Early Paddling
This Monday through Wednesday, I have been out on the river at 7AM, paddling up one of my favorite back-waters in Old Saybrook. Monday had many nice surprises but Wednesday was the winner!

As I had checked my spot for Least Bitterns and all but given up, I decided to paddle all the way to the back of the 118-acre marsh and give it one more shot in some great habitat with towering cattails and wild rice making the passage look like a chapter out of African Queen. I followed a Great Blue Heron for abut a half mile, often getting within 20 feet or so without the bird minding at all. A Solitary Sandpiper was very cooperative, allowing me to take a few photos and listen to its plaintive call.













As I approached the inner reaches, I had a brief look at something splashing in the water just ahead of the Great Blue Heron. Whatever it was, it moved off just our of sight around the next corner. I rounded the corner and not more than 30 feet away was a River Otter looking at me; I looking at him. For 20 seconds I enjoyed a great look at this elusive predator, making his living in a remote marsh, not upset that few took notice. This was only the second time I have seen otter in Connecticut. I have seen them a few times in Florida. They are such characters, always on the move, exploring, and sticking their sweet little faces into everything. Truly special creatures of Mother Earth!

If you want to join me in October 2009, we can share an audience with the Giant River Otter in Brazil! Now there's a sight!

Shorebirds on the Move
South Beach, off the coast of Chatham, Massachusetts, is clearly one of the premier shorebird spots on the east coast. Our group of 13 met early to head east to experience the incredible volume and great variety of birds that this place offers. After a three and a half hour car ride, two pit stops, and a 15 minute boat ride, we were in shorebird heaven.

The wide expanse of food filled sand flats makes South Beach a superb feeding station for northern nesting shorebirds on their migration south. Marbled and Hudsonian Godwit, hundreds of Red Knot, a lone Arctic Tern, dowitchers, plovers, peeps, pipers, semi this and semi that, oh my goodness what a great day! Everyone saw at least one special bird that will hang in the memories for years to come. As we waited for our turn to take the boat back to the mainland, we enjoyed the patterings of the numerous Wilson's Storm-Petrels on the ocean side of the peninsula, and the dalliances of Harbor and Gray Seals as they moved just outside of the shore's thundering waves.

Great birds, good friends, and stellar weather all made for the kind of day that sooths you with a comforting afterglow. Thanks to everyone for their part in making this day special in our memories.


Red Knot







Arctic Tern
Hank G.











South Beach
Birders
Hank G.

Plastic Bags
Just got this link from Barbara S. about the incredible number of plastic bags we use; and of course the serious damage they can do to environment and animals alike.

http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080506/MULTIMEDIA02/80505016

Paddling Equipment
I recently purchased a 12 foot kayak that I needed for a Least Bittern and King Rail study, the study site not being terribly accessible from the land side. I cannot tell you how great this boat is! The company that makes it is called Native and the model is their Ultimate 12, incredibly stable because of a unique pontoon-like hull design. It is a hybrid of sorts, combining the best parts of a kayak, canoe, and sit-on-top. The seat is superb in being like a beach chair; nylon webbing stretched over an aluminum frame. The boat itself is "plastic" so it can take a real beating as you wiggle through the marsh, mud, sticks and rocks. It is 30 inches wide.

There are always at least one or two things that are not so great with any boat, but that is inherent in being a boat. The Ultimate 12 is a bit heavy at 45 pounds but I find it not too bad to handle getting it on and off the car. There is a cup holder that is in the wrong place (right under your paddle possition) and the seat is sometimes tough to install and remove. All-in-all, if you are considering a kayak, you must give this one a try.

The costs of many kayaks are really quite affordable now. On a recent foray into Walmart, I noticed a $230 kayak that looked not-half-bad. Keep in mind, you may need to camouflage the bright blue with some camo decals if you are trying to see birds. Also, when selecting a paddle, purchase an all black model; to be less visible to birds. White, yellow, and brightly colored paddles with scare-off the birds. And always remember to observe from a distance; no loving to death.

CT Audubon and I will be offering some more paddle events before too long. We used to do paddle demos in the past and some trips where you could rent a kayak for the day. Let us know if this interests you by dropping us a note at ecotravel@ctaudubon.org and give me a call if you want some advice on purchasing a boat. Let us know if you already own a boat or are hoping to rent.

Cheers,

Andy

Swallow Behavior
Maggie P. reminded me of some great bird behavior we witnessed when paddling in Whalebone Cove. We watched as a group of about five or six Tree Swallows meandered above the water, up about 15 to 20 feet. They were carrying something in their beaks, small and white, and dropping it, then catching it before it hit the water, flying back up and then dropping it again, and repeating the whole thing many times. At first I thought it to be a moth that they were dropping, but it turned out to be swan feathers, many of which were floating on the water's surface from a recently passing swan. They were "playing" with the feathers, perhaps a way of practice for retrieving insects while on the wing.

I love fun behaviors like this! I will soon have to tell you about the berry dance I have seen Cedar Waxwing pairs do.

Summer is Here!

It sure has been a while since I posted something. Sorry about that.

I have had many adventures over the last month with birding friends including finally seeing my first Least Bittern in Connecticut. A good birding friend, Hank G. took me out by boat to search for the bittern on a very wet and cold day back in early June. It was one of those days where the cold just runs right through you, damp, cold hands, all making you wonder why you are out there; cold rain slapping you in the face.

We found the only bittern of the day two minutes after leaving the dock. We joked about heading back to the dock but both of us enjoy the marsh so much it remained a joke. We wanted to see more. We laughed too about the occasional mention of Marsh Wrens on the CT Rare Bird Report, after we had seen or heard about 50 Marsh Wrens. Not rare locally anyway!

I had a great paddle adventure with my friend Maggie P. along the backwaters of Whalebone Cove in East Haddam where we saw many Eastern Kingbirds defending their territories. Earlier in the day, with help from volunteer Jim D. , we were able to get great looks at both Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed and Seaside Sparrows, enjoying their very distinctive insect-like songs. Thanks to Maggie for the photos.

Joe V. and Joe V. Jr. and I set out for a full day of birdfinding, some great target birds in mind. Cerulean Warbler, Acadian Flycatcher, Black-billed Cuckoo and the two earlier mentioned sparrows were only part of the long list we acquired on a great day of birding in the southeast corner of the state.

Recently, adventurous traveler Leslie M. and I spent the morning looking for a few first-time birds for her. Cerulean Warbler was top on her list and we were giddily happy that we found one at our first stop of the day. We had great luck with other birds too including a stupendous interview with a handsome Hooded Warber. Leslie will be joining me in Cuba. Wait until she sees the Bee Hummingbird!

At EcoTravel, Priscilla and I have been very busy with day trips and planning and coordinating our overnight trips. The Arizona tour is soon to depart, so much of our time has been spent on all of those arrangements of hotel, rental vans, permits, air reservations, and all the stuff you need to do for a group of 14 and their leaders.

Lots coming up this fall so plan to join us. Take a look at the EcoTravel website.

Planning further ahead, join us on some of the big trips we have planned for the spring including Ecuador, Tanzania, Galapagos, Cuba, and more. Give me a call for more details. 800-996-8747.

Hope to see you out birding. Come join me! Cheers!

Time in the Marsh

I have not spent so much time in the cattail marshes of the Connecticut River since I was a kid. The smell of the decaying reeds, grasses and sedges is hard to describe but totally recognizable and memory jogging; seemingly packing an extra punch of aroma at 530AM. I love our marshes; somewhat inaccessable but not tooooo boot sucking. I only got myself in one boot sucking situation in recent explorations this spring while listening and looking for Least Bitterns in the lower valley (no luck yet). Least Bitterns are being seen by others in the state but a bit of luck is needed. I've had wonderfully close audiences with many Marsh Wrens, Swamp Sparrows, Spotted Sandpipers, and dreamy full bloom yellow flag iris. The 430AM to 530AM hour at this time of year is magical. Don't miss it!

River view from Old Saybrook

Marsh Wren

Yellow Flag Iris

Great Weekend On Selden Island

Selden Island, the biggest island in the Connecticut River and the largest island in Connecticut waters, has got to be our most under-used state park and one of our most spectacular. Each year we schedule at least a couple of trips to the island, always accompanied by a botanist, ornithologist, and historian; always well attended, this time by more than 35 people.

The island once was home to a substantial quarry that provided cobble stones to east coast cities; much evidence of the operation still visible. There are some beautiful stone structures from the farm that called the island home. The best part in my mind are the countless nooks-and-crannies, the pockets of habitat rarely visited by birders or botanists. There is a laurel grove where the the shrubs tower to over twelve feet, a place where tall oaks and beeches are surrounded by an open understory of grass and fern, and acres of pristine cattail marsh, echoing the calls of Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, and Marsh Wren. Shaded rock faces and hillsides host Worm-eating Warbler, Veery, Wood Thrush, five vireo species, and countless American Redstarts.

Our experience with the group on Saturday was so inspiring, three of us returned to the island on Sunday to continue our explorations. Lady Slipper, Bird's Foot Violet, many large and flower covered azaleas, and a mystery oak kept us tuned to the plants. A brightly plumaged Bay-breasted Warber and a wonderfully cooperative Orchard Oriole graced us with appearances. What a special place!

If you are interested in our providing a private tour of the island, give me a call and we can arrange for the boat and guides. Don't miss this experience! How about a special birthday surprise for your outdoor enthusiast?

Migration Fix

It's been a nice week of birding with some old faces and some new ones. Great! My annual trip up through the hills of Lyme, Salem, and East Haddam has been great fun with very enthusiastic and patient patrons of Connecticut Audubon. The route yielded many of the expected such as Cerulean Warbler, Acadian Flycatcher, and dozens of Worm-eating Warblers, but it just seemed as though the views of those specialties as well as many others were better than usual. On Thursday the group had numerous close encounters with Yellow-throated Vireos and on Friday, our small group watched as a pair of White-eyed Vireos worked along a tangled hedge bordering a field; both days truly special in their own way. I was pleased to see that others were pleased.

On Thursday, my long-time birding buddy Joe Bear came along to help us out. Joe and I were participants on the original CT Audubon Texas scouting trip back in 1993 along with Jay Hand and Frank Mantlik. We still love to talk about that trip and how we hope to share the experience again before too long. Nice to spend some time with Joe. Joe and I will be co-leading the Block Island trip this fall, scheduled for the first weekend in October.

Sam, my son, just turned 10, so there were lots of celebratory activities including lazer tag, cake, pizza, and 15 energetic boys.

Spring Migration - Busy Week

Well, I am finally finding some time to post a few thoughts. It has been a blazingly fast spring migration with a trip to Texas and many more to coordinate; Cape May, Cornwall, and the CT Lakes. The local migration is at its peak, the first Blackpoll Warblers just arriving. Hammonasset Beach State Park has yielded some nice birds including a first for me in Connecticut, a Boat-tailed Grackle. I never bothered to chase boattails in Fairfield county on any of the multiple occations they have shown up. Hearing the familiar sound of coastal Texas in my own backyard was a bit of a strange twist, the electronic kids' game sounds of a displaying male. This week is a busy few days with a group trip to my favorite spring locations and a private tour to find a few area specialties. For personal targets, I have been looking locally for Least Bitterns over the last week or so, never having seen one in Connecticut; many in Texas. Wish me luck!

Texas: Day Ten

Departure day!  Wow!  Can ten days have passed?  The time on High Island, Aransas Bay, and King Ranch do seem a long time ago, but in a strange way still very familiar and recent.  We walk around our lodgings before breakfast and enjoy some fine views of Bewick's Wren, Black-throated Sparrow, and a jillion Clay-colored Sparrows.  We madly pack, load the cars and head for Houston thinking we have hours to spare; not the case.  Our driving skills and ability to interpret maps and GPS guidance systems put us at the airport like we are neatly in charge of all the potential pitfalls surrounding us (the sweat dripping from me - I hope no one notices) and at the gate only 10 or 15 minutes before boarding.  Man, we are good ("lucky")!

Well, I bid you farewell from the trip proper, but hope to continue the blog as I head back to work, the "normal" routine, and the excitement of the spring migration in New England.  The best thing about coming home... my family... and second?  Keeping in touch with the people I have come to know and share this special experience with to Texas' coast, valley, and hills.

I hope you too will be able to visit this unique place for your first time or a repeat adventure. Give me a call.  I would love to tell you more.

Enjoy the anticipation of your next adventure.

Cheers,

Andy

Andrew Griswold, Director

Connecticut Audubon Society EcoTravel

Great Egret chick

Wilsons Phalaropes

Hiking the trail

Maggie framing the shot

Edward's Plateau

The Bowl on Edward's Plateau

Texas: Day Nine

An early departure will hopefully assure an early arrival up in the hills and bowls of the hill country, but as on many trips we are distracted by the birds and sights en route.  Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Painted Bunting, and Golden-cheeked Warbler call this cool mountain oasis home; clear mountain streams lined with mature cypress and sycamore, hillsides covered with juniper.  This is also the home to much sought-after birds as Zone-tailed Hawk, demanding that you check each and every look-alike Turkey Vulture to find the one that differs slightly; striped tail and feathered head.

The echo of singing Canyon Wrens follows us as we ascend the trail to a secluded bowl carved by thousands of years of running water.  We walk through a tall stand of Big Tooth Maple, one of the few areas where this tree species can be found; the familiar call of the Golden-cheeked Warbler luring us on (it sounds a lot like Black-throated Green Warbler which we see and hear in Connecticut).  Black Phoebe, Western Scrub Jays, and Scott's Oriole are just part of the great diversity of life we find at this higher elevation.  Our looming departure is only forgotten by the jovial spirit of our farewell dinner and visit to the local bat cave to see the evening departure of 12 million bats, at close range, sounds and smells never to be forgotten (nor the sight of two raptor species dining on the airborne mammals).  What a scene!

Cheers,

Andy

Prickly Pear Cactus

Altimira Oriole weaving a nest

Pauline and Louisa at Falcon Dam

The mighty Rio Grand as seen from Falcon Dam

Texas: Day Eight

One last morning in the valley allows us to search out a few specialties of the area.  The Rio Grande is flowing high today, the result of the Falcon Dam releasing the most water I have ever seen in 15 years.  A stop along the river produces Muskovi Duck, only countable in the US when found over or close to the river,  Altimira Oriole, our largest and most colorful oriole, and superb long looks at the elusive Curve-billed Thrasher.

The Rio Grande is the border between the US and Mexico in Texas, with few crossings as interesting as the one at Falcon Dam.  If you drive out across the dam, releasing your fears of armed guards (of which we saw none), you get an incredible view and opportunity to see a part of two countries that few visit.  One can stand on the border, jump back and forth from country to country (which I must have done 20 or more times), and take your friends' picture as they stand on the line at a truly impressive monolithic monument to both countries.  We spend a lot of time here, many of us in a spirit of personal meditation.

Our afternoon is spent on the road moving to the north and the Balcones Escarpment otherwise known as the Edwards Plateau, a lovely refuge from the heat of the desert and  clear contrast to the parched landscape of the previous five days.  Our traditional stop at Dairy Queen in Laredo, Texas was not passed-up, nor was the mandatory liter of coffee for the drivers and double-dipped ice cream wonders for the kids, young and old.

Our lodging overlooks one of the most pristine rivers in Texas.  We can hardly wait until tomorrow to explore some more.

Cheers,

Andy

Black-throated Green Warbler

Cave Swallows

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Texas: Day Seven

The Rio Grande Valley has once again lived up to its reputation as a place of great surprises and superbly consistent quality birds. The travelers spent some time this morning with a Gray Hawk on the nest, Clay-colored Robins cruising below, and Northern Beardless Tyrannlet providing the song for the whole scene. 

Life along the Rio Grande is indeed that, Grande, for the birds, a fueling station before the final push to the north. We found the right oasis today where the previous day's winds has brought with it some of North America's warbler gems, including Blue-winged, Worm-eating, Black-throated Green, Golden-winged, and so many more, not to mention the local specialties like Cave Swallow, Olive Sparrow, and Altamira Oriole.

A short afternoon venture north of the river let us see other habitats and collect some great views of Wilson's Phalaropes spinning in unison and migrant Franklin's Gull on their way to inland nesting sights.

If you are on the boarder, the Mexican food cannot be beat; avoid the chains and go for authentic. Ask the locals where the best food is... they will know.

More along the Rio Grand tomorrow morning and then we travel to the Edwards Plateau.

Hasta luego,

Andy

Red-crowned Parrot

Red-crowned Parrot

Birders on the boardwalk

Green Jay

Least Grebe

Texas: Day Six

We slept-in today getting a late start around 7:30am – a well needed extra half-hour – but were soon in the company of about 20 Red-crowned Parrots.  What a sight in the early morning low angle light; fighting, mating, climbing, swooping birds in a frantic pace of living life, making it almost too hard for the tour leader to keep the rest of the day on the same level.  

Sabal Palm sanctuary is must stop on any south Texas trip, home of area specialties such as White-tipped Dove, Olive Sparrow, Plain Chachalaca, Green Jay, Least Grebe and so much more.  The habitat is so special as the last significant patch of Sabal Palm in the US.  Unfortunately, it may not be with us much longer if the plan to build the border fence goes through, currently scheduled to be built north of the park, cutting it off from the rest of Texas. Can you believe this oasis is up on the chopping block?  There is a recent New York Times article if you would like more information.

Evening and night birding was optional, some taking advantage of the time to catch up on much needed sleep and rest, others not willing to lose any opportunity to experience more of south Texas, ultimately rewarded with sightings of Franklin's Gull, Ringed Kingfisher, Lesser Nighthawk, Cave Swallow, Paraque, and Elf Owl.  Unfortunately (in the eyes of some participants), we missed any night crawling tarantulas; always fun for me to see "big brave men" running in fear as the macabre critter shows how fast in can move when motivated.

Another full day of adventure in the Rio Grande Valley tomorrow.

Cheers,

Andy

King Ranch road

King Ranch cattle

Crested Caracara  click photo for larger view

Ferruginous Pygmy Owl  click photo for larger view

Audubon's Oriole  click photo for larger view

Texas: Day Five

King Ranch is truly a gem among the birding destinations of North America.  An early morning rendezvous with our private guide, for the day on a ranch which is bigger than Rhode Island, started our visit to the northern Santa Gertrudis division of the ranch.  Masked Duck, one of the rarest ducks in the US was the target here and only outdone for the ladies in the group by the shopping time they had at the visitors' center.  Balancing the shopping with the birding, the photo stops, the lunch breaks, snack runs, and rest room needs was a workout, but we were able to squeeze it all in to a wonderful day that included the four star birds of southern Texas, Ferruginous Pigmy-Owl, Northern Beardless Tyrannulet, Tropical Parula, and Audubon's Oriole.

It wasn't just birds and shopping today!  There were rattlesnakes, armadillos, gators, perfect cool breezes, cattle, bump gates, dusty roads, and so much more.  Many of the travelers celebrated the day with what I was told (I being the designated driver) some of the best margaritas and Mexican food in the Rio Grande Valley.  The food was fantastic but we will have to move on tomorrow to new roads, birds, and adventurous experiences.

Cheers,

Andrew

Reddish Egret

Jim D. from the boat

Tricolored heron

Dorcas, carefully choosing her shots

King Rail © Jay Hand

Texas: Day Four

The fourth day of the Texas Grand Tour started off with what is probably one of the highlights of the entire trip – our visit to the Aransas NWR, primary winter home of one the America's rarest birds, the endangered Whooping Crane. Tommy Moore made us all feel welcome aboard the Skimmer, his 40-foot vessel specially crafted to negotiate the shallow waters of Aransas Bay.  As we proceeded up the intracoastal waterway, we were delighted by sights of Crested Caracara, Whooping Crane, and a multitude of heron species, including the dimorphous Reddish Egret, whose white color form is most commonly found along this coast

After a late check out at the hotel (1pm... can you believe they let us do this??!!), we headed into Rockport to find lunch, and we were greeted by a Magnificent Frigatebird riding the easterly winds directly over the "Golden Arches." Easterly winds howled throughout the day, buffeting our vehicles as we headed south toward the next day's adventures at the King Ranch.  Across coastal prairie, and incredible number of salt pans, miles of drivable beach, and acres of agricultural fields, we pushed on looking for the rare and unusual.  Unfortunately, our fears were confirmed in the significant drop in the number of Red Knot; we found none where they had been reliable years before.  Spirits undaunted, we pressed on and finally were able to find our place of rest and a chance to briefly look through our many great photos of birds, scenery, and numerous new experiences.

Well, there was one experience I would be happy to forget... getting the big van stuck in the sand at Mustang Island, the 15 mile stretch of beach you can drive (just stay in the tracks!). With the help of our very enthusiastic team, we had the van out in about five minutes, which felt like twenty long minutes to me. Off we went with a great spirit of accomplishment and adventure.

Enjoy more tomorrow about the King Ranch, a privately held ranch that is nearly the size of Rhode Island.

Cheers,

Andy

Bolivar Peninsula

Bob and Maggie in the field

Pauline checking out a Black Skimmer

Black Skimmers

Texas: Day Three

I never knew there were so many Subway sandwich shops! Seems like Subway is the healthiest way to eat when you are away from home... especially if you don't pack a lunch or stop at the grocery store. We made an early morning stop at a full service convenience store for snacks water, and other drinks.  Lots of snack food made its way onto the van including the favorite snack of the South... FRITOS!

Our first stop was at a great lookout over the inner waters of Bolivar Peninsula, a barrier sand dune just north of Galveston Island.  Thousand of Terns including the Black and Sandwich Terns that gave many in the group a life look and great photo opportunities. Black Skimmer, Reddish Egret, Marbled Godwit, and many more graced the five spotting scopes and four long lenses our group made good use of. We were in the company of other bird tours including an all British group. Lots of notes about where to find certain bird species were passed between tour leaders. We had a great plover day despite missing Killdeer, ironically.  Our plover list included Piping, Snowy, Semipalmated, American Golden, Black-bellied, and Wilson's; nearly the "Slam" but missed the most common!

After a stop at a grocery store – the group was desperate for some fruit and fresh produce... after eating so many snacks – we made our way to the protected waters of north of Galveston Island to find the two pacific loons, among the 15 or so Common Loons, that were reported from other birders. We had a great time discussing the finer points of identification and how not to mix-up the two.

So, south we traveled in the late afternoon, arriving not too late near Aransas, and now prepare for our rendezvous with the Whooping Crane tomorrow; let's hope.  It's been real windy so we might not want to take the boat for fear it might turn into the "Vomit Express."  Tune in tomorrow to find out how many of us were chumming for fish!

Cheers,  Andy