From Timothy L Thompson: 01/06/14 - Groton, Thames River -- 1 PM; Pacific Loon continues. WOW! As I work for Electric Boat, I went looking for the Pacific Loon during my lunch break. Bird was found inside EB waterways and unfortunately out of view of bins and scopes from the viewing public. This is a Department of Defense (DOD) facility and cameras are forbidden. I got views from twenty feet away and the loon would eye me and cautiously paddle away. What a great bird! It appears to be feeding off the bait present around the pylons and dock structures on EB property. I followed the Loon for twenty minutes or so. The actual location is across and just north of Fort Trumbull. When you look across from FT and see the two big yellow cranes farthest to the north (Goldstar bridge side), the Loon was feeding about a hundred yards south inside our secured area. THIS IS A SECURE AREA, NO ADMITTANCE AND NO CAMERAS AROUND!!!! See the full text on CTBirds. Groton, Thames River (East Side) -- 1:50; Pacific Loon continues, moved upriver (perhaps two hundred yards) above last set of yellow cranes on Electric Boat side (North) and may be viewable from the parking lots north of Danielle's Barber shop off Thames Street on Groton side. We have a few birders here at the plant that are updating me through the work day as the Loon is spotted. There are some parking areas north of the plant where you can get some bin/scope viewing in. Loon last reported feeding/swimming northward on Groton side, out of the wind. CAUTION: DO NOT USE OR PULL OUT A CAMERA ANYWHERE NEAR EB!! There is no room for error here. Security is strictly enforced. From Tina Green: 01/06/14 - Westport, Compo Beach -- small flock(6) of Rusty Blackbirds spotted flying around and then touched down briefly for positive ID just before the heavier rain started. Westport, Sherwood Island SP -- Barnacle Goose relocated on the model airplane field with large flock of Canada Geese. My persistence to relocate the goose paid off even in the rain and fog. Patience pays off! From Keith Mueller: 01/06/14 - Madison, Circle Beach -- 2 Iceland Gulls; continuing adult (FC) and new pale 1st cycle, that makes 17! Madison, Hammonasset State Park -- 1st cycle Iceland Gull just drifted by me close at the Meig's Point observation platform, it drifted west in the strong wind. From Dana Campbell: 01/06/14 - East Hartford -- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at suet feeder. From Mike Van Valen: 01/06/14 - Norwalk -- 5 BLACK VULTURES sitting on the roof of the liquor store in the Stop & Shop plaza, Route 7. From Mike Warner: 01/06/14 - Danbury, I-84 intersection with Federal Road -- 12:00 PM; 25 Black Vultures were seen flying low in a northerly direction over the Honda dealership. The dealer service representative, who lives nearby, told me the state has an animal carcass dropsite near a SNET building, NW of the I-84 and Rt 7 intersection. Federal Road passes under both of those highways at that split. From James Purcell: 01/06/14 - Fairfield, Penfield Reef -- The male Barrow's Goldeneye continues; he was really close in today giving spectacular looks and comparison with the Common Goldeneye. From Bob MacDonnell: 01/06/14 - Old Lyme, Great Island -- just before dark; about 4:30 the Short-eared Owl flew from the island across to the mainland (OL) just north of the boat ramp, and I lost sight of it. It could have been hunting the fields around the houses or gone across the road to the Black Hall River Marsh. At about 4:45 I saw a Snowy Owl on an Osprey nest near mid-island. Didn't see where it flew from and no sign of any other raptors. From Frank Mantlik: 01/06/14 - Stratford, Long Beach -- 4:20; SNOWY OWL in salt marsh at high tide, feeding on newly-killed Black Duck. Short Beach -- 4:55 (sunset glow); I watched a (different) SNOWY OWL fly in off the river (from its breakwater roost?), flew over the golf course and towards the airport. A minute later I found the owl perched on the red, lighted "ILS" sign at the edge of the runway at dusk. Obviously going out to hunt. From Hank Golet: 01/05/14 - Old Lyme, Great Island -- 4:00 PM; SNOWY OWL, SHORE-EARED OWL. From Frank Gallo: 01/05/14 - Derby, Osbornedale State Park -- Clay-colored Sparrow feeding on driveway edge in front of gray garage near Route 34. From Julian Hough: 01/05/14 - East Haven, Brazos Road -- 9:30 AM; fem Harlequin and 1 male Barrow's Goldeneye. From Jamie Meyers, Jay Kaplan and Sarah Faulkner: 01/05/14 - East Haven -- White-winged scoter and Iceland gull. New Haven -- Red-headed Woodpecker seen at 9:15 AM. From Mark Aronson: 01/05/14 - New Haven, Long Wharf -- 34 Snow Buntings. From Phil Rusch: 01/05/14 - Groton, Eastern Pt -- 1 Razorbills about 3 feet offshore, 7 Purple Sandpipers, 2 Lapland Longspurs. From Mark Aronson: 01/05/14 - East Haven, Brazos Road -- Barrow's Goldeneye and Harlequin Duck at 11:45. From Dave Provencher: 01/05/14 - Old Lyme -- Kayaked around Great Island for CBC. Highlights included 1 SNOWY OWL, 1 ROUGH-LEgGED HAWK, 1 drake EURASIAN WIGEON, 1 first winter ICELAND GULL eating a dead striper in the Sound, 3 MARSH WRENS, 4 AMERICAN PIPITs, and 10 EASTERN MEADOWLARKs. Also, Snowy Owl and Rough-legged Hawk visible from Smith Neck Rd boat launch. From Sean Murtha: 01/05/14 - Westport, Grace Salmon Park -- 4 or 5 FOX SPARROWS feeding along the furthest point of the path. From Jason Rieger: 01/05/14 - New Haven, Nathan Park -- Two Red-necked Grebes swimming through flock of gulls just off shore. From Kathy Hall via Frances DAmico: 01/05/14 - Portland -- 2:30 pm; Adult male Red-headed Woodpecker seen near the fairgrounds (but on private property). From Tom Murray: 01/05/14 - Stratford -- 3:45; dark morph Rough-legged Hawk perched in tree in Great Meadows at corner of Access Rd and Lordship Blvd. Sikorsky Memorial Airport -- 3:50; Snowy Owl (being chased by a redtailed hawk). Also Snow Bunting in paved parking lot. From Matt Popp: 01/05/14 - Greenwich, Todd's Point -- 10 Snow Buntings south of Chimes Building. From Mike Warner: 01/05/14 - Stratford, RR Track Trail -- 3:19 PM; light morph Rough-legged Hawk sitting in a tree above the trail. Had it in binos from Long Beach Blvd NW, when it suddenly flew off to the SW. From Robert Dixon: 01/05/14 - Plainfield, Quinebaug Fish Hatchery -- WINTER WREN, WILSON'S SNIPE (2), NORTHERN SHOVELER (3), SWAMP SPARROW (3), YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER (2), RUSTY BLACKBIRD (3). North Stonington, Ryder Rd -- with Linda Dixon, John Marshall and the Rottino's; imm. RED-HEADED WOODPECKER continues. Also YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER. Stonington, Barn Island -- AMERICAN PIPIT (3). Ledyard, Rte 2 near Foxwoods Casino -- BLACK VULTURE (6). Preston, Amos Lake -- BROWN CREEPER. From Cynthia Ehlinger: 01/05/14 - Old Greenwich, Greenwich Point Park -- Snow Bunting, American Pipit, Fox Sparrow. From Arthur Shippee: 01/05/14 - Hamden, North Lake -- over 100 Rusty Blackbirds. From Katherine Kuckens: 01/05/14 - West Hartford, yard -- Fox Sparrow seen daily since Dec 27 at my extra bird feeder. From Rob Mirer in a team of 13: 01/05/14 - Madison, Hammonasset State Park -- 1 Common Eider, 1 Rough-legged Hawk (light morph), 4 Purple Sandpipers, 2 Winter Wrens, 1 Clay-colored Sparrow. From Dan Rottino: 01/04/14 - Madison, Hammonasset Beach SP -- 9:10 AM; 1 SNOWY OWL at the west end perched on top of the back side if the 2nd pavilion on the left after the Swan pond. Also 1 LAPLAND LONGSPUR in the frozen partially flooded nature center parking lot (with 40 Horned Larks). From Sophie Zyla: 01/04/14 - Madison, Hammonasset Beach SP -- 2:15 PM; Snowy Owl still on the second pavilion at West Beach. From Tina Green: 01/04/14 - Westport, Burying Hill Beach -- drake Redhead, Lesser Black-backed Gull. From Bill Batsford: 01/04/14 - East Haven, Brazos Rd -- Previously reported Barrows Goldeneye and Harlequin Duck continue. New Haven, Lincoln and Bradley -- juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker beginning to show red feathers on head. From Russ Smiley: 01/04/14 - New Haven, Lincoln & Bradley Sts -- 8:55 AM; Red-headed Woodpecker continues at northwest corner of intersection. Sargent Drive -- 9:20 AM; Snowy Owl flew toward East Shore Park. From Sara Zagorski: 01/04/14 - Westport, Burying Hill Beach -- Barnacle Goose in creek (with Canada Geese). Redhead seen by others. From Sara Zagorski with Tina Green: 01/04/14 - Stratford -- Snowy Owl seen at end of Stratford Pt, as viewed from Short Beach. From Vanessa Caccamise: 01/04/14 - Westport, Burying Hill Beach -- Redhead flew (with a couple of mallards) toward the Sound. From Brendan Murtha: 01/04/14 - Westport, Burying Hill Beach -- 11:20 AM; Barnacle Goose giving great looks. It's on the far bank at the widest part of the channel with large numbers of canadas. From Keith and Jen Mueller and Lynn Stone: 01/04/14 - Madison, Circle Beach -- 6 Iceland Gulls. From Jamie Meyers: 01/04/14 - Simsbury, Simsbury Airport -- large flock of SNOW BUNTINGS working the plowed runway area. At least 50 birds, likely more. From Dave Provencher: 01/04/14 - Norwich, Wawecus Hill -- 4 Black Vultures, 2 Winter Wrens, and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. From Chris Bosak: 01/04/14 - Darien, Weed Beach -- Brown Thrasher, a few Fox Sparrows. From Timothy L Thompson: 01/04/14 - Stonington, Barn Island -- Black-headed Gull continues. Located left of drainage creek mouth at first impoundment. Easily viewed from boat launch. From Shai Mitra: 01/04/14 - New London, New London-Orient Pt ferry -- PACIFIC LOON in the lower Thames River opposite Electric Boat shipyard. Just a short distance south of the slip in NL. It's an adult bird in winter plumage, with a pale, puffy nape and a darker vertical border between the gray of the neck and the white of the throat, very striking. From Stefan Martin: 01/04/14 - North Stamford backyard -- a beautiful adult RED-HEADED WOODPECKER. I was literally unwrapping suet and daydreaming about yardbirds as I turned to the feeders to see this guy! He was eating seed from the tube feeder for a few minutes then flew west across the road. From Annette Cunniffe w/Meredith Sampson: 01/04/14 - Greenwich, Fairchild Garden -- BROWN CREEPER, COMMON RAVEN, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER. Greenwich Audubon -- 2 BLACK VULTURES. Greenwich Yard -- FOX SPARROW. From Robert Dixon: 01/04/14 - Sterling yard -- YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, FOX SPARROW (2) continue. North Stonington, Ryder Rd -- with Tim Thompson; imm. RED-HEADED WOODPECKER continues. Also YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER. Ledyard, Rte 2 -- BLACK VULTURE (5) soaring near casino. Preston, Amos Lake -- LESSER SCAUP. Norwich, Norwich Marina area -- GREAT CORMORANT (2). From Keith and Jen Mueller: 01/04/14 - Westport, Buryinghill Beach -- Beach Barnacle Goose was still present at 2:30 PM. But with the very high flooding tide, it was way up in the marsh to the west (with a half dozen Canada Geese). From Bill Asteriades: 01/04/14 - North Haven, Quinnipiac River Tidal Marsh -- Dark Morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. East Haven, Brazos Road -- ICELAND GULL and continuing. BARROW'S GOLDENEYE and female HARLEQUIN DUCK. From Nick Bonomo: 01/04/14 - Bridgeport, Seaside Park -- second cycle ICELAND GULL (not the Long Beach beast). Stratford, Stratford Pt -- EURASIAN WIGEON, SNOWY OWL. From Hank Golet: 01/04/14 - Old Lyme, Great Island -- SNOWY OWL. Pretty much the same as yesterday. Bird not visable on GI beach, or anywhere else, until after sunset, then flew to beach( did not see from where) and after a few minutes, to Osprey platform. From Arthur Shippee: 01/04/14 - Hamden yard -- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, a single F Rusty Blackbird.