{"id":906,"date":"2019-02-15T01:44:21","date_gmt":"2019-02-15T06:44:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ctbirding.org\/testsite1\/?page_id=906"},"modified":"2021-03-10T17:11:19","modified_gmt":"2021-03-10T22:11:19","slug":"twenty-third-arcc-report","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ctbirding.org\/testsite1\/arcc\/arcc-published-reports\/twenty-third-arcc-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Twenty-third ARCC Report"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Jay Kaplan and Greg Hanisek<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is the 23rd Report of the Avian Records Committee of Connecticut (ARCC).<\/span> \u00a0<\/span>The Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) checklist for Connecticut birds has been updated on the COA web page and the new print list is tentatively scheduled to be reprinted in 2019. \u00a0With the increased use of web-based services, the printed lists are not used as frequently as in the past. The committee tentatively plans to create a downloadable checklist on the web and to reprint checklists every five years or as needed. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the last report (see the 22nd Report of the Avian Records Committee of Connecticut, Vol. 36 No. 2), California Gull and Sprague\u2019s Pipit were added to the State List. \u00a0Thayer\u2019s Gull (formerly <\/span>Larus thayeri<\/span><\/i>), recently lumped with Iceland Gull <\/span>(L. glaucoides<\/span><\/i>), has been removed from the State List. \u00a0\u00a0Two new species, Gray Flycatcher and Mexican Violetear, have been added to the State List, which now stands at 440. \u00a0Both records were, unfortunately for Connecticut\u2019s birding community, single- observer sightings that came with excellent photographic documentation. \u00a0Photos of the flycatcher, one of the difficult <\/span>Empidonax<\/span><\/i> genus, were verified by western experts. \u00a0The Violetear, a Mexican and Central American hummingbird recently split from the Green Violetear, came to a feeder in Litchfield County. \u00a0An unverified report of another Violetear hummingbird in New Haven County during the same season was unverified by intriguing. Another exciting report was that of the \u201cGreat White Heron\u201d form of Great Blue Heron, a first for Connecticut. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This year the committee voted on 37 records, continuing a higher-than-average number of records \u00a0submitted annually. This higher number is likely now the norm since, as previously mentioned in these reports, technological advances have made it easier to submit well-documented records. \u00a0The committee does ask birders to do more than submit photographs. In order to discuss potential new state records, the committee requests written reports that accompany photographs for all submitted records. \u00a0Information on how to develop a report may be found on the ARCC web page on the COA web site (www.ctbirding.org). <\/span><\/p>\n

The committee continues to wrestle with records of geese of possible hybrid origin. \u00a0This year, yet another report for Ross\u2019s Goose came with questions concerning the bird\u2019s ancestry. \u00a0This report was distributed to goose experts who felt that there appears to be variability with juvenile Ross\u2019s Geese and there was, at this time, no reason to consider hybrid status for this particular individual. \u00a0Should additional information come to light, the committee can reopen old records and consider changing their status.<\/span><\/p>\n

Each year, the committee evaluates the review species list. \u00a0This year, five reports were received for Ross\u2019s Goose, all of which were accepted. \u00a0Three records for LeConte\u2019s Sparrow were also accepted. If these trends continue, it’s possible these and other species will eventually be removed from the review list. Common Loon was added to the list of rare breeding species as the result of recent confirmed nesting in Litchfield County.<\/span><\/p>\n

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP<\/span><\/p>\n

Members, in addition to the authors, who voted on records in this report include Nick Bonomo, Bob Dixon, Frank Gallo, Tina Green, Julian Hough, Frank Mantlik, Dave Provencher, Phil Rusch, Dave Tripp and Glenn Williams. Bob Dixon informed the committee that he would be retiring and moving out of Connecticut. \u00a0The committee thanked Bob for his service.<\/span><\/p>\n

STATE LIST AND REVIEW LIST<\/span><\/p>\n

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). \u00a0<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

FORMAT<\/span><\/p>\n

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 \u2021. Hyphenated numbers (e.g. 02-01) preceding the observers are the ARCC file numbers. For reopened files, an \u201cR\u201d follows the numbers. The species are listed in order according to the American Ornithological Society (AOS) \u00a0Checklist. Multiple records of a particular species are listed chronologically. Months of the year are shortened to their first three letters.<\/span><\/p>\n

ACCEPTED RECORDS<\/span><\/p>\n

PINK-FOOTED GOOSE<\/b> (<\/span>Anser brachyrhynchus) <\/span><\/i>\u00a0One was found on 21 Dec 2017 on Boombridge Road, North Stonington (17-35 Anthony Vicciarelli\u2021). It had previously been seen on the Rhode Island side of the Pawcatuck River. More than 30 birders entered eBird checklists with this bird, many with photos through Jan. 15. This is the 10<\/span>th<\/span> accepted record since the first one in Mar 1998 in Mansfield, which was the first fully documented record for the Lower 48 States.<\/span><\/p>\n

ROSS’S GOOSE<\/b> (<\/span>Chen rossii<\/span><\/i>) An adult was found on 19 Dec 2016 at Holly Pond, Cove Island Park in Stamford during count period for the Greenwich-Stamford Christmas Bird Count. It remained through 21 Dec (18-03 Patrick Dugan\u2021, Stefan Martin). What appears to have been as many as six different Ross’s Geese were found in winter 2017-18. That equaled the total number of previous state records dating back to 2003. An adult was found on 27 Dec 2017 in \u00a0North Stonington. Apparently the same bird was in fields nearby in Ledyard on 29-30 Dec 2017 (17-37 Paul Wolter,* Maureen Wolter*, Anthony Vicciarelli\u2021, David Provencher\u2021). A juvenile bird was found on 30 Dec 2017 in the Farmington Meadows and was seen there and at adjacent Tunxis Mead Park, Farmington, through 3 Jan 2018 (17-34 Darlene Moore*, Michael Aronson*\u2021). Two birds, an adult and a juvenile, were found on Lake Zoar in Southbury on 10 Jan 2018 and were seen by many observers through 17 Feb 2018 (18-02 Russ Naylor*, Frank Gallo\u2021, Chris S. Wood\u2021). An adult was found 14 Jan 2018 at the Stratford Greenway and ranged widely around Stratford, Milford and Fairfield, seen by many through at least 29 Jan 2018 (18-04 Angela Dimmitt*, Frank Mantlik\u2021). An adult was found in farm fields in Suffield on 2 Feb 2018 and at the Donald W. Barnes Boat Launch in Enfield on 3 Feb 2018. Presumably the same bird then appeared in the Storrs area 12-22 Feb 2018 (18-08 Dorrie Holmes*\u2021, Annette Pasek).<\/span><\/p>\n

(BLACK) BRANT<\/b> (<\/span>Branta bernicla nigricans<\/span><\/i>) An adult of this western subspecies was found on 26 Mar 2017 at Seaside Park in Bridgeport. It was a fourth state record, all by the same observer (17-42 Nick Bonomo*\u2021).<\/span><\/p>\n

TUFTED DUCK<\/b> (<\/span>Aythya fuligula)<\/span><\/i> For the second year in a row, a female wintered at Captain’s Cove in Bridgeport, presumably the same individual. It was present from 1 Jan to 18 Feb 2018 (18-05 Jeremy Nance*, Frank Mantlik\u2021). One was also present there in late winter 2015. More than 50 observers submitted eBird checklists with the 2018 bird.<\/span><\/p>\n

EARED GREBE<\/b> (<\/span>Podiceps nigricollis<\/span><\/i>) One was found 4 Feb 2018 at the Stonington Town Dock, where it was observed through at least 11 Mar 2018 (18-07 Doug Warner*, Robert Dixon*\u2021). More than 40 observers submitted eBird checklists with this bird.<\/span><\/p>\n

CORY’S SHEARWATER<\/b> (<\/span>Calonectris diomedea)<\/span><\/i> For the second time in three years, Cory’s Shearwaters entered the eastern end of Long Island Sound without hurricane assistance, drawing birders to the New London-Orient, N.Y., ferries and other types of watercraft in search of this pelagic species. Sightings were recorded from 10-20 Aug 2017. Two were seen from the ferry by a single observer on 10 Aug (17-22 Dan Rottino*\u2021). Two were seen 16 Aug by five observers from a private boat (17-21 Frank Gallo et al.*\u2021). \u00a0The latter birds were determined to be the subspecies <\/span>borealis<\/span><\/i> based on the broad dark tip of the underwing. All of the birds were determined to be in Connecticut waters based on GPS on cell phones.<\/span><\/p>\n

GREAT SHEARWATER<\/b> (<\/span>Puffinis gravis<\/span><\/i>) An adult in very poor condition was found on the West Beach at Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison on 19 Jun 2017 (17-15 Ewa Holland*\u2021). Efforts were made to place it in a box for transfer to a rehabilitation facility but it expired. At the time of this discovery numerous dead and dying Great Shearwaters in emaciated condition had washed up on beaches on the South Shore of Long Island, NY, and as far south as Cape May, NJ. <\/span><\/p>\n

GREAT BLUE HERON (white form)<\/b> (<\/span>Ardea herodias<\/span><\/i>) This color form of the common and widespread Great Blue Heron, seldom seen away from peninsular Florida, was observed on private property in Weston on 23 Aug 2017 (17-33 Eric R. Kaufman*\u2021). The bird was photographed that day on a pond on the West Branch of the Saugatuck River but was not found thereafter. This is the first record of this form, known as Great White Heron, for Connecticut. It falls in line with a few other records from the northeastern states.<\/span><\/p>\n

WHITE-FACED IBIS<\/b> (<\/span>Plegadis chihi<\/span><\/i>) \u00a0Two were found on 19 Apr 2017 in a marsh on the Clinton\/Westbrook line and were subsequently seen by many observers through 6 May 2017 at Indian River marshes farther west in Clinton (17-27 Greg Hanisek*, Frank Mantlik\u2021). Two were found on 17 May 2017 in a Glossy Ibis flock on River Road in Mystic (17-25 Dylan Pedro*\u2021). One was at Barn Island Wildlife Management area in Stonington from 29 May to Jun 4 2017 (17-26 Anthony Vicciarelli*\u2021). <\/span><\/p>\n

YELLOW RAIL<\/b> (<\/span>Coturnicops noveboracensis<\/span><\/i>) One was flushed from saltmarsh grass (<\/span>Spartina patens<\/span><\/i>) on 13 Nov 2017 in the first impoundment at Barn Island Wildlife Management Area in Stonington (17-14 Phil Rusch*). The experienced observer’s short view allowed time to see the rail’s small size, weak flight and distinctive white secondaries. It was the third time this highly secretive migrant was flushed at Barn Island since 2006, all from <\/span>Spartina patens<\/span><\/i> and all on falling tides from mid-Nov to mid-Dec.<\/span><\/p>\n

RED PHALAROPE<\/b> (<\/span>Phalaropus fulicarius<\/span><\/i>) One was photographed at Batterson Pond, Farmington, on 18 Oct 2016 (16-36 Derek LaFlamme*\u2021). <\/span><\/p>\n

BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE<\/b> (<\/span>Rissa tridactyla<\/span><\/i>) One was seen by eight observers participating in the New London and Orient, N,Y., Christmas Bird Counts on 30 Dec 2017 (17-36 Frank Mantlik*\u2021). The observation was made on a New London-Orient ferry route, the source of most state records of this species.<\/span><\/p>\n

SABINE’S GULL<\/b> (<\/span>Xema sabini<\/span><\/i>) A juvenile was found 3 Sep 2017 at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport. It remained close to shore for several hours, both on the water and in flight, at both Sherwood and nearby Compo Beach, allowing many observers to see this second state record (17-24 Tina Green*\u2021, Frank Gallo\u2021, A.J. Hand\u2021). The weather was rainy with steady east winds (25 mph), the remnants of Hurricane\/Tropical Storm Harvey.<\/span><\/p>\n

FRANKLIN’S GULL<\/b> (<\/span>Leucophaeus pipixcan<\/span><\/i>) An adult was seen 19 Sep 2018 feeding off Avery Point in Groton with Laughing Gulls during Tropical Storm Jose (17-32 Frank Mantlik,* Tina Green*). An unprecedented eastward movement in Nov 2015 brought dozens to Connecticut, but setting aside that anomalous event, this was only the third state record.<\/span><\/p>\n

MEW (KAMCHATKA) GULL<\/b> (<\/span>Larus canus kamtschatschensis<\/span><\/i>) An adult of this large Asian race of Mew Gull was seen and well photographed feeding on shore at Russian Beach, Stratford, on 20 March 2017 during a bout of surface feeding on zooplankton by gulls and waterfowl (17-16 Nick Bonomo*\u2021). The observer had provided documentation for the first state record, seen at two locations in April 2015, including wing pattern details that showed one individual to be involved. Based on his study of the 2015 and 2017 birds, the observer believes the same individual was again involved and may also account for Nantucket, MA, records from the winters of 2013-14 and 2014-15.<\/span><\/p>\n

BRIDLED TERN<\/b> (<\/span>Onychoprion anaethetus<\/span><\/i>) Tern colony monitors on Falkner Island, Guilford, found the state’s second confirmed record associating with resident Common and Roseate Terns on 28 July 2017 (17-23 Cedric Duhalde*\u2021, \u00a0James Heuschkel\u2021, Frank Gallo\u2021). The island is closed to the public, but many birders were able to see this charismatic individual from private and chartered boats through at least 11 Aug 2017. The first state record, in summer 1992, was also from Falkner Island.<\/span><\/p>\n

GULL-BILLED TERN<\/b> (<\/span>Gelochelidon nilotica<\/span><\/i>) One was seen on 4 Sep 2016 when it flew in and landed briefly on a rock at Stratford Point (16-34 Tina Green*). Another was seen on 18 May 2017 at Long Beach, Stratford, close to the place where the 2016 bird was observed (17-29 Frank Mantlik*\u2021). <\/span><\/p>\n

THICK-BILLED MURRE<\/b> (<\/span>Uria lomvia<\/span><\/i>) One paid a rare visit close to shore on 4 Feb 2018 at Stonington Point and Stonington Town Dock (18-06 Anthony Vicciarelli*\u2021, Dan Rottino\u2021, Robert Dixon). A second observation at the same location on 16 Feb 2018 may receive review as possibly a different individual.<\/span><\/p>\n

WHITE-WINGED DOVE<\/b> (<\/span>Zenaida asiatica<\/span><\/i>) One was found 9 May 2017 at the Atwater Preserve in East Haven (17-39 Ed Haesche*\u2021, Tina Green). <\/span><\/p>\n

MEXICAN VIOLETEAR<\/b> (<\/span>Colibri thalassinus<\/span><\/i>) The homeowner saw a large, unfamiliar hummingbird at his home in Winchester on 27 Aug 2017, took photos and secured a first state record of a species with a history of forays into the United States and even Canada (17-30 Benjamin Torres*\u2021). Formerly known as Green Violetear, the species was split in 2016 into Mexican Violetear and Lesser Violetear, which occurs in South America. The two are separable on plumage characters, notably the violet-blue \u00a0breast of Mexican. Lesser lacks blue on the breast and chin. All records north of Mexico have been found to be Mexican Violetear. There are many records from Texas, with a number north through the central part of the continent to the latitude of the Great Lakes. Records in the Northeast are much sparser and include mid-Aug sightings from Maine (2007) and New Jersey (2005). <\/span><\/p>\n

GRAY FLYCATCHER<\/b> (<\/span>Empidonax wrightii<\/span><\/i>) One was found at Cove Island Park in Stamford on 13 Oct 2017, establishing a first state record for this southwestern species (17-17 Lea Kessler Shaw*\u2021.). Although understandably uncertain about species identification, the observer took an excellent series of photos and made note of the bird’s behavior. Its tail dipping was a key to positive identification, and its habit of foraging low along a scrubby fence line and dropping to the open lawn were also typical of Gray Flycatcher. The committee consulted three outside experts with extensive western experience. All readily agreed on the ID.<\/span><\/p>\n

ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER<\/b> (<\/span>Myiarchus cinerascens<\/span><\/i>) It’s never too late to submit a record. The observer was curating old photos for entry in eBird when he came across images of a bird he had assumed in 2011 was a Great Crested Flycatcher. He now suspected the bird seen on 26 Nov 2011 at Long Beach in Stratford was an Ash-throated Flycatcher, a southwestern species with a history of appearances in the Northeast in November and December \u2013 after Great Crested Flycatchers have migrated out of the area. His photos confirmed a seventh state record, all in the expected time frame (18-01 Michael Carretta*\u2021).<\/span><\/p>\n

SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER<\/b> (<\/span>Tyrannus forficatus<\/span><\/i>) One was seen on a utility wire and photographed 17 May 2017 on Flood Bridge Road in Southbury (17-40 Donna Marschalk*\u2021). Unlike most western species, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers occur here more often in May-June than in autumn. <\/span><\/p>\n

BOHEMIAN WAXWING<\/b> (<\/span>Bombycillia garrulus<\/span><\/i>) Two were seen and heard on 5 Feb 2016 in Winchester, flying with a flock of six American Robins. (16-29 David Rosgen*). <\/span><\/p>\n

LeCONTE’S SPARROW<\/b> (<\/span>Ammodramus leconteii<\/span><\/i>) One was found on 21 Oct 2017 at Cove Island Wildlife Sanctuary in Stamford (17-18 David Winston*\u2021). Ten other people submitted eBird checklists from the bird’s one-day stay. One was found at Stratford Point on 26 Oct 2017 (17-19 Stefan Martin*, Julian Hough, Frank Mantlik). One was found on 5 Nov 2017 at Old Farm Road in Newtown (17-20 Patrick Dugan*\u2021, Wendy Knothe). The latter two records were also one-day only. Three in a single season was extraordinary for a secretive species that occurs less than annually.<\/span><\/p>\n

PAINTED BUNTING<\/b> (<\/span>Passerina ciris<\/span><\/i>) An immature was seen on 13 Sep 2016 and apparently the same bird was relocated on 12 Oct 2016, both at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport (16-21 Tina Green*\u2021). One was seen 8-15 April 2017 at a home in Darien (17-31 David Alpeter*, Frank Mantlik\u2021). The bird was believed to be an adult female. <\/span><\/p>\n

RECORDS NOT ACCEPTED<\/span><\/p>\n

ARCTIC TERN<\/b> (<\/span>Sterna paradisaea<\/span><\/i>) One was reported from Westport on 28 Jun 2017 (17-38). This bird did not provide an opportunity for the observer to see the complete suite of characteristics needed to fully document a species in a difficult group that remains very rare in Connecticut, mainly because of its pelagic migratory passage.<\/span><\/p>\n

POMARINE JAEGER<\/b> (<\/span>Stercorarius pomarinus<\/span><\/i>) Two observers reported two and provided photos of at least one from the New London-Orient N.Y. ferry on 19 Aug 2017 (17-41). This is one the most difficult groups to identify, in part because most field characters are subjective and in part because viewing conditions are often difficult. After study of the photos, the committee agreed the bird (s) were Parasitic Jaegers.<\/span><\/p>\n

BOHEMIAN WAXWING<\/b> (<\/span>Bombycilla garrulus<\/span><\/i>) One was reported in a flock of Cedar Waxwings on 18 Mar 2017 in Stamford (17-28). The bird proved rather elusive, providing what the committee considered to be inconclusive views and an inconclusive photo. <\/span><\/p>\n

CORRECTION<\/span><\/p>\n

In the 22<\/span>nd<\/span> Report of the Avian Records Committee of Connecticut ( Vol. 36 No. 2), file numbers were ommitted for two records: Ross’s Goose (17-04) and Slaty-backed Gull (16-06).<\/span><\/p>\n

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS<\/span><\/p>\n

The committee thanks Louis Bevier, Will Russell and Tony Leukering for comments on the Gray Flycatcher and Leukering for comments on the Red Phalarope. <\/span><\/p>\n

LITERATURE CITED<\/span><\/p>\n

Hanisek, Greg. 2005. Connecticut Birds By The Season. The Connecticut Warbler. Vol. 25 No. 1<\/span><\/p>\n

Howell, S.N.G. 2002. Hummingbirds of North America The Photographic Guide. Academic Press, London.<\/span><\/p>\n

Howell, S.N.G, I. Lewington, and W. Russell. 2014. Rare Birds of North America. Princeton University Press, Princeton, N.J.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pyle, Peter. 1997. Identification Guide to North American Birds, Part I, Slate Creek Press, Bolinas, Calif.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sage, J.H., L.B. Bishop, and W.P. Bliss. 1913. The Birds of Connecticut. Connecticut Geological and Natural History Survey Bulletin No. 20. <\/span><\/p>\n

Zeranski, J.D. and T.R. Baptist. 1990. Connecticut Birds. University Press of New England, Hanover, N.H.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Greg Hanisek, 175 Circuit Ave., Waterbury, CT 06708<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Jay Kaplan, 71 Gracey Road, Canton, CT 06019<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Jay Kaplan and Greg Hanisek This is the 23rd Report of the Avian Records Committee of Connecticut (ARCC). \u00a0The Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) checklist for Connecticut birds has been updated on the COA web page and the new print list is tentatively scheduled to be reprinted in 2019. \u00a0With the increased use of web-based … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":244,"menu_order":23,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_crdt_document":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-906","page","type-page","status-publish"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ctbirding.org\/testsite1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/906","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ctbirding.org\/testsite1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ctbirding.org\/testsite1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ctbirding.org\/testsite1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ctbirding.org\/testsite1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=906"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/ctbirding.org\/testsite1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/906\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":908,"href":"https:\/\/ctbirding.org\/testsite1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/906\/revisions\/908"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ctbirding.org\/testsite1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/244"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ctbirding.org\/testsite1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=906"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}