Dunlin and more

[brewmaster15]

Dunlin (Calidris alpina)

Hammonasset State Park, CT

Dunlin visit the CT Shoreline in winter months here and all along the Pacific and Atlantic Coasts of the USA , Canada, and Mexico. They Breed in the Arctic. They are a common shorebird but one of my favorites. They have little fear of people and are a joy to watch . These little guys are small in size and drab camo-shoreline color in non-breeding plummage.

Dunlin (Calidris alpina) by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

Dunlin (Calidris alpina) by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

_D859638_01 by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

Dunlin (Calidris alpina) by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

Dunlin (Calidris alpina) by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

Dunlin (Calidris alpina) by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

Dunlin (Calidris alpina) by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

Dunlin (Calidris alpina) by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

[brewmaster15]

Some other shots from the Day (yesterday)


Horned Lark.. another bird that visits here in the winter and breeds way up north.
On High Alert! by Al Sabetta, on Flickr


Red Breasted Merganser
Red-breasted merganser (Mergus serrator) by Al Sabetta, on Flickr



Yellow Rumped warbler. A common winter view... CT's only winter warbler.. Fondly called Butter Butts
Butter butt by Al Sabetta, on Flickr


Lots of Ducks over winter in the Ocean off CT's Coast.. sometimes theres tons of ducks...sometimes just a random one here and there. This is a Golden eye.

Small and Alone on the Seas by Al Sabetta, on Flickr


Robins Used to Migrate but lately many stick around. There was a good size flock eating sumac seeds uncovered by the melting snow.

American robin (Turdus migratorius) by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

Foraging Sumac by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

[brewmaster15]

Dunlin

_D859661 by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

_D859595 by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

_D859576 by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

[Second Hand Pat]

Great shots of these little guys Al. I love how these guys fly in a large group and when they flyby make a cool noise with their wings.
Pat

[Discus Fever]

Al your pictures are always amazing!!!

[brady]

Al
was that shot of the golden eye off Hamanasett.? It almost seems it was shot off Acadia.
Jay

[brewmaster15]

Al
was that shot of the golden eye off Hamanasett.? It almost seems it was shot off Acadia.
Jay

Hi Jay.. yes Hammonasset. At meigs point theres a shoreline trail that traverses a seaside ridge.. it goes out to a point that overlooks where the Hammonasset river hits the sound. Those rocks are often visited by seals and it does have an acadia feel to it!

Seals Winter Vacation Destination by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

Pat thank you! They are cool little birds.

Scott .. much appreciated! I'm glad you enjoy the pics!

Al

[brewmaster15]

A few more pics..
Yellow Rumped Warbler

Yellow-rumped warbler (Setophaga coronata) eating Cedar Berry by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

Yellow-rumped warbler (Setophaga coronata) by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

Brant
Atlantic Brant ( Branta bernicla hrota) by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

Atlantic Brant ( Branta bernicla hrota) by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

Atlantic Brant ( Branta bernicla hrota) by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

Atlantic Brant ( Branta bernicla hrota) by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

[brewmaster15]

Kind of Neat... Found this old brick-a-brack wall made out of slag and chunks of rock and cement. Its still winter here and snow patched and yet here is this plant trying to grow...

Amid the Rubble by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

The leaves are real interesting...
_D850716_01 by Al Sabetta, on Flickr