Today we held a bird walk at Stratford Point at a different from usual time, from 11 a.m. to near 1 p.m., in an effort to allow some more folks who need to take a long drive to join us and some others who can only sneak outside during their lunch hours. This is a good time of year for it as the waterfowl and shorebirds we are primarily focused on are always around and visible, only moving in or out a bit, sleeping or eating depending on the tide (high and low for the most part, respectively).
A high total of four Connecticut Audubon Society staff members were on hand as Senior Director of Science and Conservation Milan Bull, Conservation Biologist Twan Leenders, and our new Director of Education Michelle Eckman joined me with a great group of visitors. The best part of today was the total lack of any significant wind (rare for the property) and calm waters, allowing fantastic scope and binocular views of a variety of ducks on Long Island Sound and in the mouth of the Housatonic River.
Here is the list of species we saw at Stratford Point today, nearly all during our walk:
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Gadwall
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Mallard
Surf Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Red-breasted Merganser
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Northern Gannet
Sanderling
Dunlin
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull (American)
Great Black-backed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
American Crow
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
We will determine a date for our March walk soon and post it once it is finalized. There may be many gulls around at that point, with more shorebirds trickling in and ducks on the way out. Sparrows will be moving then and you might be able to spot one of the first Tree Swallows. I cannot wait.
Scott Kruitbosch
Conservation Technician
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