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.

Church Road And Harns Marsh Preserve

Ron Bishop was the first I am aware of to report the return of Felda, Florida, Church Road specialties Western Kingbird and Scissor-tailed Flycatcher on 1 November.

The sunrise above (image 1) was photographed at Church Road in November 2015.

A couple of days later I met up with wildlife photographer Donna McMurrer for an enjoyable morning of observations at Church Road. A single Western Kingbird was seen among a pair of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers at my observation point. I'm looking forward to a few more returns to this venue this 2016 season for photo opportunities.

The Eastern Phoebe above (image 2) was photographed at Church Road in November 2015.

The Eastern Towhee above (image 3) was photographed at Church Road in November 2015.

The Eastern Towhee above (image 4) was photographed at Church Road in November 2015.

The Savannah Sparrow above (image 5) was photographed at Church Road in November 2015.

The Great Blue Heron with Little Blue Heron above (image 6) was photographed at Church Road in November 2015.

The Tree Swallow above (image 7) was photographed at Church Road in November 2015.

The Turkey Vulture above (image 8) was photographed at Church Road in November 2015.

The Northern Cardinal above (image 9) was photographed at Church Road in November 2015.

The House Wren above (image 10) was photographed at Church Road in November 2015.

It was also good to make a visit to Harns Marsh Preserve on 11 November which I had not been to in a very long while as well. The sunrise visit was rewarding with signature species of the preserve seen including Snail Kite, Limpkin, and American Bittern. Both Ed Combs and Meg Rousher were met north of the parking area.

The Downy Woodpecker above (image 11) was photographed at Church Road in November 2015.

The Red-shouldered Hawk above (image 12) was photographed at Church Road in November 2015.

The Snail Kite above (image 13) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Blue-winged Teal above (image 14) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Cattle Egret above (image 15) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Little Blue Heron above (image 16) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Ring-necked Duck above (image 17) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The American Coot above (image 18) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Ring-necked Duck above (image 19) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

I first met Ed at National Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Naples, Florida, where he was volunteering as a guide with frequency. Discussing that time with Ed it was learned that he had traveled 40,000 miles commuting during his years of service there. Certainly not appreciated enough without your awareness.

The Limpkin above (image 20) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Limpkin above (image 21) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Snail Kite above (image 22) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Snail Kite above (image 23) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Snail Kite above (image 24) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Snail Kite above (image 25) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Snail Kite above (image 26) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Snail Kite above (image 27) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Snail Kite above (image 28) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

Attempting to get to know Ed even better, it was learned that his wife shares a birthday with Hillary Clinton with his shared with Abraham Lincoln. Quite an extreme difference of historical characters I would say.

The Cattle Egret with prey above (image 29) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Snail Kite above (image 30) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Snail Kite above (image 31) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Snail Kite with prey above (image 32) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Pied-billed Grebe above (image 33) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Red-shouldered Hawk above (image 34) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The American Coot above (image 35) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Cattle Egret above (image 36) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Little Blue Heron above (image 37) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

As Ed approached my observation point at Harns Marsh, an American Bittern made an appearance with its flight seen from south to north. It was with great fortune to fire off eleven shots with the camera in the few seconds the bird was visible.

The Tricolored Heron above (image 38) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Tricolored Heron above (image 39) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Tricolored Heron above (image 40) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Tricolored Heron above (image 41) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Tricolored Heron above (image 42) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The American Coot above (image 43) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The American Bittern above (image 44) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Wilson's Snipe above (image 45) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Anhinga above (image 46) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

There was a dominant American Coot offering expected action from other birds that entered its territory. Additionally, it was particularly enjoyable to observe the behavior of a Tricolored Heron that favored the perimeter of the marsh.

The Tricolored Heron above (image 47) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Boat-tailed Grackle above (image 48) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Little Blue Heron above (image 49) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

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The juvenile Tricolored Heron above (image 50) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.