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!
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!
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