Crab Breakfast
Did you have crab for breakfast today? I know someone who did…Harley the Harlequin Duck certainly knows fine dining. He also enjoys mussels that are easier to hold on to in that bill. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreHarlequin Duck
Come on, this is getting ridiculous – Harley, our drake Harlequin Duck at Stratford Point, looks absolutely stupendous with his nearly completed beautiful blue plumage. The blue water really brings out his tones even more. Please stay with us for the winter, Harley! We think he will be off to find a hen, or at least some other members of his own species, once his molt is complete, but we have our fingers crossed that he has enjoyed his time with us and may consider sticking around. In all seriousness a bird like this is an inspirational one in that it brings in all sorts of non-birders...
Read MoreWhite-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
This White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) thought it was completely hidden from my sight – nice try, my friend! It is an adult who, as you can also see, still had some crumbs on its mouth…or bits of seeds on its bill. Close enough. Go out and have a tremendously birdy Sunday with the many sparrows passing through our area right now. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreLate Eastern Kingbirds
These Eastern Kingbirds (Tyrannus tyrannus) are running a bit behind schedule, and September 30 is now the latest sighting of the species I have had in Connecticut. These photos are of two continuing birds at Stratford Point, the first two shots of the same individual taken against the blue sky on September 28, and the other two being one of each while viewed simultaneously after a cold frontal passage today on September 30. My previous late date was September 19, 2011 at the Boothe Park Hawk Watch. Fortunately for these birds it has been an extremely and historically warm September, but...
Read MoreParasitic Jaeger
Here are a couple greats photos of a Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus) via our friend, superb birder and expert naturalist Frank Mantlik as seen from Stratford Point a couple of weeks ago. Long Island Sound has been alive with everything from humpback whale sightings to various uncommon or rare fish, turtles and birds. This Parasitic Jaeger looks like an intermediate morph juvenile, and you can see it chasing a juvenile Laughing Gull in one of the photos. We observed this behavior from at least a few individual Parasitic Jaegers over several days during feeding frenzies involving...
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