Birds of late January

So what have we seen lately in the snow? Not much…though word comes today that our friend Tina Green may have found the first Common Murre for the state of Connecticut at Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison. Congratulations to her! Here are some photos of some of what else has been going on…

This male Eastern Towhee decided my yard was a fantastic spot and has moved in for the time being. I wonder where he was until now!

A more surprising yard visitor has been this Field Sparrow, a rare bird in Connecticut in winter. I have never had one visiting my bird feeders before, though I have heard of it happening in adverse conditions.

A pair of Peregrine Falcons has been hunting at Long Beach in Stratford on a regular basis. They can often be found sitting in the small trees or the power lines near the entrance to the beach.

My Dark-eyed Junco with unknown eye-rings is still here. It certainly does look like some type of fungus or infection, but the bird seems fine. Perhaps it is something else…

Finally, these three male Redheads were with a female at Stratford Point on Friday.

The species has been seen in the area often recently, from one to four birds at a time. Stop by to see them soon before they’re gone.