Trip Highlights

Four members walked 3 miles at Mt Tom this morning, despite rain in the forecast. The total bird species count was 35, with several excellent sightings.  See complete list below.

Canada Goose  8 - Andrea

Mourning Dove  1

Great Blue Heron  1 - Jim saw the trailing legs.

Black Vulture  1 - Seen by all, silver wingtips.

Turkey Vulture  5

Bald Eagle  3 - Stationary above the mountain.

Red-tailed Hawk  1

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1

Red-bellied Woodpecker  1

Downy Woodpecker  1

Pileated Woodpecker  1

Peregrine Falcon  3 - Seen and heard by all. Two flew left away from the cliff face while one remained, calling. Known nesting area.

Eastern Phoebe  1

Great Crested Flycatcher  2

Red-eyed Vireo  3

Blue Jay  5

Common Raven  1

Black-capped Chickadee  3 - One carrying nesting material.

Tufted Titmouse  3

Gray Catbird  1

Wood Thrush  5

American Robin  4

House Sparrow  2

White-throated Sparrow  1

Eastern Towhee  4

Red-winged Blackbird  1

Brown-headed Cowbird  1

Ovenbird  1

Worm-eating Warbler  1 - Heard only.

Black-and-white Warbler  2

Black-throated Blue Warbler  1

Black-throated Green Warbler  1

Scarlet Tanager  2

Northern Cardinal  3

Rose-breasted Grosbeak  3

Rain hampered our walk, but a few members stayed on to enjoy the songs of Veery, Red-winged Blackbirds and Grackles. Though there were no ducks in sight, we did see muskrats and lovely Painted Trillium to brighten the walk.

Seven members joined the refuge walk this morning and identified a total of 36 species.  See complete list below.

Trip canceled - rain.

Fourteen Club members, led by John Weeks, toured the Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve, crown jewel of the Granby (CT) Land Trust.  The weather could have been better, but the rain held off, and we were able to find 44 species during our visit.  There were few warblers, aside from summer residents, and no rarities were encountered.  We enjoyed excellent views of Baltimore Oriole, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Yellow Warbler and Common Yellowthroat; two Virginia Rails and a Barred Owl pestered by an oriole and a Red-winged Blackbird were special treats.  Spring ephemerals such as marsh marigolds, bluets, white violets, wood anemones and fringed polygalas offered touches of color, and two otters cavorting in the pond were a hit with the group. View complete species list below.