White-tailed Kite in New Jersey

Sometimes you lose track of who you tell what when it comes to birds. I talk to friends, family, colleagues, visitors, interested non-birders, even reporters at times, and it becomes a jumble in my head. Somehow, I did not realize that I had not posted about what was very likely "our" White-tailed Kite that showed up in New Jersey on October 21. The last date it was seen here in Connecticut was October 10. This was some fantastic news, and I apologize for not mentioning it here sooner. The two photos here are mine from its stay at Stratford Point.

Classic White-tailed Kite leg-dangling hover hunting over Stratford Point in September

Initial reports were a bit confusing, but it eventually became obvious there was definitely a White-tailed Kite there. McDuffy Barrow first reported it in the Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge impoundment along Bayshore Drive. This is in Barnegat Township in Ocean County. It seems to have been seen at a far distance but identifiable as it is such a unique species. Subsequent visits allowed McDuffy to relocate it and birders from all across the state were soon to follow. It was not nearly as accessible as when it was at Stratford Point. Often enough birders have had to use very big lenses and scopes to get any decent photos. A few have been able to get some closer shots, and the photos I have seen suggest it is the same bird apart from the obvious logic behind it. Google Earth and maps depicts the area as very good habitat for a White-tailed Kite. You can see it by clicking here.

Last photo I ever took of the White-tailed Kite on October 5 as it looked quite miserable in the cold rain. It did not even bother to look at me and it was obviously contemplating a departure.

It appears the last confirmed sighting of the raptor was on November 11. I have not read any negative or positive reports after that date, but do not take that as anything more than what I have gleaned from public information. Perhaps it traveled once again to warmer regions, or finally headed back "home" wherever that may be.


Photos © Scott Kruitbosch

CAS on Twitter

If you enjoy following us on the blog you should definitely follow us on Twitter! The Connecticut Audubon Society can be found at: twitter.com/CTAudubon

Twitter is a perfect place for us to provide you with quick updates on bird sightings in Connecticut, migration conditions, how the weather will affect birding, upcoming event dates, and more of what goes on at our centers and properties. Speaking of that, you should also check out the Birdcraft Sanctuary and Museum's Twitter account here: twitter.com/ctaudbirdcraft

You will of course still find much more in-depth coverage of all these topics along with photos, video, and detailed conservation information here in the CAS blog, and everything you need to know about us on our main website, ctaudubon.org. This is only one more way to follow everything that is going on at the always active Connecticut Audubon Society as we work on conserving Connecticut's environment.

Looking for a Christmas tree?

If you're looking for a Christmas tree why not combine that trip with some birding while helping out the Connecticut Audubon Society? Our H. Smith Richardson Wildlife Preserve and Christmas Tree Farm allows you to do just that. The information that follows is from the sanctuaries page of our website. You can see the days and hours of operation for the Christmas Tree Farm in the photo below.



H. Smith Richardson Wildlife Preserve and Christmas Tree Farm, 74 acres, Sasco Creek Road, Westport

Three distinct parcels make up this preserve: a 24-acre Christmas Tree plantation, a 14-acre field habitat and a 36-acre evergreen plantation that has remained virtually undisturbed for the last 30 years. For a self-guided visit to each parcel, an interpretative brochure is available at the entrance.

FROM I-95 Eastbound: Take Exit 19 - Southport. Go left off exit and proceed to traffic light at Rt. 1. Turn left onto Rt. 1 (Post Rd.) and go to second traffic light. Take a left and follow from * below.
FROM I-95 Westbound: Take Exit 19 - Southport. Stay straight off exit to traffic light at Route 1 - Post Road intersection. Take a right onto Rt. 1 and at third traffic light, take a left. Follow directions from * below.
* At fork, take right and proceed straight on Green Farms Rd. Take a left onto Sasco Creek Rd. Preserve and Tree Farm are 0.1 mile on left.


Maybe you will run into me as I survey the property. Perhaps one of the trees you buy will be from this June photo!


It really is a beautiful sanctuary, and it is a good spot for some late fall rarities...


Photos © Scott Kruitbosch

Stratford Point Thanksgiving birds

I stopped by Stratford Point today to do a standard survey and found a few notable birds. As I drove up, I saw a small group of Canada Geese fly by. This in itself is a bit odd for the site. A few more followed during the hour I was there, and one of them contained an obvious Cackling Goose. This was a new species for us at Stratford Point. It was the second I have seen this year out of several thousand Canada Geese. On the water, I saw three more Northern Gannet, a rare but relatively easily seen species at the right time of year there. Finally, I found five Snow Buntings feeding on the grasses in the driveway. They were cooperative and let me snap off a couple hundred photos.

We see you!

I know they can be a tough to find species in Connecticut, and especially tough to get nice views of. We often have them sitting on rocks or feeding on various grasses here in the late fall and winter. They are especially cool to see in the snow. I hope we get more of both soon.

The rare birds seem to love the rocks

Photos © Scott Kruitbosch

Happy Thanksgiving

All of us at the Connecticut Audubon Society wish you a happy Thanksgiving!




Photo © Scott Kruitbosch

Beat the heat?

This past July I wrote about the extreme heat that had been felt on a global level during the first half of 2010. We (the planet Earth) were still on pace for the hottest year ever recorded through October. It seems very likely 2010 will end up as #1. July featured a few days of extreme heat that rivaled anything I had ever felt in Connecticut. I took the photo below with my cell phone at 1:07PM on July 6.


Yes, that says 101.1 degrees. The heat index was a horrendous number. Yuck. The next time I complain about being cold this winter please remind me of that photo. The question on my mind right now is whether or not KBDR, the weather station at Bridgeport’s airport in Stratford, will finally post a month with lower than average temperatures. January 2010 ended up as 0.2 degrees below average. Since then every month has been warmer (and in most cases much warmer) than usual. Here are the measured 2010 averages, in Fahrenheit, for each month with the departure from normal in parentheses:

January: 29.7 (-0.2)
February: 32.5 (+0.6)
March: 45.0 (+5.5)
April: 53.9 (+5.0)
May: 62.1 (+3.1)
June: 71.8 (+3.8)
July: 78.3 (+4.0)
August: 75.1 (+2.0)
September: 69.3 (+3.6)
October: 56.5 (+1.8)
November (through the 22nd): 46.8 (+0.4)

This one is going to come down to the wire. I know many of the birds are enjoying the warmth of the past few days. The Fork-tailed Flycatcher must have certainly felt more at home. I stopped by Cove Island Park to see it yesterday and it was still eating plenty of insects. This latest round of warmth will end as a cold front passes through in mere hours. There is a slight chance of seeing some frozen precipitation on Thanksgiving - can you imagine watching a Fork-tailed Flycatcher in the snow? I hope it moves on sooner rather than later.


Photo © Scott Kruitbosch

Ipswich comparison

Stratford Point always hosts the "Ipswich" Savannah Sparrow in the fall and winter. This subspecies is a bit larger, heavier, and much paler than other more common Savannah Sparrows. The differences are noticeable enough that it used to be its own species. I know it is a frequent target of experienced birders. I snapped a quick comparison photo when I had the chance to yesterday morning.

You should be able to see that the bird on the right is larger, despite being further away from me than the one on the left. It is also much lighter in color. At Stratford Point, the Ipswich sparrows can most often be found near the beach. They are also sometimes around the seawall, as this one was, with other Savannah Sparrows. I am very glad we can now specifically enter the Ipswich as a subspecies in eBird rather than lumping it with the rest of the Savannah Sparrows.


Photo © Scott Kruitbosch