Birding and Biking Bonaza!

Lighthouse Point New Haven Connecticut

Whenever we can Cheryl and I combine two of our favorite things, birding and bike riding. Cycling is very popular in the City of New Haven. There all kinds of riders. Cheryl and I purchased hybrid city bikes last year. And we just love them. Cheryl uses her bike on business if it is in New Haven.

Of course, one of the most popular destinations (besides food) is to Lighthouse point, about a 7 mile ride from Wooster Square. Saturday was the first day we could wear shorts, but it was chilly down by the water. Just as we passed the gate entrants, Cheryl spotted this hawk in a tree by the road.

Hawks are tough, at first I thought it was a gray ghost, Male Northern Harrier. But no, we thought it was a broad shouldered or a Juvenile. But our Blog expert, one of the top in New England, tells us that it is a...

Juvenile Red Tail Hawk!

These shots of him/her taking off aided identification.

Then once parked, there a trail that follows a marsh

where many birds are as they are migrating.

Then we saw this Robin

We caught a great egret zooming by.

This little guy made such a beautiful racket I was convinced it was a warble we'd never seen.

I know, it's just a plain old song sparrow!!

Get the sounds on the Merlin Bird app,

if you are a birder and have a device

its right there in your pocket.

On my bike I have a speak to listen to music while

moving, but it comes in handy with Merlin.

You can play the sounds and calls of 

birds and see who comes!

The speaker louder so birds heard it,

like when I was calling a Cardinal.

Then all of a sudden, these two, Great Black Backed Gulls came in fighting over a fish one had. I was thinking it had to be in his beak because they 

have flippers for feet!

Not until we got home did we realize it was one black Great Black Backed Gull and an Osprey with a big fish in the grasp of his strong claws.

Osprey on left, you can see the fish is quite large.

I have been told that Great BB Gull will

even challenge eagles for prey.

This photo shows how big that gull is.

Nice shot of Osprey and fish

Great BB gull makes his move.

This is hard to make, but you can see the fish,
under the body. What you can see is the gull going for it with his bill right here.

But the Osprey was able to thwart the attack

and gains distance in the maneuver. 

Quickly realizing his quest for fresh fish was beaten,

the Great Black Back Gull flies off to the beach to beg

from the picnickers who were enjoying the first

warmer weather since last year.

Then sharp eyed Cheryl spotted these

two ducks. Mr. and Mrs. Green Wing Teal.

We have seen them flying, but not swimming.

Then we came upon a flock of 

American Goldfinches, none too close.

Two in flight on right

Then biking home I saw this nest and knew what it 

was, then one of the residents showed up

with some more building material.

This is a Monk Parakeet

And last but not least, we saw a flock

of Northern Flickers and I got a couple shots

Thanks for coming along!

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Bart and Cheryl Szczarba

Birds Rule!