Migratory songbirds in abundance at Smith Richardson in Westport
October 19, 2018 – Amazing morning at Connecticut Audubon Society’s lower Smith Richardson Sanctuary in Westport today.
Welcome to Bird Finder, our guide to interesting birds you might be able to find now in Connecticut!
Some of the best birders in the state generously share their expertise here. Patrick Comins, Milan Bull, and Andy Griswold from our own staff. Corrie Folsom-O’Keefe and Genevieve Nuttall from Audubon Connecticut. Greg Hanisek, Stefan Martin, Helena Ives, Chris Wood, Nick Bonomo – a great roster of contributors. Our hope is that Bird Finder will inspire you to go out and find the birds they write about!
“Sharp-tailed” Sparrows
October 15, 2018 – Although late September through October is the prime time-frame for migratory sharp-tailed sparrows, both species may be seen well into November in Connecticut. One of the best places to look is Connecticut Audubon’s Coastal Center at Milford Point.
Roseate Spoonbill again: for your eyes only
October 3, 2018 – “I kept watching and was rewarded when it untucked its head to preen. There was the spoon-shaped bill, clearly outlined against the leaves for several seconds before the bird tucked it away again.”
Lincoln’s Sparrow
September 28, 2018 – No, sparrows are not all just “little brown jobs”! The intricate beauty of this snazzy sparrow will spice up your autumn birding.
Roseate Spoonbill: autumn 2018 birding excitement in Connecticut
September 19, 2018 – Connecticut birders are in a tizzy over a Roseate Spoonbill that showed up near the mouth of the Housatonic River this week. It’s the third time this summer that a species new to the state has been seen.
Shorebird compilation
August 28, 2018 – Because there’s so much shorebird activity, and because it’s hot and muggy and a good week to visit the shore of Long Island Sound, we thought we’d compile five posts from previous years about birds that have been seen on the state’s beaches in the last day or two.
Shorebird guided tour
August 23, 2018 – Summer on Long Island Sound’s coast is a drawn-out carnival of shorebirds. Here’s a straightforward guided tour of what we saw at the Milford Point Coastal Center on Wednesday morning, August 22.
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck: Another Connecticut First!
August 14, 2018 – You may have heard by now that there is a Black-bellied Whistling-Duck in Essex! It’s quite the buzz in the birding community and if accepted by the birding powers as a wild bird, it will be a first state record.
Little Egret, by land or by sea
August 11, 2018 – Nick Bonomo spent a fair amount of time in recent days looking for a Little Egret to make its way into Connecticut. A regular Bird Finder contributor, Nick graciously let us report the account he wrote for his blog.
Whimbrel
August 3, 2018 — All of Connecticut’s coastal shorebird habitat attracts Whimbrels, but the Coastal Center at Milford Point is an especially favorable place to look for them because of the way high tides concentrate shorebirds in a relatively small open area.
American Oystercatcher
July 26, 2018. American Oystercatchers are finishing their breeding season now and are preparing to migrate to southern coastal areas. This is a good time of year to look for them.
Endangered Sedge Wrens are Nesting and Drawing a Crowd at our Sanctuary in Pomfret
July 19, 2018. A tiny endangered bird that rarely nests in the state has made a home this year at the Connecticut Audubon Society’s Bafflin Sanctuary in Pomfret.
Blue-winged Warbler
June 28, 2018. Blue-winged Warblers prove that you don’t have to stop looking at vibrant warblers just because spring migration is over!
Chimney Swift
June 21, 2018. To find Chimney Swifts in Connecticut this summer, look up to the sky! There is a good chance you will see them flying high in the air around densely populated areas. In the evening, you may notice large groups of these birds coming to a chimney to roost.
Boat-tailed Grackle
June 14, 2018. In Connecticut, hearing the rolling metallic song of the Boat-tailed Grackle is a welcome surprise. Unlike its very similar and more abundant cousin, the Common Grackle, the Boat-tailed prefers coastal habitats (specifically, tidal marshes) and is an extremely localized breeder, with only a handful of confirmed colonies statewide in the past decade or so.
Worm-eating Warbler
May 30, 2018. Once seen well, Worm-eating Warblers are unlikely to be confused with any other expected species in Connecticut. The trick is, of course, seeing one well. More often Worm-eating Warblers are identified by their song, although this, too, poses a field ID challenge.
Clapper Rail
May 26, 2018. Rails are an elusive group of birds. Narrow and hen-shaped, they slide through the tall grasses of coastal, brackish, and freshwater marshes foraging on plant material, invertebrates, and small fish.
Two Waterthrushes
May 1, 2018. These warblers are active, vociferous birds, habitual tail-waggers easily told from our array of other warbler species. Telling them apart is another matter.
Purple Martin
April 28, 2018. As spring unfolds, Purple Martin landlords anxiously await the arrival of their tenants. Purple Martins are beautiful, much-admired songbirds, and these popular swallows are sought after as backyard birds all across the U.S., particularly in the south and east.
Great Egret
April 12, 2018. During the last few weeks, Great Egret have been moving through the state and some have returned to hunt before the breeding season kicks in.
