Indian River Marshes, Clinton, CT And More

A nice pit stop for quick or significantly longer predominantly marsh and shorebird observations can be readily made in and around Indian River Marshes on the north shore of the Long Island Sound in the town of Clinton.

The Northern Harrier above (image 1) was photographed at Indian River Marshes in February 2018.

What you may experience as you might imagine at this venue is greatly going to be influenced by the tidal action. I have found ideally timed observations are close to low tide withn the Indian River marsh.

The Great Black-backed Gull above (image 2) was photographed at Indian River Marshes in February 2018.

The Great Black-backed Gull above (image 3) was photographed at Indian River Marshes in February 2018.

This has been a fun venue to investigate without plans. While merely driving by, be sure to stop in and see what the conditions of the waters are and determine whether more than a few minutes of your time are warranted including time in the adjacent properties while respecting the private ones.

The Hooded Merganser above (image 4) was photographed at Indian River Marshes in February 2018.

The Song Sparrow above (image 5) was photographed at Indian River Marshes in February 2018.

It has been a challenge to endure harsh cold conditions this winter. I mean harsh as the body shivers all over for the mere observation of something that is certainly more tolerable of the frigid conditions on a 24/7 basis than me.

The Mourning Dove above (image 6) was photographed at Indian River Marshes in March 2018.

The Hooded Merganser above (image 7) was photographed at Indian River Marshes in March 2018.

Birds in this post are documented from image #1 through #18 at Indian River Marshes. I consider it unfortunate that much of what I've seen at Indian River Marshes was not photographed due to unplanned stops without the camera with otherwise exciting observations.

The Northern Mockingbird above (image 8) was photographed at Indian River Marshes in March 2018.

The Canada Goose above (image 9) was photographed at Indian River Marshes in March 2018.

Within a mere handful of visits to IRM it has been fortuitous to see more than a third of the species that have been documented at the venue at eBird. This is not meant to be overstated as under a hundred species have been observed by others at this locale that I'm aware of at the time of this writing.

The Red-tailed Hawk above (image 10) was photographed at Indian River Marshes in March 2018.

The Canada Goose above (image 11) was photographed at Indian River Marshes in March 2018.

It's a beautiful place to visit nonetheless and should not be missed if travel opportunities allow. Try for that lower tide again if you are able.

The Common Grackle above (image 12) was photographed at Indian River Marshes in March 2018.

The European Starling above (image 13) was photographed at Indian River Marshes in March 2018.

Included in this post beyond its intended scope is a new yard species seen before mid-March. A pair of apparent breeding Wood Duck were seen in appropriate habitat for their plans with the male cropped from an image captured of the waterfowl.

The scene above (image 14) was photographed at Indian River Marshes in March 2018.

The Canada Goose above (image 15) was photographed at Indian River Marshes in March 2018.

Before the month of March was over there were reports of another excitedly rare Varied Thrush in New England this year at Great Pond State Forest in Simsbury, Connecticut. I failed to see the thrush, but made an enjoyable walk around the pond with the decades old rhododendrons towering over the trail a highlight.

The Mute Swan above (image 16) was photographed at Indian River Marshes in March 2018.

The Mute Swan above (image 17) was photographed at Indian River Marshes in March 2018.

A pair of Brown Creepers, a Golden-crowned Kinglet, and not to mention some interesting birders I spoke with were additional highlights during the chase for the thrush. At least one other birder had commented on seeing the expected variety (Hermit).

The Green-winged Teal above (image 18) was photographed at Indian River Marshes in March 2018.

The scene above (image 19) was photographed at Indian River Marshes in March 2018.

The yard birds continue to provide interest for daily observations foremost with a local stop an additional reward, and that occasional long distance road trip a reminder of the greater enjoyment of being a very diligent birder.

The Wood Duck above (image 20) was photographed at Casa Almeida in March 2018.

The Brown Creeper above (image 21) was photographed at Great Pond State Forest in March 2018.

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

The Canada Goose above (image 22) was photographed at Great Pond State Forest in March 2018.

Snowy Owl At Long Beach Connecticut

Slightly east of Bridgeport and south of Stratford lies a magnificent wildlife venue called Long Beach.

The Snowy Owl above (image 1) was photographed at Long Beach in December 2017.

With adjacent Pleasure Beach it is noted that they comprise more than 25% of Connecticut's remaining undeveloped beachfront property.

The Dunlin with Sanderling above (image 2) was photographed at Long Beach in December 2017.

The Canada Goose above (image 3) was photographed at Long Beach in December 2017.

The Ring-billed Gull above (image 4) was photographed at Long Beach in December 2017.

The Sanderling above (image 5) was photographed at Long Beach in December 2017.

A sunrise visit was made to Long Beach which is bordered by the Long Island Sound and Lewis Gut on 20 December. The wind chill was brutally cold but I managed to make it to the fourth jetty before I was compelled to turn back occasionally taking refuge from the wind on the Lewis Gut side of the beach.

The Great Black-backed Gull with prey above (image 6) was photographed at Long Beach in December 2017.

The Great Black-backed Gull with prey above (image 7) was photographed at Long Beach in December 2017.

The Sanderling with prey above (image 8) was photographed at Long Beach in December 2017.

The Herring Gull above (image 9) was photographed at Long Beach in December 2017.

With good fortune a Great Black-backed Gull was finally observed with prey. Although the species had been personally observed loafing on a few earlier occasions, this gull might be expected to be seen engaging in particularly brutal survival tactics.

The Bufflehead above (image 10) was photographed at Long Beach in December 2017.

The Common Loon above (image 11) was photographed at Long Beach in December 2017.

The American Black Duck above (image 12) was photographed at Long Beach in December 2017.

The Sanderling with Dunlin and Ring-billed Gull above (image 13) was photographed at Long Beach in December 2017.

The Gut is where I observed Bufflehead, Common Loon and American Black Duck. I was quite surprised not to inadvertently flush any sparrows in an ideal habitat for them.

The Common Goldeneye above (image 14) was photographed at Long Beach in December 2017.

The Long-tailed Duck above (image 15) was photographed at Long Beach in December 2017.

The Long-tailed Duck above (image 16) was photographed at Long Beach in December 2017.

The Long-tailed Duck above (image 17) was photographed at Long Beach in December 2017.

It was particularly entertaining to observe Sanderling and Dunlin feeding upon the steep piles of shells washed ashore by the high tides. The shell slides the birds would create did not deter their efforts in the slightest.

The Dunlin with Sanderling above (image 18) was photographed at Long Beach in December 2017.

The Sanderling with Dunlin above (image 19) was photographed at Long Beach in December 2017.

The Sanderling with Dunlin above (image 20) was photographed at Long Beach in December 2017.

The Sanderling above (image 21) was photographed at Long Beach in December 2017.

The highlights of the trip to Long Beach were a pair of Snowy Owl and observation of many Long-tailed Duck as a new life bird. On 24 December, eBirder's David Alpeter and Mike Carretta reported observation of four Snowy Owl at Long Beach.

The Long-tailed Duck above (image 22) was photographed at Long Beach in December 2017.

The Snowy Owl above (image 23) was photographed at Long Beach in December 2017.

The Snowy Owl above (image 24) was photographed at Long Beach in December 2017.

The Herring Gull above (image 25) was photographed at Long Beach in December 2017.

My thanks to master wildlife Blogger Hemant Kishan for bringing the Snowy Owl irruption to my attention which resulted in my trip to see them. I am grateful to SW Florida blogger Tom Obrock as well for providing me occasional reports of stellar regional bird rarities that are regrettably too far away to chase.

The Long-tailed Duck above (image 26) was photographed at Long Beach in December 2017.

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

The Snowy Owl above (image 27) was photographed at Long Beach in December 2017.

Feature: Stratford Point, Connecticut

While the Stratford Point Light remains the property of the United States Coast Guard, and has very limited access save a day or two during the year, the green space to its immediate north is maintained by Audubon Connecticut.

The Common Loon above (image 1) was photographed at Stratford Point in October 2017.

This land offers a stunning coastal grassland area near the mouth of the Housatonic River which has of this writing 282 species of bird observed according to eBird data. It was my hope to visit Stratford Point and observe the LeConte's and Clay-colored Sparrows seen a day earlier at the venue.

The Herring Gull above (image 2) was photographed at Stratford Point in October 2017.

The Mallard above (image 3) was photographed at Stratford Point in October 2017.

The Brant above (image 4) was photographed at Stratford Point in October 2017.

The Brant above (image 5) was photographed at Stratford Point in October 2017.

The Song Sparrow above (image 6) was photographed at Stratford Point in October 2017.

It was unfortunate to miss such rare species even with the added eyes of many experienced birders, but I was able to nonetheless add Red-throated Loon, Field Sparrow, and Brant as life bird species observed.

The Savannah Sparrow above (image 7) was photographed at Stratford Point in October 2017.

The Song Sparrow above (image 8) was photographed at Stratford Point in October 2017.

The Double-crested Cormorant above (image 9) was photographed at Stratford Point in October 2017.

The House Sparrow above (image 10) was photographed at Stratford Point in October 2017.

The House Sparrow above (image 11) was photographed at Stratford Point in October 2017.

The Vesper Sparrow above (image 12) was photographed at Stratford Point in October 2017.

Stratford Point is unquestionably a wildlife venue that would not disappoint a visitor at any time of year. It was with good fortune that I was also able to see abundant butterfly activity. The unsuccessful attempt by a Merlin to capture a migrating Monarch Butterfly will not easily be forgotten.

The Field Sparrow above (image 13) was photographed at Stratford Point in October 2017.

The Merlin above (image 14) was photographed at Stratford Point in October 2017.

The Merlin above (image 15) was photographed at Stratford Point in October 2017.

The Common Yellowthroat above (image 16) was photographed at Stratford Point in October 2017.

The White-tailed Deer above (image 17) was photographed at Stratford Point in October 2017.

The House Sparrow above (image 18) was photographed at Stratford Point in October 2017.

There was the neat coincidence to meet up with a fellow birding enthusiast named Paul whom I had met at Donald W. Barnes Boat Launch earlier in the year. Another birder told me of the nearby Mondo Ponds which I investigated enjoyably before making the trek back along the highway.

The Monarch Butterfly above (image 19) was photographed at Stratford Point in October 2017.

The American Crow above (image 20) was photographed at Stratford Point in October 2017.

The Orange Sulpher Butterfly above (image 21) was photographed at Stratford Point in October 2017.

The Great Black-backed Gull above (image 22) was photographed at Stratford Point in October 2017.

The Great Black-backed Gull above (image 23) was photographed at Stratford Point in October 2017.

The Ring-billed Gull above (image 24) was photographed at Stratford Point in October 2017.

Stratford Point is unquestionably a must visit venue when in the area. Have all of your accoutrements with you including bins, scope and camera if available. A scope would have been especially helpful to me if I had it to assist in identifying a large flock of gulls.

The Red-throated Loon above (image 25) was photographed at Stratford Point in October 2017.

The Field Sparrow above (image 26) was photographed at Stratford Point in October 2017.

The Painted Lady Butterfly above (image 27) was photographed at Stratford Point in October 2017.

The Song Sparrow above (image 28) was photographed at Stratford Point in October 2017.

The Milkweed bug nymphs above (image 29) were photographed at Stratford Point in October 2017.

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

The Common Buckeye Butterfly above (image 30) was photographed at Stratford Point in October 2017.