Miller Road in Middlefield, site of a Northern Shrike present for a few days, was a good place to find this species back when its appearances in CT were more regular than they are now. My records show that I saw one there in March 2000 and in January 2003. Greg Hanisek Waterbury

To Greg's point, the birding at Miller Road really declined when Lyman's put in the driving range there. That field and adjacent habitat used to be very birdy and somewhat reliable in winter for Rusty Blackbird and Northern Shrike. Most of the habitat in that particular patch is gone, but some remains. It's nice to hear a shrike can still find use there. Nick Bonomo Wallingford On Mon, Feb 5, 2024 at 8:08 PM Gregory Hanisek via CTBirds < ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org> wrote: > Miller Road in Middlefield, site of a Northern Shrike present for a few > days, was a good place to find this species back when its appearances in CT > were more regular than they are now. > > My records show that I saw one there in March 2000 and in January 2003. > > Greg Hanisek > Waterbury > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via email, send an email with just "join" or > "leave" in the subject or body to: ctbirds-request@lists.ctbirding.org > > 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 searched Miller Road today without success. While there a Lyman Orchard worker stopped to tell me not to park on the side of the road? Where should one park to search for this bird? Also, I do remember seeing Northern Shrikes on that same road with the late John Maynard- it was one of his favorite birding spots. Mike DiGiorgio 154 Princess Drive Madison, CT, 06443 203 421 5848 Website: mdigiorgio.com > On Feb 5, 2024, at 8:08 PM, Gregory Hanisek via CTBirds <ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org> wrote: > > Miller Road in Middlefield, site of a Northern Shrike present for a few > days, was a good place to find this species back when its appearances in CT > were more regular than they are now. > > My records show that I saw one there in March 2000 and in January 2003. > > Greg Hanisek > Waterbury > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via email, send an email with just "join" or "leave" in the subject or body to: ctbirds-request@lists.ctbirding.org > > 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/

"While there a Lyman Orchard worker stopped to tell me not to park on the side of the road? Where should one park to search for this bird?"  A quick check on Google Maps shows that Miller Road is a public road and the town owns about 20 feet beyond the pavement on each side of the road. I try to avoid conflicts with property owners, but unless there is no parking signage, this is just someone with no authority trying to claim some. I have been told that I wasn't allowed to park on public roads in the past and don't hesitate to tell self appointed sheriffs that I am legally parked. Glenn WilliamsMystic

The Northern Shrike continues in the location previously reported; north of Miller Road in Middlefield/Durham. The bird was teeing up on shrubbery in the marsh area and hunting. Scope recommended! The bird was absent for about the first 40 minutes of my visit. When I arrived, I was surprised to see ‘no parking’ signs placed on either side of Miller road every 30 feet or so. It appears the signs were just put up this morning. I stopped at the Apple Barrel store which is owned by Lyman Orchards and I talked to a groundskeeper about the signs. He did not know why they were put there. I told him that someone in the birding community was told not to park there yesterday and he did not know why that happened. I shared about the rare bird visiting us from the north and explained that many birders will probably be visiting to try and see it. Most of us would just park on the side of the road and set up a scope to look around. He is going to inquire about whether the signs can be taken down. Until then, my recommendation is to park further up the road past the signs. For those driving non-four-wheel-drive vehicles, there is level and dry parking near the bridge about a quarter mile further up Miller Road. Chuck Imbergamo CT Birds Moderator Madison > On Feb 6, 2024, at 3:06 AM, Nick Bonomo via CTBirds <ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org> wrote: > > To Greg's point, the birding at Miller Road really declined when Lyman's > put in the driving range there. That field and adjacent habitat used to be > very birdy and somewhat reliable in winter for Rusty Blackbird and Northern > Shrike. Most of the habitat in that particular patch is gone, but some > remains. It's nice to hear a shrike can still find use there. > > Nick Bonomo > Wallingford > >> On Mon, Feb 5, 2024 at 8:08 PM Gregory Hanisek via CTBirds < >> ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org> wrote: >> >> Miller Road in Middlefield, site of a Northern Shrike present for a few >> days, was a good place to find this species back when its appearances in CT >> were more regular than they are now. >> >> My records show that I saw one there in March 2000 and in January 2003. >> >> Greg Hanisek >> Waterbury >> >> To subscribe or unsubscribe via email, send an email with just "join" or >> "leave" in the subject or body to: ctbirds-request@lists.ctbirding.org >> >> 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/ >> > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via email, send an email with just "join" or "leave" in the subject or body to: ctbirds-request@lists.ctbirding.org > > 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 doubt that these sign were put up by the police or town and are not official and binding. It generally takes some effort and meetings for a town to make changes to existing sign and rules situations. Private citizens cannot just put up their own signs because they don't want people parking on their street. I would think a phone call to the local police would clear up the situation. Glenn Williams Mystic

I don’t remember any meetings before a bunch of no parking signs suddenly appeared on one of my favorite birding roads in Woodbury. I’m sure they were put up to keep away the teens who used to park there (and still do, regardless of the signs!) but it was one of the best places locally to find bobolinks and savannah sparrows. > On Feb 6, 2024, at 12:43 PM, Glenn Williams via CTBirds <ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org> wrote: > > I doubt that these sign were put up by the police or town and are not official and binding. It generally takes some effort and meetings for a town to make changes to existing sign and rules situations. Private citizens cannot just put up their own signs because they don't want people parking on their street. I would think a phone call to the local police would clear up the situation. > > Glenn Williams > Mystic > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via email, send an email with just "join" or "leave" in the subject or body to: ctbirds-request@lists.ctbirding.org > > 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/

Glenn makes a good point and I decided to place a call to the town of Middlefield. They were not aware of the newly erected signs and they are following up with Lyman Orchards. They confirmed that it is Lyman property on either side of the road but there should be room enough to park. I made sure to explain to the groundskeeper as well as the town official that birders are only seeking to park for a short while to look for the bird and that they would not be trespassing. Always remember that we are ambassadors of the birds and birding. Hopefully once what we are doing is understood there will be no further conflict around parking in the area. Stay tuned! Chuck Imbergamo CT Birds Moderator Madison > On Feb 6, 2024, at 12:43 PM, Glenn Williams <gswilliams9@yahoo.com> wrote: > > I doubt that these sign were put up by the police or town and are not official and binding. It generally takes some effort and meetings for a town to make changes to existing sign and rules situations. Private citizens cannot just put up their own signs because they don't want people parking on their street. I would think a phone call to the local police would clear up the situation. > > Glenn Williams > Mystic