NOTE: We were reminged on CTBirds today that the winds and timing are looking good for Cave Swallows. Keep your eyes out! From Greg Hanisek: 11/01/13 - Bethlehem, Hard Hill Rd -- 1 BARNACLE GOOSE among 500+ Canada Geese feeding in huge corn stubble fields. Litchfield/Morris, Bantam Lake -- BLACK SCOTER female still anchored 30 yards off boat launch in North Bay, where it's been for a week. Cemetery Pond -- 1 female Northern PINTAIL, 2 Northern SHOVELERS. Also 5 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS near Chickadee Bridge, White Memorial. From Sara Zagorski: 11/01/13 - Bethlehem -- spotted the Barnacle Goose at 2:00 pm with geese opposite mailbox 243 Hard Hill Rd south. From John Marshall: 11/01/13 - Bethlehem -- A few minutes after 3;00 a dirt bike flushed the entire flock of geese, including the BARNACLE GOOSE. Most flew east. I did have an Eastern Meadowlark. From Frank Mantlik: 11/01/13 - Watertown (Litchfield County), Judd Pond = Big Meadow Pond -- 5 PM; BARNACLE GOOSE. I very luckily found the Canada Goose flock on this pond, then miraculously was able to find the BARNACLE GOOSE in the scope - looking from the roadside (Rt 132 = Judd Farm Rd, near the big red barn) down to the pond but through a wall of deciduous trees. I was soon joined by J. Marshall and R. Smiley, both of whom saw the goose through my scope. Great find earlier today by G. Hanisek in the cornfield along Hard Hill Rd., Bethlehem -  (1.5 mile?) to the west/southwest. Bird was noticeably different than CAGOs by being slightly smaller, with a grayer back which had prominent dark/blackish parallel barrings. The breast, neck, and crown were solid jet-black, which contrasted with the completely white face. Bill was dark. From Dave Rathbun: 11/01/13 - Wallingford, North Farms Reservoir -- 10:15 AM; Redhead 20 feet in front of picnic table (mixed in with a small group of Mallards). From Tina Green: 11/01/13 - Westport, Sherwood a Island SP -- 8 Lesser Scaup in the Mill Pond. First time I have seen Scaup in the Mill Pond. From Frank Mantlik: 11/01/13 - Stratford, Stratford Point (Prospect Drive) -- female HARLEQUIN DUCK flew west about 2:20 with 2 White-winged Scoters & 3 female Black Scoters. Also 1 Northern Gannet, 4 American Pipits. Pond behind 611 Access Rd.(private) -- 1 YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON. From Frank Mantlik: 11/01/13 - Watertown (Litchfield County), Judd Pond = Big Meadow Pond -- 5 PM; BARNACLE GOOSE. I very luckily found the Canada Goose flock on this pond, then miraculously was able to find the BARNACLE GOOSE in the scope - looking from the roadside (Rt 132 = Judd Farm Rd, near the big red barn) down to the pond but through a wall of deciduous trees. I was soon joined by J. Marshall and R. Smiley, both of whom saw the goose through my scope. Great find earlier today by G. Hanisek in the cornfield along Hard Hill Rd., Bethlehem -  (1.5 mile?) to the west/southwest. Bird was noticeably different than CAGOs by being slightly smaller, with a grayer back which had prominent dark/blackish parallel barrings. The breast, neck, and crown were solid jet-black, which contrasted with the completely white face. Bill was dark. From Paul Carrier: 11/01/13 - Canaan -- While driving past Canaan center west on 44 near where the Housatonic river crosses, just before going up steep hill, a ROUGH-L-HAWK flew across the rd treetop level going north! I had one here last winter. Maybe the same bird who will winter here once again. On way back I search for it off side rd but no luck. From John Oshlick: 11/01/13 - Milford, Silver Sands State Park -- (with teve Spector in part); leucistic Yellow-rumped Warbler; nearly all white except for its yellow rump! Also Vesper Sparrow, 3 Eastern Meadowlarks, and 1 brief look at a snow bunting (likely the bird that Stever had in his yard the other day). Sparrow numbers are way down. From Robert Dixon: 11/01/13 - Sterling yard -- 1st winter male DICKCISSEL continues at feeders. From Robert Dixon: 10/31/13 - Sterling yard -- 1st winter male DICKCISSEL continues at feeders. Observed several times in the morning alone and with House Sparrows. From Tina Green: 10/31/13 - Westport, Burying Hill Beach -- 2 White-winged Scoter. Sherwood Island SP -- 7 American Pipit. From Greg Hanisek: 10/31/13 - Wallingford, North Farms Reservoir -- the Redhead continued at the reservoir as viewed from where the picnic tables are located. Seen around 10:20 AM. From Frank Mantlik: 10/31/13 - Stratford, sea watching for 2 hours from Stratford Point, Cove Place, and Long Beach -- 1 NORTHERN GANNET, 6 BLACK SCOTERS, 2 White-winged Scoters, 1 Bonaparte's Gull. Long Beach -- AMERICAN BITTERN. From Paul Carrier: 10/31/13 - Harwinton yard -- 1 Fox Sparrow, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch. From Steve Spector: 10/31/13 - Milford, Silver Sands SP -- 3 Meadowlarks (presumably Eastern) in sparrow lanes around 1:00 PM. From Bev Propen: 10/31/13 - Orange backyard -- 1 BROWN CREEPER creeping up the trunk of the flowering plum tree. From Russ Naylor via Patrick Comins: 10/31/13 - ?????, Hesseky Meadow Pond -- Winter Wrens and 40 Rusty Blackbirds. From Hank Golet: 10/30/13 - Old Saybrook, Ingham Hill Rd, Maynard's Pond -- 8 Lesser Scaup.