Birding Basics 2017

March 25

This weekend’s Birding Basics walk might have been chilly, but it was worth it, as the RTPEC welcomed back some of the first ospreys of the year! The March walk took us to Founder’s Memorial Park in Old Saybrook, and our bird list included:

Osprey
Ring-Necked Duck
Common Merganser
Mute Swan
Bufflehead
Mallard
Canada Geese
Red-Winged Blackbird
Belted Kingfisher

This week’s discussion centered around the breeding cycle of the osprey, and what their late return could mean for their offspring in the fall. Our educator Amelia was even able to snap some shots of a pair of osprey re-building their nest in South Cove.

February 25

The Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center (RTPEC) Birding Basics Saturday morning walk featured balmy 50° weather and some light fog. It was a great day at Rocky Neck State park. Our species list included familiar and even some rare feathered friends such as:

Mute Swan
Northern Mockingbird
Participants at Rocky Neck on February 25.
Red-Winged Blackbird
Great Blue Heron
Mallard
American Black Duck
Ring-billed Gulls
Green-winged Teal
Canada Geese
Brant
Common Loon
Common Merganser
Belted Kingfisher

The unseasonably warm February, invited several “early migrant” bird species into view. For example, our group spotted Red-winged Blackbirds, considered a harbinger of spring, and a rare find in February. We also observed the sounds of other spring songbirds, and the early budding of red maple trees.