Bald Eagle Visits King/Robinson

When I visited King/Robinson the other day, Cliff gave me copies of the videos he and Anizya took of a Bald Eagle that visited the school on January 13. The eagle was in a tree about 150 m from Mrs Sullivan's science classroom. As the students watched and recorded, the eagle plucked and ate a gull that it had flown in with.

Hawk with Breakfast

Back in December, early in the morning, we were walking to school and saw a Red-tailed Hawk eating a gull right in front of our school. So Mrs Sullivan said to get the scope and take pictures before it left. Here they are!

Cliff

grade: 8th

Volunteers Needed for the Wood Duck Nest Box Cleaning

The Wildlife Division of the Connecticut DEP will be maintaining wood duck nest boxes during the next several weeks and would appreciate assistance with this project. Generally, the nest boxes are located on frozen water bodies. Assistants work with Division staff and hike through the woodlands to the wetland, walk on the ice to the box, and clean old nesting material from the box. The project needs to be completed in time for the return of the wood ducks and the new nesting season. If you are available during the workweek and would like to offer your assistance with this project, please contact Koert Riley at james.k.riley@ct.gov. or Stephanie at 860-675-8130 (Sessions Woods).

Duck-Eagle Hop

A few Menunkatuck members and friends birded the Connecticut River from Saybrook Point to Haddam on Saturday, January 23. A chilly breeze at Saybrook Point was bearable due to the number of ducks in the river. Close side-by-side looks at Common Loon and Red-throated Loon made the field mark comparison very clear. Long-tailed Ducks were numerous.
Across the river at the Connecticut River Museum in Essex, we saw four deer "walking on water" as they attempted to use a sandbar to go from Nott Island to the mainland. When the water got too deep for them, they returned to the island.
Deep River Landing gave us good looks at Common Goldeneye and Great Cormorant. And at Haddam we finally got a look at a Bald Eagle soaring above the Goodspeed Opera House. As it turned in the sky, the sun shone on its white head and tail, and its yellow talons glistened.
The list for the day was:

Mute Swan, Canada Goose, American Black Duck, Mallard, Lesser Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Red-throated Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Great Cormorant, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Rock Pigeon, Downy Woodpecker, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, European Starling, American Robin, Yellow-rumped Warbler, fSong Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco

Free Willy 3

This morning, over 100 volunteers spent two chilly hours cutting invasive shrubs and vines from Willards Island at Hammonasset Beach State Park. 
When the work time was complete, volunteers went to the Meigs Point Nature Center for lunch and Christine and Todd Secki showed some of the raptors they rehabilitate at A Place Called Hope.
Thanks to the following local businesses for their supplying the food:

• Lenny and Joe's Fish Tale,  Madison - Clam Chowder
• Friends and Company, Madison - Vegetarian Chili and Fresh-baked Bread
• Grand Pizza, Clinton - Stuffed Italian Breads
• Cohen's Bagel Shop, Madison - Fresh-baked Bagels
• Coffee Break Restaurant, Clinton - Fresh-brewed Coffee
• Savvy Tea, Madison - Fresh-brewed Tea
• Bishop's Orchards, Guilford - Apple Cider
• Madison Chocolates, Madison - Assorted Desserts

Photos by Shannon and Kelley Scheisser.