looks at it before it just got too dark. No photos because of the weather. But we got good enough looks to confirm the specie. This Lazuli Bunting is the first for Connecticut. Tomorrow, we will try to re-find the bird for Paul.

A good week!