Sunday after snow

Early morning light touches Cedar Swamp on route 195 in Mansfield

Last night was the first snow of December. About 2 inches of soft fluffy snow covered the ground and stuck to the bare branches all day since there was no wind. I started birding after 3pm when the sun was already getting low in the sky. The sharp clear light of this winter afternoon made beautiful intense colors in the snowy field. The temperature was in the upper thirties as I began birding in the upper W lot on the UConn campus in Storrs. A very noisy flock of over 350 Canada Geese flew in from the southwest and landed in the recently cut cornfield, joining a small group of Ring-billed Gulls already feeding there.

some of the many Canada Geese in the W lot cornfield

Moving on to Horsebarn Hill, I found more intense activity in the bushes behind the manure piles, where a mixed flock became very animated at my approach and pishing. This flock included a couple dozen White-throated Sparrows, a few House Sparrows, half a dozen juncos, a pair of cardinals and a very curious mockingbird. Starlings circled continuously overhead.

Northern Mockingbird
Sitting quietly in the trees at the edge of the manure pile, was a beautiful Hermit Thrush, who cooperated nicely for my camera.

Hermit Thrush

Next stop was the paved roadway along the west side of Horsebarn Hill, where I found my best bird. As I scanned the hillside for signs of reported Snow Buntings, a male Northern Harrier came into view, gliding elegantly, very close to the ground. This magnificent bird in its natural setting, in the clear winter light, put a smile on my face as I drove home this afternoon.

Northern Harrier cruising over Horsebarn Hill

male Northern Harrier showing typical field marks

Today's birds in the order of appearance:

Dark-eyed Junco, Junco hyemalis

American Crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos

Ring-billed Gull, Larus delawarensis

Canada Goose, Branta canadensis

European Starling, Sturnus vulgaris

White-throated Sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis

Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis

House Sparrow, Passer domesticus

Northern Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos

Blue Jay, Cyanocitta cristata

Hermit Thrush, Catharus guttatus

Northern Harrier, Circus cyaneus

Black-capped Chickadee, Poecile atricapillus

Hairy Woodpecker, Picoides villosus

sunset over Horsebarn Hill