Salt Meadow Birding

What is certainly notable in this post is that my intent to highlight Connecticut's Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge Salt Meadow Unit did not pan out as I had hoped.

The Glossy Ibis above (image 1) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

This presentation in part offers a chased after White-face Ibis from Hammonasset Beach State Park in April which was of course reported as a rare bird for its location and resulted in a life bird for me. This species can reliably be seen along the Texas Gulf Coast with it personally sought after unsuccessfully in the Florida Panhandle in past years. The WFIB lingered in the immediate area for weeks.

The White-faced Ibis above (image 2) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Brant above (image 3) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

Several birding trips were made to offer fodder for your reading interest. It was much fun watching the Brant in the heavy surf as seen in the image above. The tides at Hammonasset Beach State Park have been significantly different on all of my visits to this magnificent wildlife venue.

The Sanderling above (image 4) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Glossy Ibis above (image 5) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Double-crested Cormorant above (image 6) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Bobcat above (image 7) was photographed at Casa Almeida in April 2018.

The Bobcat above at a private residence in Killingworth was remarkable to see. Only outdone by a Red Fox that was observed carrying off an Eastern Gray Squirrel from the bird sanctuary.

The Golden-crowned Kinglet above (image 8) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Golden-crowned Kinglet above (image 9) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Northern Cardinal above (image 10) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Golden-crowned Kinglet above (image 11) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Golden-crowned Kinglet offered great photo opportunity and interest at Hammonasset Beach State Park. It slightly compares to the Golden-crowned Warbler reported in the American Birding Association blog as an extremely rare bird seen of late in Colorado, not to mention the ABA area itself.

The Chipping Sparrow above (image 12) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Red-breasted Merganser above (image 13) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Purple Martin above (image 14) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Osprey above (image 15) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Snowy Egret above (image 16) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Light at Falkner Island above (image 17) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Greater Scaup above (image 18) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Killdeer above (image 19) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Northern Harrier above (image 20) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Tree Swallow above (image 21) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Ruby-crowned Kinglet above (image 22) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

Bird species like Yellow-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglet among warblers are most likely seen at Hammonasset at their appropriate migration periods.

The Greater Yellowlegs above (image 23) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Surf Scoter above (image 24) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Little Blue Heron above (image 25) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The American Black Duck above (image 26) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

There was enjoyable interest in a band on one of the American Black Duck that lingered at the park at the time of my April visit. I was able to determine that the band was translucent which makes it especially unusual.

The Double-crested Cormorant above (image 27) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Chipping Sparrow above (image 28) was photographed at Stewart B. McKinney NWR Salt Meadow Unit in April 2018.

The mainly scenic images offered from the Stewart B. McKinney NWR Salt Meadow Unit were made with my phone. Bird activity was much more abundant on my first visit to the refuge.

The Eastern Towhee above (image 29) was photographed at Stewart B. McKinney NWR Salt Meadow Unit in April 2018.

The scene above (image 30) was photographed at Stewart B. McKinney NWR Salt Meadow Unit in April 2018.

The scene above (image 31) was photographed at Stewart B. McKinney NWR Salt Meadow Unit in April 2018.

The scene above (image 32) was photographed at Stewart B. McKinney NWR Salt Meadow Unit in April 2018.

The scene above (image 33) was photographed at Stewart B. McKinney NWR Salt Meadow Unit in April 2018.

The trails at the Stewart B. McKinney NWR Salt Meadow Unit should not be missed. It was interesting to meet a hiker from Westbrook outside of the venue that noted Chatfield Hollow Sate Park as preferred hiking grounds while unaware the sweet place in her relative backyard.

The scene above (image 34) was photographed at Stewart B. McKinney NWR Salt Meadow Unit in April 2018.

The scene above (image 35) was photographed at Stewart B. McKinney NWR Salt Meadow Unit in April 2018.

The scene above (image 36) was photographed at Stewart B. McKinney NWR Salt Meadow Unit in April 2018.

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The scene above (image 37) was photographed at Stewart B. McKinney NWR Salt Meadow Unit in April 2018.

The bonus image immediately below is of a Red-bellied Woodpecker that struck a window of the house on Christmas Eve. It was stunned, but survived.

The Red-bellied Woodpecker above (image 38) was photographed at Casa Almeida in December 2017.

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.

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