NOTE: As the Snowy Owl incursion seems to be growing day by day, reports are starting to come in about the condition of these birds. At least some are in VERY bad shape, and some have apparently starved to death. A bird that travels that far in search of food does so out of necessity and does not always have any reserves left at the end of the trip. As birders we need to keep this at the top of our minds when we persue these fascinating visitors. There has been discussion of specifics on CTBirds, I will not try to cover it all, but I would be remiss not to mention the issue in this report. As for our most esteemed visitor, the Fork-tailed Flycatcher, birders continue to flock to Lyme and I will continue to try to summarize/ From assorted birders: 12/04/13 - Lyme, Hadlyme Ferry Slip -- 7:15 AM; 1 FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER seen with 8 other birders. "A note about the eBird hotspot- the teardrop for the Hadlyme side overlaps with the Chester side of the ferry so you have to zoom in sometimes." "Flycatcher was high in the trees to the north of the parking area. Flew on occasion but then flew to the trees along the east side of the parking area - then flew low into the wetland on the east side - to drink water and catch insects - This to the delight of the photographers. Bird flew out of the wetland and perched about 20 feet away from me. Great views and photographs." "4:40 PM; The bird was seen along the ledge in the vine tangles. It flew close to the parking area several times. 12 other birders were here from 4:15 to 4:40. Also a bat (eating insects presumably)." "I estimate that over 100 people per day are coming. Like the snowy owls, we should give this bird the space it needs to find food. If there is a large group of people, it would be better to stay near the parking area. When groups of people stay just past the info sign in the grass by the river they have gotten excellent views of the bird by the ledge. Like any other bird, if people spread out and crowd the area, then the bird is pushed away and hides out of sight for longer periods of time. I have watched this bird everyday since Sunday and it is usually easy to see, with some intermittent periods of 15-30 mins before it returns. A little patience is needed. If it stays through the weekend I am hoping that crowds do not overwhelm it." The Snowy Owls will also be summarized tonight. Greenwich, Island Beach -- 9:30 AM. Stamford -- 8:30; One Snowy Owl on the jetty projecting form Wallack's Point. 9:50, a second Snowy Owl has joined the first in close company. Two Snowy Owls continue on jetty and rocks East of Cummings Park, seen around 1 pm. Stratford -- See Milford. Milford -- 12:20 PM; Milford Point Breakwater, seen from Short Beach in Stratford. -- 2 SNOWY OWL Madison, Hammonasset SP -- Snowy Owl seen from Cedar Island platform. Heavily barred bird, different from one previously seen here. 3 PM; cooperative SNOWY OWL off Cedar Island. Madison, Hammonasset State Park -- 8:56 AM; Snowy Owl visible from platform at end of Cedar Island trail. Waterford -- The Snowy Owl that was seen on Millstone Point last Wednesday has been found dead. We examined the bird and it was severely emaciated, it certainly appears to have succumbed to starvation or a malnutrition related illness. *** BUT WHAT ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE????? From Roy Zartarian: 12/04/13 - Newington, Mill Pond - 1 male Northern Shoveler initially spotted by Anita Shaffer earlier in the week. I found the bird at about 8:15 this morning but it could not be located at noon. It's the first either of us has seen in town. From Jerry Connolly and NHBC First Wednesday Walk: 12/04/13 - Madison, Hammonasset SP -- SNOWY OWL, PURPLE FINCH, FOX SPARROW, SNOW BUNTINGS (12+), LAPLAND LONGSPUR, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER. From Steve Spector: 12/04/13 - East Haven, Brazos Road -- Barrow's Goldeneye around 1:00 PM. From Jim Pfeifer: 12/04/13 - Somers -- Cackling Goose (with roughly 800 Canada Geese) in the large corn field along the west side of Four Bridges Road. From Annie and Mike Perko: 12/04/13 - Colchester yard -- One Rusty Blackbird continues to be found in the backyard. Seen at 8:30 staying around. Also Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Purple Finch. Old Saybrook, Maynard's Pond -- Eurasian Widgeon continues. From Patrice Favreau & Jan Collins: 12/04/13 - Madison, Hammonasset State Park -- 1 Eastern Meadowlark seen from Cedar Island platform. At Meigs Nature Center grassy parking lot, flock of Snow Buntings & 1 Lapland Longspur. Meigs Pt jetty area, several Purple Sandpiper. From Glenn Williams: 12/04/13 - Waterford, Harkness Memorial State Park -- The female King Eider continues as of dusk Wednesday. From Doug Beach: 12/03/13 - Simsbury -- 1 Snow Goose with a flock of Canada Geese in a cornfield on the east side of Hopmeadow Street across from the Weatogue Fire House; approx. half a mile south of the intersection of Hopmeadow Street and Hartford Road (Route 185). From Lea Kessler: 12/03/13 - Avon -- I saw a barnacle goose Tuesday at 1 PM in a large flock of Canada geese on Spring Lake in Fisher Meadow Park in Avon. The lake is mostly frozen over but there is an area free of ice at the far end, and that is where the geese are. Two of the Canada geese had wide yellow bands on their necks. From Jim Pfeifer: 12/03/13 - ????? -- Single Snow Goose seen Tuesday morning (9:30) within flock of 200+ Canada Geese in Corn field on east side of Broad Brook Road (rt 191), just north of intersection with Route 140. From George Stephens: 12/03/13 - East Haven -- Barrows Goldeneye at Brazos Rd. From Steve Spector: 12/03/13 - East Haven, Brazos Road -- drake Barrow's Goldeneye, seen with many people from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM.  Later views quite stunning, drake Barrow's in company of 8 Common Goldeneye hens. From Tina Green: 12/03/13 - Westport, Burying Hill Beach -- 8 White-winged Scoter, Lesser Black-backed Gull. From Frank Mantlik with Tom Robben: 12/03/13 - Long Island Sound, by boat from Milford, CT to off Sands Point, LI, NY -- 3 Razorbills (CT) , 8 Northern Gannets, 1 Common Eider (off Stratford Point).