Least Terns
Here is one of those birds that would have been extirpated if not for the Migratory Bird Treaty Act – the Least Tern (Sternula antillarum). One of the focal species of the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, Least Terns were a target of the millinery (hat-making) trade and market hunting nearly wiped them out. Besides such a direct threat these birds must also be legally protected from harm via unaware beachgoers and unfortunately the select few who still wish to ignorantly hurt them in some way if we want them to make it through the 21st century. These photos show courtship in...
Read MoreRuddy Turnstone
This beautiful Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) was one of several feeding at Stratford Point in Stratford, Connecticut recently along with a small group of Semipalmated Sandpipers. Migrant shorebirds are now finishing moving north through the state, and it is hard to believe that in two months we will have many flying south. Please keep sharing any Connecticut eBird checklists with shorebirds, terns or long-legged waders with us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com, thanks!
Read MoreDunlin (Calidris alpina)
The Dunlin (Calidris alpina) are really starting to molt into their breeding plumage now, with birds like this one at Stratford Point in Stratford, Connecticut coming along nicely. Once it wraps up changing into its summer suit it will be on its way to the tundra. You can see so many shorebirds in May, and just in the last couple days at this one site there were also Semipalmated Plovers, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Sanderling, Short-billed Dowitchers, Black-bellied Plovers, Piping Plovers, American Oystercatchers, Lesser Yellowlegs, Killdeer and Least Sandpipers, all being recorded by us in...
Read MoreWater Merlin
Those falcons sure do love their water! They know that birds are in the open, exposed, sometimes exhausted and usually abundant along bodies of water including oceans, rivers, lakes, swamps and more. At this time of year, with so many birds on the move back to the north, hunting along and over water makes life easier for a falcon like this Merlin, able to snag prey that is already in a foreign place and tired from a long journey across the globe. Clever predator.
Read MoreAmerican Oystercatchers Relaxing
American Oystercatchers have been pairing off across Connecticut, and a few sites and birds have been reported as copulating. However, like the Piping Plover, we still have no confirmed nests likely because of the continuing cold conditions at times. With the warm-up of the last few days and late April coming there will be eggs soon. Until then these birds were relaxing on the beach out of the wind and tucking in their bills for a midday nap.
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