September 2025 – Orange Birding

Mount Peter Hawkwatch, 09/27/25

I enjoyed a modest flight of 43 migrating raptors today at Mount Peter Hawkwatch, but the most exciting moment of the day was not raptor related. I’d been scanning behind the view platform in the beginning of the second hour of the watch. When I turned around, I was pleasantly surprised to see a Black Bear! I grabbed my camera and was able to grab a few shots before the bear headed off into the vegetation. Fellow counters Bev and Rich joined me for a couple of hours and found A LOT of birds; I was thankful for that. See my Hawk Migration Association report at the bottom of this post.

~One of many young Cedar Waxwings at Mount Peter today, 09/27/25.~

~Sharp-shinned Hawk migrates through. Mount Peter Hawkwatch, 09/27/25.~

Sunday Shots, 09/21/25

I birded the black dirt and 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary this morning. I didn’t have any targets in mind, I just wanted to see what was happening. It was a birdy and enjoyable outing; notably I had my first fall American Pipits of the season, a dozen or so lingering American Golden-plovers, and an impressively large flock of Tree Swallows. Savannah Sparrows were also quite numerous. At 6 1/2 Station Road, conditions continue to be less than optimal, with high water levels and no birds of note. I was hoping for another look at the Sora, but I was unable to relocate it. Here is a handful of shots from the morning.

~Tree Swallows in a corn field in the black dirt, 09/21/25.~

~Mourning Dove in the Black Dirt Region, 09/21/25.~

~American Golden-plover in the black dirt, 09/21/25.~

~A young Red-shouldered Hawk at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 09/21/25.~

~Savannah Sparrow in the black dirt, 09/21/25.~

~Male Wood Duck at 6 1/2 Station Road Sanctuary, 09/21/25.~

Great Day at Mount Peter Hawkwatch, 09/20/25

In spite of a very difficult, nearly all blue sky, it was a really great day of counting migrating raptors at Mount Peter Hawkwatch today. It was a lot of work, but but thanks to the help of many of our observers (other counters) and guests, we were able to tally over 640 birds for the day. Entering into the day, I was wondering if we would get many more Broad-winged Hawks coming through this season; I am happy to report we counted over 600 today. We also had a decent variety, with Osprey, Bald Eagle, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Northern Harrier, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, and Peregrine Falcon all also getting in on the act. I’ve included my Hawk Migration Association report at the bottom of this post.

~One of the few low Broad-winged Hawks from the day. Mt. Pete Hawkwatch, 09/20/25.~

~Local Red-tailed Hawk buzzes through. Mount Peter Hawkwatch, 09/20/25. ~

Orange County Connecticut Warbler, 09/14/25

I went to Winding Waters Trail first thing this morning with CONNECTICUT WARBLER being my primary target bird. I was also hoping for Lincoln’s Sparrow, but I knew that bird wouldn’t be nearly as difficult to track down. I walked the trail; it was quite birdy on my way out, and I picked up a couple of Lincoln’s Sparrows. It wasn’t until I was on my way back in that I first heard and then saw my primary target. Unfortunately, the bird was severely backlit, so my photos aren’t great. But I think I’ve heard more than one person say that any photo of a Connecticut Warbler is a good photo. I was happy to get lucky with this bird it’s been several years since I’ve had one.

~Good bird for the county… Connecticut Warbler at Winding Waters Trail, 09/14/25.~

Later in the morning I headed to Mount Peter Hawkwatch. I wanted to try for some Broad-winged Hawks since I was out of commission on Saturday (see below). We had some early movement, including just over 40 Broadwings, a handful of Sharp-shinned Hawks, a young Bald Eagle, and a couple of Osprey. It slowed down mid-day, and I left. But it picked up again and they finished the day with over 500 Broad-winged Hawks!

On Saturday, I went on a fishing trip in the Long Island Sound with my work. It was a successful trip for those who were fishing – they were pulling up fish left and right. For me, I don’t fish, but I enjoyed birding and taking some photos as we went. All the birds I had were expected, including four species of gulls. It’s been a minute since I’ve posted any gull shots, so here’s all four species.

~American Herring Gull in flight over the Long Island Sound, 09/13/25.~

~Ring-billed Gull during Long Island Sound fishing trip, 09/13/25.~

~Laughing Gull taking off. Long Island Sound, 09/13/25.~

~A sharp looking young Great Black-backed Gull, Long Island Sound 09/13/25.~

Sunday Shots, 09/07/25

Saturday was pretty much a dud for me. I started the day up at Mount Peter Hawkwatch; when I arrived it was socked in with fog. I counted for 4 1/2 hours when a big storm rolled through and I left (with 0 migrating raptors counted). Hopefully this is not an indication of how this season will go for me.

This morning was much better – at my first stop I found a nice collection of shorebirds. The highlight was a couple of BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS. There was also a huge flock of American Golden-Plovers – probably between 40 and 50 birds. Additional species included Pectoral Sandpipers and, of course, plenty of Killdeer. Later at the Camel Farm, I had a couple of Wilson’s Snipe and a handful of Least Sandpipers. At the Liberty Loop platform, I had a single Semipalmated Sandpiper. And finally, at Winding Waters Trail, I had a Spotted Sandpiper and a Greater Yellowlegs. That’s a total of (9) species of shorebirds, not too shabby. And, in my travels, I found a pair of Sandhill Cranes in range for some photos.

As always, I took photos as I went; several of these were actually taken earlier this week, on Labor Day. Unfortunately all the shorebirds from today were just too distant for any good shots.