Field Trips and Meetings
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Bent of the River IBA

Explore a prime birding location along the Pomperaug River in Southbury where more than 100 species of birds have been observed in a single day. This beautiful and highly diverse habitat is owned and maintained by the National Audubon Socie- ty. Take Exit 14 off Rte. 84. Go north on Rte. 172 , then turn left onto East Flat Hill

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East Rock Park

Join Ranger Dan Barvir at this premier site for warblers and other spring migrants. We will meet at the Rice Field (baseball field) end of East Rock Park on English Drive. Leader: Ranger Dan Barvir: 203-946-6086.

1st Wednesday Walk – East Rock Park

East Rock Park in early May is one of the best places in the state to see migrant warblers. Fifteen to twenty species are possible on a good day. Meet at the covered bridge near the Eli Whitney Museum. Leaders: Renee Baade, Frank Mantlik, and John Oshlick. Contact person: Tina Green: 203-247-2660 or tina@renaissancestudios.com.

Big Day Marathon

Take part in all or part of this event. We'll focus on New Haven area hotspots, seeking 100-130 species. We start at East Rock and search several other local migrant traps, as well as the coast from Lordship to Hammonasset. Meet at the Eli Whitney Museum parking lot at 6:00 or 7:30 am. Leader: John Oshlick: 203-891-5344 or john.oshlic@yahoo.com

Naugatuck State Forest

Join us at the peak of spring migration on this moderately strenuous and long hike in a fine birding location. We'll search for migrants and residents. The mixed hardwood forest is a good lo- cation for Hooded and Worm-eating Warblers and many other species. Last year on this trip we saw 15 warbler species and heard a hooting Barred Owl

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Nehantic State Forest

Today we explore two prime birding locations in Lyme. Nehantic State Forest, a 1,200-acre woodland, is home to Hooded and Worm-eating Warblers and many other species. There are large ponds where you can find Wood Ducks, herons, flycatchers and other species. Nearby Hartman's Park is known for its breeding population of Cerulean Warblers. Meet at at 6:30 at commuter lot

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Barn Island WMA

This will be our tenth annual trip to this excellent birding spot. We'll meet at the commuter lot at Exit 55 of I-95 and carpool to Barn Island which consists of large expanses of salt marsh, tidal pools, wetlands, woodlands, and open fields. We should see wading birds, shorebirds, and area residents such as Saltmarsh Sparrow, Marsh Wren, White-eyed Vireo,

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1st Wednesday Walk – White Memorial Foundation

White Memorial Foundation is a 4,000-acre nature preserve with extensive woodlands, conifer plantations, wetlands, thickets, and fields The preserve is home to more than 115 breeding species and is visited by many migrant species. Notable breeding species include: Least Bittern, Virginia Rail, Northern Goshawk, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, and Blackburnian Warbler. Meet at the visitor center parking lot

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Trails Day Hike – Naugatuck State Forest

National Trails Day is celebrated across the country with hikes, trail work, and naturalist events. NHBC will commemorate the event with a birding hike on the oldest hiking trail in CT, the Quinnipiac Trail. We'll leave from the Downes Rd. parking area entrance of Naugatuck SP and go through the mountain laurel, beech, birch, hickory and oak forest; then up

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Beginner’s Walk – Bent of the River IBA

The Bent of the River Audubon Sanctuary provides a breadth of habitat for bird species, from forests to riparian areas to shrubby meadows. On this walk we'll look for nesting shrubland birds, including Blue-winged Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Field Sparrow and Indigo Bunting. Shrubby meadows are uncommon in CT so it's a special treat to see and hear these species. This

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Beginners’ Bird Walk at Sandy Point IBA, West Haven

Note: This is an evening walk On our walk to this Important Bird Area (IBA), we will focus on beach-nesting birds, such as the Piping Plover, and other shore- birds that use Sandy Point to rest and refuel during migration. Participants will also learn about threats to beach-nesting birds as well as strategies for protecting them. This walk is geared to

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Menunketesuck Flats and River Marsh, Westbrook

Enjoy an excursion on the beach!  We will walk along Seaside Avenue in Westbrook and out onto Menunketesuck Flats at low tide to look for shorebirds, terns, and other water birds.  The mud flats at low tide are a great place to see shorebirds. We’ll then visit the Salt Meadow Unit of the Stewart B. McKinney National  Wildlife Refuge to

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Lighthouse Point Bird Walk and Prep for Migration Festival

Join Park Ranger Dan Barvir on a late summer bird walk at Lighthouse Point Park on New Haven Harbor.  Then, beginning around 9:30 am, we’ll perform some light trail maintenance and cleanup.  This is a great way to enjoy looking at birds and help preserve their habitat at the same time. Meet at the Hawk Watch parking lot in the

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Daily Hawk Watch at Lighthouse Point

Lighthouse Point on New Haven Harbor is one of the premier locations in southern New England for observing migrating raptors, as well as a wide variety of songbirds. The watch starts daily at 7:00 am and continues as long as the hawks keep flying.  Stop by anytime. Coordinator: Steve Mayo: 203-393-0694 or rsdmayo@sbcglobal.net

First Wednesday Walk: CT Audubon Coastal Center, Milford

Today we head for this excellent birding location to look for shorebirds and terns. We should also find raptors, waterfowl, long-legged waders, and migrating passerines. Ten or more species of shorebirds are possible, including American Golden Plover.  Leader: Renee Baade.  Contact: Tina Green: 203-247-2660 ortina@renaissancestudios.com.

Yale University Golf Course, New Haven

The golf course is located on more than 700 acres, with woods and ponds surrounding the course. It’s a great place to see birds year round. We’ll be visiting the course when there are no golfers, so we’ll be able to walk the cart paths and wooded trails without being disturbed or disturbing others. We’ll be looking for fall migrants

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Sandy Point IBA Cleanup, West Haven

The New Haven Bird Club is looking for volunteers to participate in a beach cleanup at Sandy Point IBA in West Haven as part of the Ocean Conservancy's "International Coastal Cleanup Day," captained locally by Save the Sound/Dr. Bob Marra. The cleanup will help prevent predators, attracted by trash, from becoming accustomed to visiting Sandy Point, one of the most

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Branford Supply Ponds, Branford

Join Club Secretary Paul Wolter on a trip to this fine coastal birding location. We’ll be looking for fall migrants, including warblers, vireos, thrushes, and sparrows. There will be waterfowl and other water birds in and around the ponds.  Meet at the parking lot on Chestnut Street in Branford.  Leader: Paul Wolter: 860-681-5548 or pwolter6@earthlink.net

First Wednesday Walk: Lighthouse Point Park, New Haven

Join us on a visit to this premier local birding location, renowned for its migrating raptors and passerines.  If the weather conditions are favorable, we may see hundreds of hawks in flight over the park. Meet at the hawk watch site inside the park. Leader: Frank Mantlik.  Contact: Tina Green: 203-247-2660 or tina@renaissancestudios.com.

Kellogg Environmental Center/Osbornedale St. Park, Derby

Here’s a chance to visit an outstanding birding spot that boasts a variety of habitats—open fields, woodlands, and ponds. We’ll look for fall migrants, including warblers, sparrows, flycatchers, and vireos. Meet at the Kellogg Center parking lot at 500 Hawthorne Ave., Derby.  Leader: Maria Stockmal: 203-488-3876 or m.stockmal@snet.net.

Beginners’ Bird Walk at Griswold Point, Old Lyme

Griswold Point, located at the mouth of the CT River, provides important stopover habitat for shorebirds and songbirds in the fall.   On this walk, we will scan the coastline for late migration shorebirds, and look for Saltmarsh and Nelson's Sparrows along the edges of the marsh. The Saltmarsh Sparrow is globally vulnerable and fall migration offers a great opportunity to glimpse this species. This walk is geared to

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Hammonasset State Park, Madison

Visit one of our state’s best fall birding spots, where the abun- dance of some migrants and sightings of less common species can make for a truly memorable trip.  The walking is easy as it is on level ground. Flo has been leading this trip for years and it has been great every year. Meet at the park entrance. Leader:Florence

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Fargeorge Wildlife Preserve, Quinnipiac River, New Haven

This is a joint trip with the New Haven Land Trust.Join us as we visit the Trust’s property along the Quinnipiac River. With its varied habitat, this location is a good place to see raptors, shorebirds, and waterfowl. Sightings here have included Snow Goose, Bald Eagle, and American Woodcock. Directions: Go south on Quinnipiac Ave. from Rt. 80. Turn right

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First Wednesday Walk: Westport Hotspots, Westport

We’ll visit Compo Beach, Sherwood Mill Pond Preserve, Burying Hill Beach, and the CT Audubon Tree Farm, all excellent birding locations.  We’ll look for gulls, waterfowl, sparrows, and late fall migrants. Meet at the commuter lot off Rt. I-95 at Exit 18. From there, we’ll carpool to each location.  Leader and contact person: Tina Green: 203-247-2660 or tina@renaissancestudios.com

Lake Chamberlain & Cooper and Calabresi Farms, Bethany

Join us on this fall walk to see what can be found at these picturesque locations.  Lake Chamberlain, a Regional Water Authority property, has an active bluebird population, many woodpeckers, and a number of waterfowl that visit the lake before heading further south when the lake freezes over. The walk at Lake Chamberlain is relatively easy. After birding the RWA property, we will

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Sherwood Island State Park, Westport

Spend some time at one of Fairfield County's top-notch birding locations. We will look for a wide range of species from waterfowl to finches and everything in between. Meet at the park entrance. Note change: Leader and contact person: Chris Loscalzo: 203-389-6508 or closcalz@optonline.net

Bombay Hook NWR, Leipsic, Delaware Eastern Neck Island NWR, Rock Hall, MD

We enter Bombay Hook’s main gate at 6:25 am SHARP and tour the many ponds, pools and fields where we may see and photo- graph as many as 100,000 Snow Geese and many other fall migrants, from raptors to shorebirds. We will also visit other spots in the area including Eastern Neck Island NWR where we’ll see Tundra Swans. There

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First Wednesday Walk: Hammonasset State Park, Madison

Any time of year, Hammonasset is a true gem. Enjoy a mid-week trip to explore this birding hotspot for fall migrants. The varied habitat attracts shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors, and songbirds. Meet at the park entrance.  Leader:  Jerry Connolly.  Contact: Tina Green: 203-247-2660 or tina@renaissancestudios.com

First Wednesday Walk: Sherwood Island State Park, Westport

Join us on a mid-week trip to this outstanding birding spot on Long Island Sound. We will check the Sound for loons, grebes, goldeneye, and other sea ducks.  The fields are a good place to look for Snow Buntings, Horned Larks, and sparrows.  Drive into the park and meet at the main parking lot.  Leader and contact: Tina Green: 203-247-2660

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Stratford/Milford Birding Tour

Today we visit the marshes and beaches in Stratford and Milford.  We’ll be looking for sea ducks, including scoters, grebes, loons and scaup, as well as raptors, gulls, and shorebirds. Meet at the commuter lot on Schoolhouse Road, Milford just south of Exit 35 on I-95.   Leader: Chris Loscalzo: 203-389-6508 or closcalz@optonline.net.

Hammonasset State Park, Madison

Join us as we visit this premier CT birding location for a mid-winter excursion.  We will be looking for sea ducks, shorebirds, grassland species, and winter finches. Meet at the Nature Center parking lot.  We will check several areas in the park, including the campgrounds area.  Leader and contact person: Paul Wolter: 860-681-5548 or pwolter6@earthlink.net.

First Wednesday Walk: Hammonasset State Park, Madison

Enjoy a mid-week field trip to Hammo, one of the state’s best birding locations in any season of the year.  We will look for sea ducks, grassland species, and rarities. Meet at the park entrance at 8:00 am. Leader:  Greg Hanisek.  Contact person: Tina Green: 203-247-2660 or tina@renaissancestudios.com.  

Sachuest Point NWR and Rhode Island Coast

This all-day trip includes stops at Sachuest Pt., Beavertail State Park, Moonstone Beach, and Trustum Pond, all great RI birding sites. We should see grebes, loons, scoters, eiders, Purple Sandpipers, and Harlequin Ducks. Dress warmly—it’s cold and windy on the coast. The walk is a bit strenuous. Bring lunch and a scope if you have one. Meet at the Branford

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Sachuest Point NWR and RI Coast: Weekend Retreat

This very special birding experience will be made available to 15 club members by advance registration. We’ll be staying in the recently renovated farmhouse at the Norman Bird Sanctuary in Middletown, RI, near Sachuest Point.  We’ll go birding each day, starting with a sea watch each morning in search of alcids, Black-legged Kittiwakes, and other pelagic species.  We’ll enjoy comfortable

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First Wednesday Walk: Stratford Shore & Great Meadows

Join us on a visit to this excellent birding area. We will meet at the Long Beach parking lot and bird the marsh and beach and then visit Sikorsky airport and Frash Pond. We’ll look for oceanic birds such as Long-tailed Duck and scoters, as well as raptors and shorebirds.  Directions: Exit 30 off I-95, follow signs to Sikorsky Airport.

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Gull and Gannet Frenzy, Stratford Seawall, Stratford

We'll look at and study potentially thousands of gulls and dozens of gannets as they feast on the annual plankton bloom along the coast. Meet at the Lordship Seawall at the south end of Wash- ington Pkwy (near Marnick's Restaurant). Leader and contact person:  Frank Mantlik: 203-984-9410 or mantlik@sbcglobal.net.

First Wednesday Walk: CT Audubon Coastal Center, Milford

Join us on this early spring trip to one of the best local birding spots.  We’ll look out into the marsh and along the shore for waterfowl, shorebirds, waders, and raptors. Meet at the Coastal Center parking lot. Leader: Steven Spector. Contact person: Tina Green: 203-247-2660 or tina@renaissancestudios.com.  

Beginners’ Bird Walk at Little Pond, Litchfield

Every spring Rusty Blackbirds, a species recognized as globally vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, use the grounds of the White Memorial Foundation IBA before moving on to their nesting areas.  We will look for this and other species on a walk around Little Pond and enter our sightings into ebird.org to increase awareness about habitats used by

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East Rock Birding and Trail Maintenance, New Haven

Meet at the Eli Whitney Museum parking lot for a bird walk from 8 to 9:30 am. Then join Park Ranger Dan Barvir to help with light trail maintenance along the river until noon.  Bring pruning shears and workgloves, if you have them. Leader: Dan Barvir: 203-946-6086. 

Ansonia Nature Center, Ansonia

Enjoy a walk at this great birding location. The nature center has a small pond, grassy fields, thickets, wetlands, and woods.  The woods have had Northern Goshawk and Great Horned Owls nesting there and there are often surprises.  Meet at the nature center parking lot on Deerfield Lane (off Benz Road.) in Ansonia. Leader, Maria Stockmal: 203-488-3876 or m.stockmal@snet.net.

President’s Walk at Lake Chamberlain, Bethany

Join club president Bill Batsford to check out this excellent birding area. Lake Chamberlain, a Regional Water Authority property, is surrounded by coniferous forest and it has open fields and thickets. Early spring migrants likely to be seen are Palm and Pine Warblers, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Phoebe, and Blue-headed Vireo. Bluebirds and Tree Swallows nest in bird houses. Meet at

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East Rock Park with Ranger Dan, New Haven

Join Ranger Dan Barvir at this premier site for warblers and other spring migrants.  We will meet at the Rice Field (baseball field) end of East Rock Park on English Drive. Leader: Ranger Dan Barvir: 203-946-6086.      Please read next entry associated with Dan’s walk/garlic pull. click here

Bird Walk for Families at East Rock Park, New Haven

On this walk by the park's Mill River, children, accompanied by adults, will search for warblers and other spring migrants. Other interested adults are also welcome to join the walk in this famous spring birding site.  Meet at the Eli Whitney Museum parking lot.  Bring binoculars and a field guide if you have them. Leader: Florence McBride: 203 -288-6777 or

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East Rock Park Garlic Mustard Pull

Dan’s bird walk will end around 11:30, and after a lunch break, we’ll  get  to  work  pulling  garlic  mustard  in  a  heavily infested area of the park. This invasive plant is a pernicious, prolific pest that can overrun forested areas, squeeze out native spring flowers, kill butterfly caterpillars, and alter the habitat of our native birds. The rampant growth can be

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Bent of the River Wildlife Sanctuary, Southbury

Explore a prime birding location along the Pomperaug River in Southbury where more than 100 species of birds have been observed in a single day.  This beautiful and highly diverse habitat is owned and maintained by the National Audubon Society. Take Exit 14 off Rte. 84. Go north on Rte. 172 , then turn left onto East Flat Hill Rd.

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First Wednesday Walk: East Rock Park, New Haven

East Rock Park in early May is one of the best places in the state to see migrant warblers.  Fifteen to twenty species are possible on a good day.  Meet at the covered bridge near the Eli Whitney Museum. Leaders: Bill Batsford, Frank Mantlik, and John Oshlick. Contact person: Tina Green: 203-247-2660 or tina@renaissancestudios.com.  

Big Day Marathon

Take part in all or part of this event.  We'll focus on New Haven area hotspots, seeking 100-130 species.  We start at East Rock and search several other local migrant traps, as well as the coast from Lordship to Hammonasset.  Meet at the Eli Whitney Museum parking lot at 6:00 or 7:30 am.  Leader: to be determined.  Consult the website

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Racebrook Tract, Orange and Woodbridge

Celebrate Mother’s Day with us as we walk the trails at this former Regional Water Authority property in search of spring migrants and summer residents.  There are extensive woods, riparian habitats, open fields and a powerline cut.  Meet at the Tract parking lot on Racebrook Road (Route 114) just north of Derby Turnpike (Route 34).  Leaders: Chris Loscalzo and Judy

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River Road, Kent “Travels along a riparian woodland corridor”

The New Haven Bird Club traveled to River Road in May 1991 and documented the first nesting of Yellow-throated Warbler in Connecticut. Subsequent NHBC trips to River Road have produced a nice variety of Northwestern Connecticut nesting species.  We return this year to River Road at the peak of the spring migration.  In his 1978 publication, 25 Birding Areas in

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