I would like to take a trip up to see them tomorrow. Is anyone able to help me know where to park and where the birds are located. I'm not familiar with the area. Maybe you can drop some pins on Google maps? Also, I did see the messages that it's currently flooded and about a 2 mile walk. I will plan for that. Thank you, Michael Richardson Norwalk, CT

It’s 1.6 mile walk from ferry park. You should park in and walk in from that side. The flooding is in a 1/4 mile after entering the area and will go up to your knees on someone who is 5’8”. Essentially, you are going to walk the main trail the entire way. Do not take any of the side paths as they are private. Let me know if u need more guidance, as I just welled the from seeing the ducks. Monica Nichols Madison Sent from my iPhone > On Sep 3, 2021, at 6:00 PM, Michael Richardson <msr042377@gmail.com> wrote: > > I would like to take a trip up to see them tomorrow. Is anyone able to help > me know where to park and where the birds are located. I'm not familiar > with the area. Maybe you can drop some pins on Google maps? > > Also, I did see the messages that it's currently flooded and about a 2 mile > walk. I will plan for that. > > Thank you, > > Michael Richardson > Norwalk, CT > > CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/ > CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/

Yes from the Goff Road side it is! Unfortunately can’t send pics here but trust me waist deep off that road. Use the ferry road side! Christina Cole > On Sep 3, 2021, at 6:00 PM, Michael Richardson <msr042377@gmail.com> wrote: > > I would like to take a trip up to see them tomorrow. Is anyone able to help > me know where to park and where the birds are located. I'm not familiar > with the area. Maybe you can drop some pins on Google maps? > > Also, I did see the messages that it's currently flooded and about a 2 mile > walk. I will plan for that. > > Thank you, > > Michael Richardson > Norwalk, CT > > CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/ > CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/

The approximate location of the birds today was at this pin: https://maps.app.goo.gl/4bty2pRvMkpdCq5U9 There are several ponds near the pin that they may be in however. I'd also recommend hanging around for a little bit if you don't see them immediately; when I first arrived at the marked spot today they were nowhere to be seen, but flew in from the northwest about 20min later. And as everyone else has said, ferry Park is the best entrance, the entry is flooded to knee high, and it is a bit of a walk, although the terrain is easy and flat past the flooded area. Good luck! Julian Ventres On Fri, Sep 3, 2021, 6:00 PM Michael Richardson <msr042377@gmail.com> wrote: > I would like to take a trip up to see them tomorrow. Is anyone able to help > me know where to park and where the birds are located. I'm not familiar > with the area. Maybe you can drop some pins on Google maps? > > Also, I did see the messages that it's currently flooded and about a 2 mile > walk. I will plan for that. > > Thank you, > > Michael Richardson > Norwalk, CT > > CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing > birders together statewide. Please support COA: > https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/ > CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For > list rules and subscription information visit: > https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/ >

I must say that I'm getting increasingly worried reading about the conditions to see the black-bellied whistling ducks. While I am impressed by the tenacity of the birders and am delighted at your success, I am concerned that someone is going to drown. Waist- or chest-deep water, or even knee-deep can be very deceiving, especially if there is any current. This water is muddy and you can't see the bottom, so you don't know if your next step will be into a deeper eroded pocket or into sucking soft sediment. It's the same logic as not driving your car into water -- you just can't tell where the potholes will be or how deep the water really is. I, too, would very much like to see the ducks, but I think it's still just too dangerous. I don't want to die trying to see ducks. I ask everyone to be very careful and don't go alone! Or, here's a thought, wait until the water goes down and hope they're still there? Sarah Faulkner Collinsville > On 09/03/2021 8:50 PM Christina Cole <gooutsidect@gmail.com> wrote: > > > Yes from the Goff Road side it is! Unfortunately can’t send pics here but trust me waist deep off that road. Use the ferry road side! > > Christina Cole > > > On Sep 3, 2021, at 6:00 PM, Michael Richardson <msr042377@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > I would like to take a trip up to see them tomorrow. Is anyone able to help > > me know where to park and where the birds are located. I'm not familiar > > with the area. Maybe you can drop some pins on Google maps? > > > > Also, I did see the messages that it's currently flooded and about a 2 mile > > walk. I will plan for that. > > > > Thank you, > > > > Michael Richardson > > Norwalk, CT > > > > CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/ > > CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/ > > CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/ > CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/

I should probably note to that… I’m used to doing this sort of thing. I do everything alone. Southern girl that swims with alligators in the cape fear. Shark diving. Rattlesnake rangling nutter! Doesn’t mean it’s not dangerous. It’s dangerous! There is dual current on the Goff Road side. Annnnd that’s why I posted it for everyone else to be well informed instead of just reading “yes the whistling ducks are there. “ On that note I think we on the list are not only different genders, shapes and sizes but also different variants of strength and health who maybe do better in hot or cold weather. Lol A friend texted me yesterday she’s 4 foot 11. The response was definitely do not go Goff Road Maybe we should start rating these hikes by difficulty on a 1 to 5 scale. It would definitely help people that are traveling or just not familiar wIth CT’s areas in general. I’d give this one with the floods a 5 ! on a hot day with walking, a 3 bring water! Christina Cole > On Sep 4, 2021, at 7:43 AM, SARAH FAULKNER <sffaulkner@comcast.net> wrote: > > I must say that I'm getting increasingly worried reading about the conditions to see the black-bellied whistling ducks. While I am impressed by the tenacity of the birders and am delighted at your success, I am concerned that someone is going to drown. Waist- or chest-deep water, or even knee-deep can be very deceiving, especially if there is any current. This water is muddy and you can't see the bottom, so you don't know if your next step will be into a deeper eroded pocket or into sucking soft sediment. It's the same logic as not driving your car into water -- you just can't tell where the potholes will be or how deep the water really is. I, too, would very much like to see the ducks, but I think it's still just too dangerous. I don't want to die trying to see ducks. > > I ask everyone to be very careful and don't go alone! Or, here's a thought, wait until the water goes down and hope they're still there? > > Sarah Faulkner > Collinsville >> On 09/03/2021 8:50 PM Christina Cole <gooutsidect@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> >> Yes from the Goff Road side it is! Unfortunately can’t send pics here but trust me waist deep off that road. Use the ferry road side! >> >> Christina Cole >> >>>> On Sep 3, 2021, at 6:00 PM, Michael Richardson <msr042377@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>> I would like to take a trip up to see them tomorrow. Is anyone able to help >>> me know where to park and where the birds are located. I'm not familiar >>> with the area. Maybe you can drop some pins on Google maps? >>> >>> Also, I did see the messages that it's currently flooded and about a 2 mile >>> walk. I will plan for that. >>> >>> Thank you, >>> >>> Michael Richardson >>> Norwalk, CT >>> >>> CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/ >>> CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/ >> >> CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/ >> CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/ > > CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/ > CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/

I think adding more detail when reporting birds would be great all around. I just started birding last year and although I brought waders yesterday to get through the water, I didn't realize how long of a hike it was after the water, and would have probably changed into something after getting through the flooded area had I known (long distance in waders on a hot day with no shade is not fun). Nonetheless, I got to see the BBWD with great shots, so I can't complain, but i second the idea of adding more detail to these locations, especially for newer birders who may be unfamiliar with the regular spots. Julian Ventres On Sat, Sep 4, 2021, 11:42 AM Christina Cole <gooutsidect@gmail.com> wrote: > I should probably note to that… I’m used to doing this sort of thing. I do > everything alone. Southern girl that swims with alligators in the cape > fear. Shark diving. Rattlesnake rangling nutter! Doesn’t mean it’s not > dangerous. It’s dangerous! There is dual current on the Goff Road side. > Annnnd that’s why I posted it for everyone else to be well informed instead > of just reading “yes the whistling ducks are there. “ > > On that note I think we on the list are not only different genders, shapes > and sizes but also different variants of strength and health who maybe do > better in hot or cold weather. > Lol > > A friend texted me yesterday she’s 4 foot 11. The response was definitely > do not go Goff Road > > Maybe we should start rating these hikes by difficulty on a 1 to 5 scale. > It would definitely help people that are traveling or just not familiar > wIth CT’s areas in general. > > I’d give this one with the floods a 5 ! on a hot day with walking, a 3 > bring water! > > Christina Cole > > > On Sep 4, 2021, at 7:43 AM, SARAH FAULKNER <sffaulkner@comcast.net> > wrote: > > > > I must say that I'm getting increasingly worried reading about the > conditions to see the black-bellied whistling ducks. While I am impressed > by the tenacity of the birders and am delighted at your success, I am > concerned that someone is going to drown. Waist- or chest-deep water, or > even knee-deep can be very deceiving, especially if there is any current. > This water is muddy and you can't see the bottom, so you don't know if your > next step will be into a deeper eroded pocket or into sucking soft > sediment. It's the same logic as not driving your car into water -- you > just can't tell where the potholes will be or how deep the water really is. > I, too, would very much like to see the ducks, but I think it's still just > too dangerous. I don't want to die trying to see ducks. > > > > I ask everyone to be very careful and don't go alone! Or, here's a > thought, wait until the water goes down and hope they're still there? > > > > Sarah Faulkner > > Collinsville > >> On 09/03/2021 8:50 PM Christina Cole <gooutsidect@gmail.com> wrote: > >> > >> > >> Yes from the Goff Road side it is! Unfortunately can’t send pics here > but trust me waist deep off that road. Use the ferry road side! > >> > >> Christina Cole > >> > >>>> On Sep 3, 2021, at 6:00 PM, Michael Richardson <msr042377@gmail.com> > wrote: > >>> > >>> I would like to take a trip up to see them tomorrow. Is anyone able > to help > >>> me know where to park and where the birds are located. I'm not familiar > >>> with the area. Maybe you can drop some pins on Google maps? > >>> > >>> Also, I did see the messages that it's currently flooded and about a 2 > mile > >>> walk. I will plan for that. > >>> > >>> Thank you, > >>> > >>> Michael Richardson > >>> Norwalk, CT > >>> > >>> CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - > Bringing birders together statewide. Please support COA: > https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/ > >>> CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For > list rules and subscription information visit: > https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/ > >> > >> CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing > birders together statewide. Please support COA: > https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/ > >> CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For > list rules and subscription information visit: > https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/ > > > > CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing > birders together statewide. Please support COA: > https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/ > > CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For > list rules and subscription information visit: > https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/ > > CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing > birders together statewide. Please support COA: > https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/ > CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For > list rules and subscription information visit: > https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/

Hi Julian! I was the one on the bike going “omg you are so smart for waders!” I certainly didn’t think about them being hot. I should have offered you guys water! The other reason those waders are smart is that flooding and run off is from what …? The CT River and through farm land? Who knows what waste and cow dookie fertilizer we are walking through? So if me and my trashy soaked joggers get a flesh eating virus in the next 5 days … we can all pull a Dolph Lundgren and say “If she doesn’t she dies!” I know in the heat of the moment birding we can’t all throw a 100 details into emails and we appreciate everything everyone posts but adding a little extra for safety would be awesome! Christina Cole > On Sep 4, 2021, at 12:28 PM, Julian Ventres <ventresjulian@gmail.com> wrote: > >  > I think adding more detail when reporting birds would be great all around. I just started birding last year and although I brought waders yesterday to get through the water, I didn't realize how long of a hike it was after the water, and would have probably changed into something after getting through the flooded area had I known (long distance in waders on a hot day with no shade is not fun). Nonetheless, I got to see the BBWD with great shots, so I can't complain, but i second the idea of adding more detail to these locations, especially for newer birders who may be unfamiliar with the regular spots. > > Julian Ventres > >> On Sat, Sep 4, 2021, 11:42 AM Christina Cole <gooutsidect@gmail.com> wrote: >> I should probably note to that… I’m used to doing this sort of thing. I do everything alone. Southern girl that swims with alligators in the cape fear. Shark diving. Rattlesnake rangling nutter! Doesn’t mean it’s not dangerous. It’s dangerous! There is dual current on the Goff Road side. Annnnd that’s why I posted it for everyone else to be well informed instead of just reading “yes the whistling ducks are there. “ >> >> On that note I think we on the list are not only different genders, shapes and sizes but also different variants of strength and health who maybe do better in hot or cold weather. >> Lol >> >> A friend texted me yesterday she’s 4 foot 11. The response was definitely do not go Goff Road >> >> Maybe we should start rating these hikes by difficulty on a 1 to 5 scale. It would definitely help people that are traveling or just not familiar wIth CT’s areas in general. >> >> I’d give this one with the floods a 5 ! on a hot day with walking, a 3 bring water! >> >> Christina Cole >> >> > On Sep 4, 2021, at 7:43 AM, SARAH FAULKNER <sffaulkner@comcast.net> wrote: >> > >> > I must say that I'm getting increasingly worried reading about the conditions to see the black-bellied whistling ducks. While I am impressed by the tenacity of the birders and am delighted at your success, I am concerned that someone is going to drown. Waist- or chest-deep water, or even knee-deep can be very deceiving, especially if there is any current. This water is muddy and you can't see the bottom, so you don't know if your next step will be into a deeper eroded pocket or into sucking soft sediment. It's the same logic as not driving your car into water -- you just can't tell where the potholes will be or how deep the water really is. I, too, would very much like to see the ducks, but I think it's still just too dangerous. I don't want to die trying to see ducks. >> > >> > I ask everyone to be very careful and don't go alone! Or, here's a thought, wait until the water goes down and hope they're still there? >> > >> > Sarah Faulkner >> > Collinsville >> >> On 09/03/2021 8:50 PM Christina Cole <gooutsidect@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> >> >> >> >> Yes from the Goff Road side it is! Unfortunately can’t send pics here but trust me waist deep off that road. Use the ferry road side! >> >> >> >> Christina Cole >> >> >> >>>> On Sep 3, 2021, at 6:00 PM, Michael Richardson <msr042377@gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> >> >>> I would like to take a trip up to see them tomorrow. Is anyone able to help >> >>> me know where to park and where the birds are located. I'm not familiar >> >>> with the area. Maybe you can drop some pins on Google maps? >> >>> >> >>> Also, I did see the messages that it's currently flooded and about a 2 mile >> >>> walk. I will plan for that. >> >>> >> >>> Thank you, >> >>> >> >>> Michael Richardson >> >>> Norwalk, CT >> >>> >> >>> CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/ >> >>> CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/ >> >> >> >> CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/ >> >> CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/ >> > >> > CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/ >> > CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/ >> >> CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/ >> CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/