Grasshopper Sparrow
Here’s another winter treat from earlier this week – a Grasshopper Sparrow! This bird should have been spending its holidays wintering in the southern U.S. or Central America. However, our friend Paul Fusco spotted this little one feeding in open grass along a trail. This was before the major snowfall on Thursday, and conditions have only worsened. We put some seed out for it that the bird was enjoying at the time. Hopefully it kept moving south before the latest storm and found refuge in other locations like this. Grasshopper Sparrows are another grasslands species with a...
Read MoreHarlequin Duck at Stratford Point
Today we were fortunate enough to host a drake Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) at Stratford Point as found by our friend Tom Murray. I took the below photo in the later afternoon during a brief moment when the sun came out from behind the clouds. These additional shots were taken earlier in the morning under those aforementioned clouds while the duck was feeding, swimming, preening, and loving those rocks as the species always does. Harlequin Ducks are a relatively rare visitor for us in Connecticut. If it is anything like the last drake Harlequin (could it be the same bird?) that...
Read MoreSunset on Stratford Point
Everyone seemed to enjoy these sunset photos from last week at Stratford Point so I thought I would share them with all of you here, too. It has been so satisfying to see our gorgeous gardens being so busy after a year of hard work by staff and volunteers watering, weeding, planting additions, and maintaining everything we have to offer our pollinators and birds. We are all eager to see what sparrows arrive to feed on the many seeds in our plots during the most sparrow-y month of the year. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreRTPI Protecting Pollinators
How many Monarchs have you seen this year? Anecdotal reports that I have heard- along with my own personal experiences – seem to indicate this was an improved season for one of our favorite butterflies. RTPI’s partnership and collaborative work at Audubon Connecticut at Stratford Point with Audubon Connecticut plus Sacred Heart University and the Connecticut Butterfly Association continues to aid our pollinators with expanded gardens and grasslands fueling or hosting dozens and dozens of species each day. I will show you more of our 2017 accomplishments soon, but for now please...
Read MoreJanuary Sunset
This has been a tough winter for sunsets with either inclement weather and overcast skies or often low, dark clouds covering up the sun slipping under the horizon. However, last night was an exception for us at Stratford Point as we were treated to this sight. The snow is gone! Will we be getting more soon instead of setting record highs? Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
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