12/11 Milford, Connecticut Audubon Coastal Center. 10am-1PM. mid-tide-- receding, 57F, overcast and rainy with a storm approaching. Several visitors with children this morning. Franklin the diamond backed terrapin was a big hit as usual. Some of the kids were curious about the structure on the marsh- our osprey nesting platform. The spartina grasses on the marsh are a beautiful copper color now. On the marsh: 9 American black ducks, 2 of which were doing a head-bobbing display, 5 Gadwalls and a Northern Harrier flew over. On the grounds & feeders: A mixed flock of 25 House finches, 11 House sparrows and 2 Goldfinches either at the feeders or in trees, 1 juvenile Cooper's hawk-first preening in a tree for about 20 minutes, then it showed up dive bombing some birds in a thicket, 4 Northern cardinals, 2 Downy woodpeckers, 3 Chickadees, 1 White breasted nuthatch, 2 White throated sparrows, 1 Song sparrow, and 15 Starlings flew over. Bev Propen, Orange