Birding By The Sea

Well, this is not actually a post about birding by the sea, but birding by the Long Island Sound at Hammonasset Beach State Park.

The Bonaparte's Gull above (image 1) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in January 2018.

Images in this post are from a trip to Hammonasset in mid-January when I met world eBirders Julie Hart and Daniel Schlaepfer with four additional visits in February. Julie was kind enough to point out the Bonaparte's and Iceland Gull at our meeting in January on one of the colder days at the park this winter.

The juvenile Iceland Gull above (image 2) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in January 2018.

The juvenile Iceland Gull above (image 3) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in January 2018.

The Surf Scoter above (image 4) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in January 2018.

The Harbor Seal above (image 5) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in January 2018.

The Dunlin above (image 6) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in January 2018.

The Greater Scaup above (image 7) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in January 2018.

The Red-tailed Hawk above (image 8) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Great Blue Heron above (image 9) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Red-tailed Hawk above (image 10) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The White-throated Sparrow above (image 11) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Northern Mockingbird above (image 12) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

Each visit to the park has become more rewarding as new areas are explored. There are in fact eleven "hotspots" at eBird for Hammonasset submissions although I only encourage the use of the primary one.

The Red-tailed Hawk above (image 13) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Dunlin above (image 14) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Purple Sandpiper above (image 15) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Ruddy Turnstone with prey above (image 16) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Ruddy Turnstone above (image 17) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Herring Gull above (image 18) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Ruddy Turnstone above (image 19) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Purple Sandpiper above (image 20) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Purple Sandpiper above (image 21) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Purple Sandpiper above (image 22) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Surf Scoter above (image 23) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Common Loon above (image 24) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

It was particularly rewarding these recent visits to the park to pick up life birds while other were left for another time. I've in fact only very recently discovered a short cut that will reduce a great deal of walking along barren beach.

The Surf Scoter above (image 25) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Red-breasted Merganser above (image 26) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Red-breasted Merganser with prey above (image 27) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Red-breasted Merganser with prey above (image 28) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Herring Gull with prey above (image 29) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Herring Gull with prey above (image 30) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Herring Gull with prey above (image 31) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Long-tailed Duck above (image 32) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Common Goldeneye above (image 33) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Common Goldeneye above (image 34) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The 1st year Bald Eagle above (image 35) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Red-tailed Hawk above (image 36) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

It was particularly interesting on these trips to Hammonasset to observe the Herring Gull at far right eat snow for its source of water as seen in image #18. All images have a rewarding memory of travels through the park.

The Red-tailed Hawk above (image 37) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The White-winged Scoter above (image 38) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Snowy Owl above (image 39) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Harbor Seal above (image 40) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Long-tailed Duck above (image 41) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Merlin above (image 42) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Cedar Waxwing above (image 43) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Cedar Waxwing above (image 44) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Cooper's Hawk above (image 45) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Great Black-backed Gull above (image 46) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Rock Pigeon above (image 47) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Cedar Waxwing above (image 48) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

With time it is hoped that additional great rewards may be found at the park including photography of the resident Fox Sparrow.

The Black-capped Chickadee above (image 49) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Red-necked Grebe above (image 50) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Bufflehead above (image 51) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Downy Woodpecker above (image 52) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Horned Lark above (image 53) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Killdeer above (image 54) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Red-breasted Merganser above (image 55) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Surf Scoter above (image 56) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Brant above (image 57) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Red-winged Blackbird above (image 58) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Red-winged Blackbird above (image 59) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

The Hooded Merganser above (image 60) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

How many Harbor Seal can you count in image #40?.

The Mute Swan above (image 61) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.

Please be sure to be reminded about this Wildlife Blog with the email gadget located at the top of the page.

The Mute Swan above (image 62) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in February 2018.