Saturday Birding

Laurel Marsh section of Manchester's Hockanum River Linear Park

This morning we were up and out early to try to find the Rough-legged and Red-shouldered Hawks reported from the Manchester Landfill two days ago. We discovered, as we have several times already this year, a wonderful little wildlife preserve which we never would have known about if we hadn't been out chasing birds! Our directions indicated the hawks could be seen from the powerline cut behind Ocean State Job Lot, near the landfill (via Spencer Street, off I-384).

Immediately upon entering the powerline clearing, we encountered a vigorously singing Carolina Wren. Circling the landfill itself were the three common gulls, Herring, Ring-billed and Great Black-backed, and many many American Crows. We let our feet follow a well-trodden trail through a lightly wooded area, finding Black-capped Chickadee and Downy Woodpecker as we walked.

Before long the woods ended and a huge Phragmites marsh spread out in front of us - a clearly marked trail headed right into the marsh. Via a system of boardwalks with trestles where needed, the trail followed the course of the Hockanum River, with an occasional observation tower and fishing platform. Here on the river we saw a pair of Common Mergansers, a few Mallard ducks and the Red-shouldered Hawk winging over the marsh in the distance.

Boardwalks through river-bottom woodland

Remains of a hawk's meal? a big pile of feathers and part of a beak.

On our walk back to the car, we again paused in the power line cut, to look for the Rough-legged Hawk. No luck, but we found three Red-tails, one immature, one adult, and a second adult which was partially albino. The tail was red, the wings were 75% white, the back was flecked with white, and the head was partially white as well. No chance to get the camera on it!

American Crows, Corvus brachyrhynchos, sharing a branch

Saturday, part II

Sebastian joined us after our early morning outing, then after a quick stop to browse the Mansfield Library Book Sale, we continued birding around Mansfield. We checked for Black Vultures behind the Windham Walmart - no luck there, but explored a portion of the Airline State Park Trail running through the nearby woods.

Next stop was Eagleville Lake, to see what we could see - the river was completely frozen, but there was quite a bit of birdy activity in the brush along the railroad track.

a small flock of American Robins by the Eagleville Dam

a surprise Common Grackle along a feeder stream into the river

a pale eye and dark brow give the Common Grackle quite a ferocious expression!

Next stop was Spring Manor Farm. We stopped along the driveway to watch sparrows, and as soon as we opened the car window heard the call of a Great Horned Owl!

Illustration from the National Geographic Society's Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 2nd edition, voice recording from the Stokes Field Guide to Bird Songs, Eastern Region.

It responded a few times to playback, but then went silent, it's presence only revealed by the squawking Blue Jays, and continuous twittering of White-breasted Nuthatches and other small birds at the edge of the dark pine forest.

"Owl forest", Spring Manor Farm, Mansfield

We never saw the owl, but were treated to the sight of Pileated Woodpecker flying into the woods. This patch of pine woods is quite dense and area-wise pretty small, so if that's his territory, the owl should be easy to find again. (If you followed the highlighted Spring Manor Farm link above, the Owl's forest is obvious, right in the middle of the map.)

Back home at our own feeders, the little flock of juncos (25 to 30 birds) was actively feeding, a few White-throated Sparrows scratched for seeds, and three Downy Woodpeckers were busy at the suet cakes.

Downy Woodpecker, Picoides pubescens, at the suet at home

Manchester, Hockanum River trail: HR

Mansfield, Bone Mill Road: BM

Windham, Walmart and Airline Trail: AT

Mansfield, Eagleville Dam: ED

Mansfield, Spring Manor Farm: SM

Today's birders: Jorge, Sue and Sebastian

Today's birds:

1. Common Merganser, Mergus merganser - HR

2. Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos - HR

3. Herring Gull, Larus argentatus - HR

4. Ring-billed Gull, Larus delawarensis -HR, AT, SM

5. Great Black-backed Gull, Larus marinus - HR

6. Red-tailed Hawk, Buteo jamaicensis - HR, ED, SM

7. Red-shouldered Hawk, Buteo lineatus - HR

8. Rock Pigeon, Columba livia - HR, AT, SM

9. Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura - HR, BM, AT, SM

10. Great Horned Owl, Bubo virginianus - SM

11. Downy Woodpecker, Picoides pubescens - HR, AT, ED, SM

12. Hairy Woodpecker, Picoides villosus - BM

13. Pileated Woodpecker, Dryocopus pileatus - SM

14. American Crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos - HR, SM, AT, ED, SM

15. Blue Jay, Cyanocitta cristata - HR, ED, SM

16. American Robin, Turdus migratorius - BM, ED

17. Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis - BM

18. Carolina Wren, Thryothorus ludovicianus - HR, ED

19. Tufted Titmouse, Baeolophus bicolor - BM, ED, SM

20. Black-capped Chickadee, Poecile atricapillus - HR, AT, ED, SM

21. White-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis - ED, SM

22. European Starling, Sturnus vulgaris - HR, AT, SM

23. Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis - ED, SM

24. House Finch, Carpodacus mexicanus - BM

25. American Goldfinch, Carduelis tristis - ED

26. Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia - HR, SM

27. White-throated Sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis - HR, ED, SM

28. Tree Sparrow, Spizella arborea - SM

29. Savannah Sparrow, Passerculus sandwichensis - SM

30. Dark-eyed Junco, Junco hyemalis - HR, BM, ED, SM

31. Common Grackle, Quiscalus quiscula - ED

32. Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus - HR

33. House Sparrow, Passer domesticus - HR, SM

For a post-birding treat, Sebastian and I made popcorn - mmm!!!

With the addition of Red-shouldered Hawk, Great Horned Owl, Common Grackle and House Finch, Jorge's 2010 Connecticut List is up to 75 species.
That's all for now, good birding, Connecticut!
Sue