Under Clear Skies

Golden-crowned Sparrow – Luke Tiller

Once again whilst heading to Eaton Canyon to look to take a couple of sparrow pictures I managed to run into the White-throated Sparrow that I am assuming is the same bird that I saw on  December 4th. I hadn’t seen the bird since initially discovering him, even though I pop down to Eaton Canyon most days. The snap below shows what appears to be the same adult bird.

White-throated Sparrow – Luke Tiller

Compared to the photo in the post below it certainly looks like the same individual. Anyway as I was shooting this bird a second White-throated Sparrow suddenly popped up in a nearby bush, which appeared to be a distinctly ‘tan-striped’ form. I didn’t have time to get great looks (or a good picture) of the bird, but I think you can make enough out on this record shot of the bird to see that it was a different individual.

White-thoated Sparrow – Luke Tiller

I did my best to try get more shots of the second bird but it was only in view a couple of times and always buried at the shady base of some shrub. Still there are obviously two White-throats there. Even if they are a pig to find when they get buried down in the brush, maybe there being two of them at least increases chances of picking them up for the Christmas Bird Count if they stick in.

The birds have moved down canyon a bit it seems, and were both were snapped just along the entrance path 50 yards downhill from the entrance on Midwick Drive.

White-throated Sparrow – Luke tiller

Today I popped out to Eaton Canyon to try and get pictures of some western sparrows, especially some of the Golden-crowneds and juncos. Unfortunately the only decent shot I managed to get was of an eastern sparrow. This White-throated Sparrow was loosely associating with some juncos (none cooperative for pictures!!!) along the stream bed on the west side of the canyon. More specifically,  heading north from the Midwick Drive entrance walk along the bank until you hit a group of four or so Sycamores. It was hanging out there just as the stream bed got wet.  Yesterday I also got some horrific shots of a Slate-colored type Junco that is hanging around Catherine’s house here. It seems like weird sparrows have a habit of following me around 😉

Barred Owl – Luke Tiller

After the day ended, a drive down Riversville to go get a bar of chocolate turned up this little beauty. Deteriorating light didn’t help my chances of getting a killer shot, but it was a lovely way to end a great season here at Quaker Ridge.

Common Redpoll – Luke Tiller

Last official day of the season here at Quaker Ridge.  The raptors were essentially a no show, but the winter finches put in an appearance to give everyone something to get excited about. First up was a singleton White-winged Crossbill that dropped in on the lonely blue spruce a few hundred yards downhill from the watch for a minute or two. About half an hour later this little guy appeared, as if by magic, on the bird feeder I had just yesterday hung at the bottom of the hawkwatch lawn.

Common Redpoll – Luke Tiller

There’s always been something romantic about ‘winter’ finches. Wondering where they’ve come from, how they survive in the harsh climates they inhabit and whether they’ve ever laid eyes on a person before their encounter with you. Lets face it it’s pretty light population wise up in and even beyond those boreal forests. Today we tallied 4 Common Redpolls, 2 White-winged Crossbills, 3 Red Crossbills, Pine Siskin, 2 Purple Finches and one final rarity 2 Mute Swans heading east fairly high over the watch – not sure I recall ever seeing them here before? A fine end to the season rounded out by a Barred Owl as I drove to the store post count (pictures later).

Common Redpoll – Luke Tiller

Thanks to everyone who stopped by on the day to say farewell. ‘It’s been emotional!’

Junco – Bill Asteriades

Not that it’s changing my revised opinion that this bird from East Shore Park in New Haven is somewhere more in the realm of Oregon Junco than Pink-sided, I thought this picture from Bill Asterides was at least a better feel for how the bird looked in the field once it was in the light. Still inclined to agree with Mark Szantyr’s interpretation of both colors and extensiveness of flank coloration leaning towards Oregon, but still an interesting looking bird nonetheless.

I see the Audubon’s Warbler was relocated today. I wonder if people got pictures – is it possible the Audubon’s from Stratford, Milford and New Haven are all the same bird? East Shore really is an amazing spot, probably unique in Connecticut, and needs to be hit every day by some good birders in late fall – otherwise how are we ever going to get the state’s first Townsend’s Warbler 😉

Possible Pink-sided Junco – Bob Rocco

So this is the best picture I have been sent of the bird. Anybody got any thoughts? Looks like the bird has dark lores, a pale throat, extensive pink flanks (which look less pink in this picture – taken in shade). Definitely appreciate comments on this difficult bird. More pictures will be posted once I get them

Northern Saw-whet Owl – Luke Tiller

Another fun day at the hawkwatch. Not down to the hawks particularly, or in fact anything else that flew overhead, but mainly down to stumbling on this awesome little guy somewhere out in the vicinity of North Greenwich (no details – by order of the COA).

I managed to come upon this diminuitive little owl after being directed to his presence by a rather alarmed trio of White-throated Sparrows. They were chipping furiously and as I approached them, I swiftly realized that whatever had them worked up was important enough that they were completely oblivious to me. I already had Saw-whet in mind as the likely culprit as I peered through the tangle and discovered this cutie snugly hunkered down in a mass of vines and branches.

Northern Saw-whet Owl – Catherine Hamilton

I have to say it never ceases to amaze me when I find one of these things. I think this is the first time I’ve discovered a Saw-whet thanks to some help from some mobbing passerines and although I had it in my mind that this is what they had tracked down it was still something of a shock that the bird turned out to be there. I remember having the same feeling of surprise when I first looked up from a pile of pellets and white wash (probably the thousandth I’d checked) to discover my lifer sitting in a Red Cedar at Saugatuck Falls one winter.

Northern Saw-whet Owl – Luke Tiller

Although I am usually reluctant to share information about owl sightings (you’ve heard the horror stories…) I had to try and get a few people on the owl. I think everyone who works at the center enjoyed heading seeing him and best of all we managed to share this special bird, and moment, with some very thrilled 2nd Grade kids who were visiting Audubon Greenwich on the day.

Cave Swallows yesterday, Saw-whet today, what can come next? Personally I’ve got my fingers crossed for Bohemian Waxwings, Evening and Pine Grosbeaks! Only time will tell…

Cave Swallow – Luke Tiller

After speaking with friends up on Lake Ontario on Monday and hearing that they had a decent but by no means large flight of Cave Swallows I had my toes, fingers and all other parts that I could, crossed for these little Texan beauties putting in an appearance at the watch either yesterday or today. Well I got my wish and some lousy (but diagnostic) pictures to go with.

Cave Swallow – Luke Tiller

There appeared to be only three birds but they circled around a few times over the building and fields over the watch allowing Stefan Martin, Tom Baptist and Catherine Hamilton (who all showed up after the first appeared) to join myself and Bill Wallace in enjoying the show.

Cave Swallow – Luke Tiller

Hopefully a couple more will put in an appearance over the day!!!!

Cave Swallow – Luke Tiller

Lincoln’s Sparrow – Luke Tiller

I have to say I’ve always been the biggest fan of sparrows. I guess starting doing most of my ‘serious’ birding at Allen’s Meadows might have played a part in that. Although the Neotropical migrants are more brilliant and gaudy there’s something just so beautiful about the intricacies of sparrow markings and coloration.

Lincoln’s Sparrow – Luke Tiller

Last weekend myself and old friends Joe Bear and Brian O’Toole lead the COA Sparrow Workshop down at Allen’s. It was a great day out, but out of all the sparrows we connected with (Clay-colored, multiple Vespers and hordes of White-crowned Sparrows) we missed probably my favorite: Lincoln’s Sparrow. Luckily a few have been sticking around the Audubon here in Greenwich and the other day one was accommodating enough to sit still for a few pictures.

Lincoln’s Sparrow – Luke Tiller

To think people have the temerity to call these ‘little brown jobs’. Time to look closer my friends….

Chinese Mantis – Luke Tiller

A nice start to the day when Catherine Hamilton and I picked up the distinctive metallic chip of a Blue Grosbeak out in the field here at Quaker Ridge Hawkwatch. After spending a while  tracking the bird down, to get at least a couple of record shots, we finally found it hanging out on a grass stem at the edge of the main path.

Blue Grosbeak – Catherine Hamilton

As we were watching the bird, a Chinese Mantis flew in near to the bird and landed on the ground. The mantis is an introduced species used here for pest control, although in my experience here they seem happiest munching honey bees as they are any particular pest species.

Blue Grosbeak – Catherine Hamilton

The grosbeak seemed to size up the mantis for a couple of seconds before diving down and striking the insect with its rather impressive bill. The Grosbeak took a few careful lunges, backing up each time to carefully assess this unusual prey item (I’ve seen pictures of mantis eating hummingbirds so it might be a good idea not to get tagged by the thing).

Blue Grosbeak – Catherine Hamilton

Although not NatGeo quality, we got a couple of record shots of the action. In a couple of pictures you can even see the nictitating membrane coming down over the birds eyes to protect itself whilst it makes its attacks. A pretty sensible course of action I would think! After knocking the mantis down and stunning or killing it, the grosbeak grabbed the mantis and then flew off to devour it somewhere away from prying eyes.

Blue Grosbeak – Catherine Hamilton

Pretty cool watching this bird that I usually associate with munching down on weed seed heads taking quite such an active role in getting itself a decent meal. It almost reminded me of a shrike the way it used its rather heavy, clublike bill to take on this somewhat formidable prey item.

Blue Grosbeak – Catherine Hamilton

The last shot was taken just before the bird flew off to have a late breakfast. A Blue Grosbeak in Connecticut is still pretty good in and of itself, but the battle royale with the Mantis was really what made the experience an exciting one. I hope you enjoyed the series of shots.