***** A note from Tina Green, COA President. The 30th COA Annual Meeting will take place on Saturday March 22nd at Middlesex Community College in Middletown. It's not too late to register for a day of fantastic speakers including Pete Dunne,Kevin Karlson,and Chris Rimmer. We have fantastic vendors and our famous raffle with optics,artwork,books,and all things bird related! Follow the link below for more details and to register. COA members and non-members are welcome. Come join the fun! http://www.ctbirding.org/2014docs/2014AnnualMeetingSpeakers.htm ***** From Vanessa Caccamise: 03/11/14 - Westport, Burying Hill -- One Red-necked Grebe. From Tina Green: 03/11/14 - Westport, Sherwood Island SP -- a singing Eastern Meadowlark in the circle after the entrance. Also 4 Northern Pintails (3 drake and 1 hen), Red-necked Grebe in creek behind airplane field left of Osprey at form. Amazing!! From Paul Cianfaglione: 03/11/14 - Hartford, Riverside Park -- 1 RED-NECKED GREBE continues as does 1 WHITE-WINGED SCOTER. From ????? Lawton: 03/11/14 - Farmington, Riverside Cemetery -- 8:50 to 9 AM; 2 Red-necked Grebes. From Steve & Charla Spector: 03/11/14 - Fairfield, Penfield Reef -- mid-day; Lesser Black-backed Gull, Barrow's Goldeneye (drake). From Scott Kruitbosch: 03/11/14 - Stratford -- 1 Black Vulture. From Jack Swatt: 03/11/14 - Madison, Hammonasset State Park -- In the Nature Center Parking lot were 5 LAPLAND LONGSPUR and 1 SNOW BUNTING.  The longspurs were starting to molt into breeding plumage. One SNOWY OWL was in the marsh between Cedar Point and Willards Island, but was way far out almost right up next to the river.  Difficult to see even with a scope. mongst the gulls feeding in the larva frenzy were at least 10 BONAPARTE GULLS. From Steve Spector: 03/11/14 - Milford, Mondo Ponds -- 2:00 PM; 2 Redhead (drake, hen). East Broadway (near Silver Sands SP) -- 3:00 PM; Snowy Owl on roof of waterfront house (roof has 2 large plastic owls to discourage birds from perching). From Stefan Martin with Mike Warner: 03/11/14 - Stratford, Cove Place -- The Gull feeding frenzy was underway with about 500 gulls feeding offshore. Highlights of the group were 80-100 Bonaparte's Gulls. Stratford Point -- 1 Wilson's snipe in marsh along Access Rd. Westport, Burying Hill Beach -- Just before sunset; 1-Red-necked Grebe in breeding plumage directly off the beach and rather close. The bird flew off towards Sherwood while I was viewing it. On my way out I noticed something swimming in the marsh by the entrance. It was the Grebe! The bird dove and came up 15 ft from shore! Never thought I'd see one in breeding plumage so close. From Joe Zygala: 03/11/14 - Westport, Burying Hill Beach -- afternoon; Red-necked Grebe, plus on the way out in the creek a glorious alternate-plumaged Red-necked Grebe. From Francis Wilson: 03/11/14 - New Haven, Morris Creek preserve area -- American Woodcock peenting in the twilight. At least 3 individuals answering one another. No aerial display that I witnessed. From Bob Cartoceti: 03/11/14 - Danbury -- Black Vulture soar above the Patriot parking garage at 9:35 AM. From Ted Gilman: 03/11/14 - Greenwich, Audubon Center -- AMERICAN WOODCOCK  (at least two) calling from thicket below hawk watch lawn between 7:22 and 7:30 PM.