By Jay Kaplan and Greg Hanisek
This is the Twenty-fourth Report of the Avian Records Committee of Connecticut (ARCC), which met on March 3, 2019, at Yale University’s Peabody Museum in New Haven. The Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) checklist for Connecticut birds has been reprinted. The checklist is a useful tool in the field.
In the last report (see the Twenty-third Report of the Avian Records Committee of Connecticut, Vol. 37 No. 2), Gray Flycatcher and Mexican Violetear were added to the State List. Both species were photographed by single observers. Happily, in 2018, three of the four new species to the list were seen by many observers. The species are, in chronological order, Black-backed Oriole, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Little Egret, and Roseate Spoonbill. The Black-backed Oriole represents a most interesting addition. This Mexican oriole is generally considered non-migratory. However, an individual of this species appeared at a southeast Pennsylvania feeder the previous winter and was seen by hundreds of birders. Among these observers was one of the two individuals who found and carefully described this bird in Fairfield County in May 2018.
The well-photographed Black-bellied Whistling Duck appeared near the Essex Boat Docks in August and remained for two days in mid-week, allowing those who could respond quickly an opportunity to see this state first. Alas, it was gone by the weekend to the disappointment of many. The Little Egret was first found in neighboring Westerly, Rhode Island. Careful avian detective work by Connecticut birders determined that the bird roosted in the evening with a group of Snowy Egrets on a jetty in Stonington, necessitating a boat trip to see it. The final addition was a Roseate Spoonbill that settled into the Stratford-Milford area for several weeks in September-October. This bird was evidently the same individual found in Maine and New Jersey earlier in the year.
This year, the committee voted on 29 records, somewhat fewer than in recent years. The lack of significant hurricanes may have contributed to this decrease in records, although an unprecedented appearance by shearwaters in Long Island Sound in late summer accounted for several reports.
In this digital age, the committee recognizes that a bird can often be readily identified through a photograph. Although the committee first and foremost strives to build a historical record for listed species, members also ask for reports that provide a detailed description of Review List birds. Such descriptions can provide behavioral and other valuable details that are not apparent from a photograph.
Each year, the committee evaluates the review species list. This year, White-faced Ibis has been removed from the Review List as the species now occurs annually. The committee also discussed the potential addition of Pine Grosbeak to the Review List because this “winter finch” has now been seen during only three winters in Connecticut in this century.
COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
Members, in addition to the authors, who voted on records in this report include Nick Bonomo, Frank Gallo, Tina Green, Julian Hough, Frank Mantlik, Dave Provencher, Phil Rusch, Dave Tripp, and Glenn Williams.
STATE LIST AND REVIEW LIST
The committee depends on observers to submit their reports of species on the Review List (they are species marked with an asterisk on the COA Checklist plus any species new to the state). The most recent State List and Review List can be viewed on the COA Website at www.ctbirding.org. Submit written reports along with documentary material to Jay Kaplan, ARCC chairman (address below).
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 (e.g. 02-01) 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.
ACCEPTED RECORDS
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna autumnalis) The long-awaited first state record was discovered on 11 Aug 2018 near the Essex waterfront (18-22 Bill Meyers,* Frank Gallo‡, Frank Mantlik‡). It was seen through at least 15 Aug, and a homeowner in the area said it had been present for about a week before being reported by Meyers. The discovery was highly anticipated because one had been seen flying southwest from Gooseberry Neck, Bristol County, MA, on 29 July. This was part of a flurry of records in the Northeast, including:
- Two showed up in PN de la Pte-aux-Prairies–Secteur des Marais, Montréal County, Quebec, Sun Jul 15, 2018. Still being seen as of Aug 14, at least. The area is due north of VT birds. Same 2?
- Two in Shoreham Depot, VT for most of June 2018 (5th-27th).
- Ten at 1499 Perrineville Road, Monroe Township, New Jersey, US (40.301, -74.439), (to the south of Lenape Park) from June 29 – July 7, 2018
- One to two in Nissequogue River SP, Suffolk County, on Long Island, NY from June 23-July 14, 2018
- One in Lenape Park Union, NJ on June 15, 2018. Not far from Calvert Vaux Park (Dreier-Offerman Park) Kings County, Long Island, NY where one was seen on May 16, 2018
“BLACK” BRANT (Branta bernicla nigricans) This western subspecies was seen on 24 Nov 2018 flying by Stratford Point in a small flock of “Atlantic” Brant (18-17 Stefan Martin*‡). It was a fifth-state record.
ROSS’S GOOSE (Chen rossii) One was found on 12 Feb 2018 at Valentine’s Meadow on the University of Connecticut campus in Storrs. It was relocated the next day at Stearns Farm on Mansfield City Road, Mansfield Center, and was present until at least 22 Feb (18-08 Phil Rusch*). This was one of a record six Ross’s Geese reported in winter 2017-18, equaling the total number of previous records dating to 2003.
TUFTED DUCK (Aythya fuligula) An adult female was found on 15 Dec 2018 at Captain’s Cove in Bridgeport. (18-19 Richard Chmielecki,* James Leone‡, Frank Mantlik‡). This is believed to be the same individual wintering at this location since 2014-15. It was present to at least March 2019, ranging as far west as Jennings Beach in Fairfield and as far east as Seaside Park in Bridgeport.
WHITE-WINGED DOVE (Zenaida asiatica) One was present from 23 Nov. through 1 Dec 2018 in and near a yard with feeders in East Haven (18-26 Andrew Main,* Frank Mantlik‡, Greg Hanisek). A White-winged Dove was present in the same yard throughout November 2015.
BLACK RAIL (Laterallus jamaicensis) One was heard in Old Saybrook on the night of 27 May 2017, briefly but clearly by two experienced observers who checked what they heard immediately with online audio files (18-04 Glenn Williams,* Phil Rusch*).
WILSON’S PLOVER (Charadrius wilsonia) The first since May 2007 was found on 29 April 2018 at Milford Point and seen by many through the following day (18-24 Chandler Wiegand*, Greg Hanisek). It appeared to be a one-year-old bird, retaining some juvenile plumage.
DOVEKIE (Alle alle) One was seen flying by and landing briefly on the water off the Enders Island Sea Chapel in Mystic on 21 Dec 2018 (18-23 Phil Rusch*). Another was seen on the same day flying past, as close as 30 feet, and landing briefly, off Stonington Point in Stonington (18-29 Nick Bonomo‡*, Dave Provencher*).
COMMON MURRE (Uria aalge) One was seen on 22 Dec 2018 from the New London-Orient, NY, ferry (18-31 Dave Provencher*). Seen shortly after the ferry cleared the mouth of the Thames River, there was no question about it being in Connecticut waters. One was seen in the Thames River, close to the mouth, on the same ferry route on 13 Jan 2019 (18-21 Nick Bonomo‡*).
THICK-BILLED MURRE (Uria lomvia) One was present on 16 Feb 2018 at Stonington Point (18-10 John Oshlick‡*). Although this species is rare and very seldom seen from shore, this was the second found at this location in February 2018. Plumage differences showed this one was a first-winter bird. One found on 4 Feb (see the 23rd ARCC Report) was a basic-plumaged adult.
MEW (KAMCHATKA) GULL (Larus canus kamtschatschensis) One was discovered on 8 Jan 2019 at Cove Island Park in Stamford and was seen by many observers through at least 21 Jan. (8-28 Patrick Dugan*, Alex Lin-Moore, Frank Mantlik‡, Dave Provencher‡). Previous state records in 2015 and 2017 involved a single individual based on wing pattern. Bonomo, who documented the previous records, cited reasons why this was a different bird: “First, its primary pattern is quite different. Most obvious is the large white mirror on p9 and thick black band on p5, versus no p9 mirror at all and a very thin band on p5. Obvious black markings on the primary coverts of the Stamford bird indicate that it is not quite a full adult. Structurally, the bill of the Stamford bird appears both thicker and longer.”
SANDWICH TERN (Thalasseus sandvicensis) An adult beginning to molt into basic plumage was found on 18 Aug 2018 at Sandy Point in West Haven, roosting on an exposed bar with a large flock of mostly Common Terns (18-25 Greg Hanisek‡*, Frank Mantlik‡). It was seen by multiple observers that day but not thereafter. It is the eighth documented state record, all from either Stratford, Milford, or West Haven.
CORY’S SHEARWATER (Calonectris diomedea) One was unusually deep into Long Island Sound when it flew offshore of Stratford Point in Stratford on 29 Aug 2017 (17-44 Stefan Martin‡*). The discovery of five on 24 July 2018 on the New London-Orient NY ferry route signaled an unprecedented flight of shearwaters into state waters (18-35 Dan Burton‡*, Glenn Williams). Sightings, almost all from the ferry route, continued through at least 15 Aug with a few off Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison at the end of that period. Single-trip numbers were all in single digits except for a remarkable 25 on 25 July.
SOOTY SHEARWATER (Ardenna grisea) One was seen on 25 July 2018 on the New London-Orient NY ferry route (18-33 Nick Bonomo‡* Frank Mantlik‡ Glenn Williams, Alex Lin-Moore‡, Dan Rottino). The high count was four on a different ferry trip on 25 Jul. Other observations came on 27 Jul (1), 31 Jul (2), and 7 Aug (1). There was one previous accepted record on 8 Jul 2004 off Guilford.
GREAT SHEARWATER (Ardenna gravis) One on 24 July 2018 and the next day on the New London-Orient NY ferry route was part of the historic shearwater invasion into eastern Long Island Sound (18-34 Dan Burton‡*, Frank Mantlik‡, Glenn Williams, Frank Gallo‡, Dan Rottino). Reports continued through 16 Aug, with multiple reports in August from Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison as well as the ferry route. Numbers on most trip reports were in single digits, but 12 were on a ferry trip on 25 Jul (Severin Uebbing et al.).
LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta) The state’s first was found on 8 Aug 2018 to be roosting on a breakwater off Stonington Point after being present for several days in nearby Rhode Island (18-27 Nick Bonomo‡*, Dave Provencher‡*, Phil Rusch*, Frank Mantlik‡, Frank Gallo‡). It was seen through at least 7 Sep.
WHITE-FACED IBIS (Plegadis chihi) One was found on 16 April 2018 at Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison (18-15 Micky Komara‡*, Greg Hanisek). Single birds, most likely this individual, were subsequently seen through 29 Jun at Hammonasset and the nearby Indian River marshes in Clinton. One was found on 12 May only at Rocky Neck State Park in East Lyme (18-16 Scott Knecht‡*).
ROSEATE SPOONBILL (Platalea ajaja) The state’s first was a first-year bird found on 15 Sep 2018 at Raven Pond in Stratford. It remained in the Stratford-Milford area through at least 5 Oct (18-30 Paul Raccuia‡*, Frank Mantlik‡). Diagnostic photos proved that the same individual had appeared earlier in Maine and New Jersey.
SEDGE WREN (Cistothorus platensis) A pair was seen carrying food at Bafflin Sanctuary in Pomfret. They were present 28 Jun to 30 Aug 2018 (18-12 Andy Rzeznikiewicz, Dan Rottino*, Aaron Bourque*). One was present on 29 Jul to 2 Aug 2018 at Southbury Training School Farm in Southbury (18-13 Russ Naylor*, Chris Wood‡).
VARIED THRUSH (Ixoreus naevius) One was present 19-24 Mar 2018 at Great Pond State Forest in Simsbury (18-11 Doug Beach*, Dan Rottino, Jory Teltser‡).
BOHEMIAN WAXWING (Bombycilla garrulus) One was found with a small group of Cedar Waxwings on 8 Apr 2018 at Holcomb Farm in Granby (18-09 John Weeks*, Chris Chini*). A solitary bird was found on 2 Jan 2019 at Trout Brook Valley Preserve in Easton (18-18 Brendan Murtha‡*).
BLACK-BACKED ORIOLE (Icterus abeillei) Two observers saw this Mexican species briefly on 14 May 2017 at Shippan Point, Stamford, and were able to provide a description sufficient to establish the species’ identity (17-43 Patrick Dugan*, Al Collins*). More problematic was its origin, because at the time there were no accepted records for the U.S.A./A.B.A. area. The research needed to establish such a bird’s provenance can be daunting and time-consuming, but this individual’s brief but well-documented tour of northeastern North America left ARCC with minimal heavy lifting. Feather analysis of photos from Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, by plumage expert Peter Pyle, determined that one individual was involved. Although the Connecticut bird was not photographed, the committee believed circumstances proved this was the same individual. It first appeared at a feeder in Sinking Spring PA, staying 26 Jan-10 Apr 2017, attracting observers from all over North America. The bird then made a brief appearance in Sutton MA on 7-8 May before its appearance in Stamford. Massachusetts Avian Records Committee acted first and did not accept wild origin. However, the Pennsylvania Ornithological Records Committee, after soliciting opinions from an array of outside experts, accepted the record. Then the American Birding Association’s Checklist Committee also accepted based on the work done by state committees and its own research. ARCC was able to obtain all of this work and found the case for acceptance strong.
RECORDS NOT ACCEPTED
TRUMPETER SWAN (Cygnus buccinator) Two were reported in flight on 25 Jan 2019 at Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison. Although conditions were good, the time of observation was very brief. Given the similarity with Tundra Swan, and with a detailed study of the bill the best way to verify identification, the committee took a conservative approach.
GREAT SKUA (Catharacta skua) One was reported on 31 Jan 2019, flying as close as 100 feet at Ocean Beach Park in Waterford. A combination of extreme rarity and a duration of observation estimated as 30 seconds were primary factors in the committee’s decision. There are no documented state records.
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.
Pyle, Peter et al. 2018. 29th Report of the ABA Checklist Committee 2018. Birding. Vol. 50 No. 6
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.
Greg Hanisek, 175 Circuit Ave., Waterbury, CT 06708
Jay Kaplan, 71 Gracey Road, Canton, CT 06019