September 30th 2006. Lighthouse Point Park, New Haven, CT. Red-headed Woodpecker (Adult), and Merlin ('Taiga' form) I dropped down to the Connecticut Coast this morning hoping for a decent day of migration after yesterday’s weak cold front moved through bringing a sudden drop in temperature with weak NW winds. Alas, it wasn’t to be but I had an enjoyable morning in the park anyhow having some of my best views of Red-headed Woodpecker, a stunning adult. I also bumped into Julian Hough, another displaced Brit living in New England, and a prominent member of the Connecticut birding scene. Other highlights for the morning included; Merlin - Stunning views of a fearless bird of the ‘Taiga’ form. Sat on a post for about 45 minutes next to my car. Common Nighthawk - 1 quartering over a reed bed at first light but not thereafter. Blue Jay - Some rather large flocks totaling about 450 birds. Cedar Waxwing - a total of about 350 before 11am. Wood Thrush - 1 at the park entrance at first light. Scarlet Tanager - 1 male migrating with a Blue Jay flock. Dickcissel - 4, all fly over single migrants, one of which was with Julian Hough. Other birds included small numbers of Northern Harriers, Ospreys, Sharp-shinned Hawks, American Pipits, Blackpoll Warblers, and Golden-crowned Kinglets and singles of Yellow Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Purple Finch. A trip to Milford Point later in the morning produced no sign of the previously reported Northern Wheatear with the only birds of note being an American Golden Plover and 3 American Oystercatchers. Images taken using Canon Powershot A540 through Swarovski HD Telescope. |
    Flight image taken through 8x42 binoculars. |
 'Taiga Merlin'  |