By Jay Kaplan and Greg Hanisek
This is the 25th report of the Avian Records Committee of Connecticut (ARCC). In the last report (see the 24th Report of the Avian Records Committee of Connecticut, Vol. 38 No. 2), four species were added to the state list. These are Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Little Egret, Roseate Spoonbill and Black-backed Oriole. All but the oriole were photographed and seen by multiple observers. In 2019, a single species was added to Connecticut’s state list. A Brewer’s Sparrow was located at Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison, in early December and remained for several days, when it was seen by many Connecticut and out-of-state birders. The sparrow is 445 on our state list.
This year, the committee voted on 32 records, after considering 29 in the previous year. Digital photography has made the committee’s work much easier than in the past. Many of the records included excellent photographs, and a majority of records were accepted unanimously. Updated information on how to develop a report may be found on the committee’s web page on the COA web site.
STATE LIST AND REVIEW LIST
As previously noted, the addition of Brewer’s Sparrow brings the state list to 445 species. The committee depends on observers to submit their reports of species on the Review List (species marked with an asterisk on the COA checklist plus any species new to the state). The most recent State List and Review List may be viewed on the COA Website at www.ctbirding.org. Submit written reports along with documentary material to Jay Kaplan, ARCC chair, and Greg Hanisek, ARCC secretary (addresses below).
In other action, the committee, in conjunction with input from Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, has determined that Ring-necked Pheasant is now extirpated as a breeding species in Connecticut. It is anticipated that pheasant will be removed from the state list in 2021, following its expected official removal.
Each year, the committee evaluates the review species list. Last year, White-faced Ibis was removed from the Review List as the species now occurs annually in the state. The committee continued its discussion of potential additions and deletions to the Review List. In 2019, the committee discussed the potential addition of Pine Grosbeak to the Review List as this species has been reported in only three years in this century. Prior to making a decision, the committee will be reviewing its current criteria as to what constitutes a review species and will look at what other state committees are now doing. The committee also documents the occurrence of rare species’ breeding records. Currently, all such breeding records are being submitted to the ongoing Connecticut Breeding Bird Atlas Project.
COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
Members, in addition to the authors, who voted on records in this report are Nick Bonomo, Frank Gallo, Tina Green, Julian Hough, Frank Mantlik, Dave Provencher, Phil Rusch, Dave Tripp and Glenn Williams.
FORMAT
This report continues the format of previous reports. In the case of accepted records, only observers who submitted reports are listed, with the original finder listed first followed by an asterisk. Photos are acknowledged with ‡. Hyphenated numbers preceding the observers are the ARCC file numbers. For reopened files, an “R” follows the numbers. The species are listed in order according to the American Ornithological Society (AOS) Checklist. Multiple records of a particular species are listed chronologically. Months of the year are shortened to their first three letters.
OLD RECORDS
The committee has undertaken a long-term project to document the rare birds of Connecticut. This will include reports and records from the four editions of books on birds of Connecticut (Zeranski & Baptist 1990; Sage & Bishop 1913; Merriam 1877; and Linsley 1843). It will also include Connecticut specimens found in the major ornithological collections in North America. Committee member Phil Rusch is heading this effort with the assistance of committee member Frank Gallo. The following two records, accepted at this year’s meeting, are a result of that effort.
SOOTY TERN (Onychoprion fuscatus) One was found alive on 7 Sep 1979 on a beach at Stonington Point and taken to Pequotsepos Nature Center in Mystic for rehabilitation (2019-02 Philip Rusch*). The bird was successfully rehabilitated and released in Florida in November 1979. The appearance coincided with the passage of Hurricane David, with six Sooty Terns salvaged in Connecticut. Only this one survived. Rusch examined the other five specimens from Yale and UCONN in 2019 and filed photos with ARCC.
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus melanocephalus) One was identified on 14 Mar 1978 at a feeder in Gales Ferry, where it had been present for a few days (2019-03 Robert Dewire, Phil Rusch). Four days later the homeowner reported that it had been found dead. It was salvaged and delivered to UConn, where it was prepared as a specimen entered into the university’s collection. It is the only state specimen. Rusch examined the specimen in 2019 and filed photos with ARCC.
CURRENT ACCEPTED RECORDS
PINK-FOOTED GOOSE (Anser brachyrhynchus) One was found 5 Dec 2019 at Amos Lake in Preston (2019-25 Dave Provencher*, Russ Smiley‡). It was last seen on 3 Jan 2020. One was seen 9-10 Dec 2019 in western New Haven, then disappeared until it was re-discovered 13 Jan 2020 in nearby Orange (2019-26 Christine Howe*, John Oshlick‡, Greg Hanisek). During December the goose was seen in and near Edgewood Park, New Haven. In January it was seen in Orange at Crosby Pond, Treat Farm and Wepawaug Reservoir, traveling with a large flock of Canada Geese. It was last seen 18 Jan at the latter two locations.
TUFTED DUCK (Aythya fuligula) A female was found on 7 Dec 2019 at Captain’s Cove in Bridgeport (2019 -17 Frank Gallo*‡, Frank Mantlik‡). It was present at least through the end of February 2020, and at times could be found in a scaup flock at nearby Jennings Beach in Fairfield. Presumably the same individual has now been present for three consecutive winters and four of the past five. The possibility that two different individuals were present in 2019-20, based on the size and appearance of the tuft, was considered. Research revealed that the appearance during the course of the bird’s stay, from a full to an almost nonexistent tuft, was the result of molt.
EARED GREBE (Podiceps nigricollis) One was found 13 Oct 2019 in the Charles Wheeler Salt Marsh at the Milford Point Coastal Center, Milford (2019-13 Frank Gallo*‡, Frank Mantlik‡). It was a first record for this heavily birded location and was present just that day. One was found 25 Jan 2020 at Stonington harbor (2020-05 Russ Smiley*‡, Dave Provencher‡). It was seen through at least late Feb 2020. One was present at the same location in winter 2018-19, which could indicate a returning individual.
WESTERN GREBE (Aechmophorus occidentalis) One was found on 24 Nov 2019 off Cove Island Park in Stamford (2019-18 Stefan Martin*‡, David Winston‡, Frank Mantlik). It was seen through 27 Nov. The last record was in 2016.
WHITE-WINGED DOVE (Zenaida asiatica) One was seen on 17 Nov 2019 flying by the Lighthouse Point Park hawkwatch in New Haven and was sketched by the observer (2019-14 Julian Hough*). This species was seen flying by the same location on 24 Oct 2016.
YELLOW RAIL (Coturnicops noveboracensis) One was heard and subsequently recorded at 3:45 a.m. on 9 May 2019 at Ragged Rock Creek Marsh in Old Saybrook (2019-05 Nick Bonomo*). It was heard nightly, generally between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m., by many observers through at least 25 May.
THICK-BILLED MURRE (Uria lomvia) One was found at Stonington Point on 25 Jan 2020 (2020-03 Phil Rusch*, Nick Bonomo‡). It was on the water but then flew toward the harbor. Subsequent searches led to nearby Lambert Cove, where the bird was seen splashing and diving. It was re-found 2 hours later dead on slush ice. The specimen could not be recovered. One was found on 26 Jan 2020 at Shippan Point, Stamford, and moved quickly to nearby Greenwich Point, Greenwich (2020-04 Al Collins*, Will Schenck‡, Cynthia Ehlinger‡). In addition to these two birds, one was seen on 26 Jan in nearby Bronx, N.Y.
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE (Rissa tridactyla) An adult was found on 19 Oct 2019 at Sherwood Mill Pond Preserve in Westport (2019-15 Tina Green*‡). It was relocated the next day at Southport Beach and was seen by many observers through 21 Oct. A first-winter bird was seen on 28 Oct 2019 at Milford Point (2019-29 Steve Spector*‡). The two records were unusual because they involved birds close to shore. Most state records involve birds on the open Long Island Sound, usually during winter months.
MEW (KAMCHATKA) GULL (Larus canus kamtschatschensis) One was found on 2 Mar 2019 among a flock of about 2000 plankton-feeding gulls at Lighthouse Point in New Haven (2019-27 Nick Bonomo*‡). An individual of this large Asiatic subspecies was present and well-documented in January 2019 at Cove Island Park in Stamford. (See 24th Report of ARCC in Vol. 39 No. 2). The observer noted specific features that suggested the Lighthouse Point bird was the same individual. This is a fourth state record for the form but may only involve two returning individuals.
CALIFORNIA GULL (Larus californicus) A adult was found on 18 April 2019 at Bradley Point in West Haven (2019-20 Nick Bonomo*‡, Julian Hough‡, Frank Mantlik‡). The bird was seen through 28 Apr. It was a second state record.
GULL-BILLED TERN (Gelochelidon nilotica) One was found on 25 Sep 2019 at Sherwood Island State Park, where it was joined by a second individual the next day at the Sherwood Mill Pond Preserve (2019-16 Tina Green*‡, Frank Mantlik‡). They were seen by many observers through 28 Sep there and at nearby Old Mill Beach.
PACIFIC LOON (Gavia pacifica) One in basic plumage was seen on 1 Dec 2019 at Enders Island in Mystic (2019-04 Nick Bonomo*). This is a seventh state record and the second from this location. All but one have been at coastal locations.
MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD (Fregata magnificens) An adult female was seen over Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison on 17 Aug 2019 (2019-06 Shannon Skalos*‡, Daniel Skalos). Frigatebirds present identification challenges because of similarity among species. The observers, who have experience with both Magnificent and Great Frigatebirds, provided excellent photos and descriptive detail eliminating both Great and Lesser Frigatebird.
SWAINSON’S HAWK (Buteo swainsoni) An immature intermediate morph was seen both perched and in the air on 28 Sep 2019 at Windham Airport Grassland in North Windham (2019-10 Phil Rusch*). An immature intermediate morph was seen flying by Lighthouse Point hawk watch in New Haven on 4 Oct 2019 (2019-09 Julian Hough*‡, Abby Sesselberg‡). Based on photos of the New Haven bird, Rusch believes it is likely the same bird he saw in North Windham.
SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Tyrannus forficatus) One was seen on 3 June 2019 at the orchard at Trout Brook Valley Preserve in Easton (2019-07 Avery Cotton*‡, N.J. Cotton). This is the second record for this location. One was seen on 27 July 2019 at recreation fields in West Simsbury (2019-08 Jay Kaplan*, David Leff). Neither was re-found, and records of this species are typically of short duration.
BREWER’S SPARROW (Spizella breweri) The first state record, a bird of the nominate subspecies, breweri, was found 23 Nov 2019 at Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison (2019-19 Jerry Connolly, Frank Mantlik‡, Greg Hanisek). The bird was first correctly identified by Jory Teltser from photos posted on eBird. It was seen by many through 25 Nov. This was only the third record for New England.
LeCONTE’S SPARROW (Ammospiza leconteii) One was found on 23 Nov 2019 during a survey of a Connecticut Bird Atlas block at Savin Lake in Lebanon (2019-21 Chris Loscalzo*, Marianne Vahey*, Frank Mantlik‡). This unusually cooperative individual was seen and photographed by many observers through 26 Nov. There are ten previous records.
WESTERN MEADOWLARK (Sturnella neglecta) One was seen, and later identified through photographs posted on Facebook, on 27 June 2019 at Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison (2019-11 Michael DiGiorgio‡, Julian Hough, Micky Komara, Dan Rottino). One was found on 23 Oct 2019 at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport (2019-12 Tina Green*‡, Frank Mantlik‡, John Oshlick‡) and was seen through 25 Oct. These were the second and third state records, the first also being at Sherwood Island and found by the same observer.
WESTERN TANAGER (Piranga ludoviciana) An adult male visited feeders at a Torrington home from 18 Nov to 8 Dec 2019 and was seen by many (2019-22 Phil Kozlak*‡, Lia Brignano, Greg Hanisek). An adult male visited feeders at a Coventry home on 17 Jan 2020 (2020-01 Nancy Thurnauer*‡).
RECORDS NOT ACCEPTED
CRESTED CARACARA (Caracara cheriway) One was reported from Greenwich on 16 Jan 2015 (2019-28). A number of reports of this species far north and east of its normal range have been documented this century. This report was from an observer familiar with the species, but it was a naked eye sighting of very short duration from a car driven on Interstate 95. The committee considered it too brief to document a first state record.
LITERATURE CITED
Hanisek, Greg. 2005. Connecticut Birds By The Season. The Connecticut Warbler. Vol. 25 No. 1
Howell, S.N.G, I. Lewington, and W. Russell. 2014. Rare Birds of North America. Princeton University Press, Princeton, N.J.
Pyle, Peter. 1997. Identification Guide to North American Birds, Part I, Slate Creek Press, Bolinas, Calif.
Sage, J.H., L.B. Bishop, and W.P. Bliss. 1913. The Birds of Connecticut. Connecticut Geological and Natural History Survey Bulletin No. 20.
Zeranski, J.D. and T.R. Baptist. 1990. Connecticut Birds. University Press of New England, Hanover, N.H.
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Greg Hanisek, 175 Circuit Ave., Waterbury, CT 06708
Jay Kaplan, 71 Gracey Road, Canton, CT 06019