The Big Sit Bird Challenge 2020!
Thanks to your generous donations, we surpassed our goal of $5000 and had a successful day of identifying birds!
Your support made a difference and we could not have done it without you.
During The Big Sit. Milford Point, Milford, CT. 11 Oct 2020. © Frank Mantlik
Sunday, October 11 was a great weather day, with warm temperatures in the mid 60’s and favorable skies and winds. The core team consisted of Frank Gallo, Jim and Patrick Dugan, Tina Green, and Frank Mantlik. We began at 4:19 a.m. and ended at 7:15 p.m., about 15 hours of straight birding.
Several visitors/birders came by throughout the day to cheer us on, bird, or bring provisions. Thank you all!
The predawn birding was superb, listening for nocturnal migrants, night birds, and ducks and other water-birds in the marsh. The calm night air allowed us to hear calling migrant Swainson’s, Gray-cheeked, and Hermit Thrushes, as well as a hooting Great Horned Owl, Clapper Rails and many duck and heron species.
Our final tally was 108 bird species identified including a Jaeger species, a tie for our third highest Count.
Highlights included 12 species of ducks (including 7 Northern Shovelers and all three Scoter species), Wild Turkeys, 12 species of shorebirds (including American Golden Plover and Pectoral Sandpiper), a Jaeger species (rare in CT) far out over the Sound, a record number of Common and Red-throated Loons, Great Cormorant, American Bittern, 6 Bald Eagles, a Great Horned Owl, 2 Purple Finches, flocks of Pine Siskins, 7 species of sparrows, Baltimore Oriole, 5 species of warblers, and a Rusty Blackbird. An exciting highlight was watching a Peregrine Falcon chasing a migrant Red Bat at dawn, right near our Sit platform!
Our complete list, with photos, is here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S74719992
This is a wonderful way to kick off our 25th Anniversary.
Thank you for your generosity and support!
During The Big Sit. Milford Point, Milford, CT. 11 Oct 2020. © Frank Mantlik
The Big Sit during the Coronavirus pandemic. Milford Point, Milford, CT. 11 Oct 2020. © Frank Mantlik
During The Big Sit. Milford Point, Milford, CT. 11 Oct 2020. © Frank Mantlik
