***** COA Windsor Landfill Gull Workshop ***** Monday March 2nd, 9 AM ***** ***** The Windsor Landfill has produced some spectacular birds this ***** winter, with the state’s first and second records for ***** Slaty-backed Gull and second or third record of Thayer’s Gull. ***** Come join Patrick Comins on Monday March 2nd at 9 AM to search ***** the gull flocks for rare gulls and learn what to look for to ***** find your own mega rarity. Whether you want to learn how to ***** tell a Herring Gull from a Great Black-backed or are interested ***** in learning how to tell a Slaty-backed Gull from a hybrid ***** HerringXLesser Black-backed, birders of all skill levels are ***** welcome. This is a special weekday ID seminar because the gull ***** numbers are much reduced on weekends at this location. Please ***** email pcomins@audubon.org for additional info. ***** ***** Direction to the landfill - 500 Huckleberry Rd, Windsor, CT ***** ***** We will meet at the entrance to the landfill at 9:00 AM. From Frank Mantlik: 02/25/09 - Wallingford, East Center Street, MacKenzie Reservoir, 4:00-5:15pm with Charlie Barnard -- adult GRAYLAG GOOSE present with 500 Canada Geese, 1 imm. SNOW GOOSE, 1 smaller Canada-type Goose (possible Lesser CAGO ?), 1 great blue heron. We observed, studied, and photographed the Graylag, and it appears to be an adult (some small dark spots on lower belly in an irregular pattern), of the western Eurasian (nominate) anser subspecies (orange-based bill blending to fleshy pink midbill before pale whitish tip/nail). The bird has no leg bands, no sign of feather wear due to captivity, all toes (including hind ones) appear to be present, as noted by viewing and in photos. This goose appeared wary to both CB and I, as it walked, flew, or swam away from us whenever we approached towards it. We saw it standing, lying, swimming, and flying, and heard it call several times. I personally have never seen a Graylag in the northeast that looked and behaved wild as this one. Very interesting. From Mark Szantyr: 02/25/09 - Wallingford -- Saw the Greylag Goose, really a neat bird. There are two Canadas in the flock sporting neck bands, one white, one yellow. Yellow one had first character a G, other characters on both not discernable due to distance and in flight. Also Snow Goose in the flock. From Roy Harvey, among others: 02/26/09 - Wallingford, Whirlwind Hill Rd -- in farm fields, around 1:00 (?) PM, the Graylag Goose of possible wild origin, with Canadas of course. No sign of any Snow Goose or neck bands in that group. From Bill Banks: 02/26/09 - Watertown -- 9:12 AM, Northern Shrike in the same place it has been seen and reported in recent days. From Roy Harvey and Bruce Finnan: 02/26/09 - Watertown, Sand Bank Rd -- Northern Shrike, 2:00 PM. From Dave Rosgen, w/ John Eykelhoff, Ray Belding, Mike Doyle, et. al. (all, or in part): 2/26/09 - Litchfield, N. Shore Rd. (Bantam Lake's Pt. Folly) - 1 SNOW GOOSE, 10 NORTHERN PINTAILS. From James P. Smith: 2/26/09 - Windsor, Windsor Landfill -- Nelson's Gull (Glaucous x American Herring hybrid), 2 (1 adult near office buildings, 1 first-cycle amidst the masses). Kumlien's Iceland Gull, 1, dark-eyed adult with moderate head streaking, different bird to last week's dark-eyed adult. Glaucous Gull, 1, first-cycle. From Tanner Steves: 02/25/09 - Groton, Bluff Point SP - SHORT-EARED OWL, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, near the outer beach.