Walks

NOTE: This date is a change from the yearbook! Cheshire Land Trust’s Fresh Meadows Preserve includes a variety of habitats that appeal to a wide variety of bird species looking for a place to rest and refuel on their southbound migration. With conifer groves, deciduous woodlands, and meadows, all located along the Mill River, it’s worth a visit. Expect a

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Join the New Haven Bird Club at a trash cleanup sponsored by Save the Sound at a potential future open space in Hamden. While we can't access the property, we can still show our support for the future of Six Lakes (the Olin Powder Farm; eBird Hotspot "Olin pond") and help protect nearby waterways like Lake Whitney and the Mill

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This is a joint trip with Gather New Haven (formerly the New Haven Land Trust). Quinnipiac Meadows Eugene B. Fargeorge Preserve, a varied habitat with excellent views of the lower Quinnipiac River, is always full of surprises. We have seen everything from Woodcock to Bald Eagles to Snow Geese, lots of fall migrants, wintering ducks, and more. We will be

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We walk the Trolley Museum tracks through several productive habitats. A great trip for migrating raptors plus salt marsh and woodland birds. Meet in the rear parking ot of the Shore Line Trolley Museum, 17 River St, East Haven. Leader: Mike Horn, mfhorn@att.net, 203-288-1891.

Join Pat Leahy for a walk on protected Regional Water Authority property in Woodbridge. We will see fall migrants and winter residents. Some mild slopes on a well-maintained road. Meet at Lake Chamberlain Regional Water Authority parking area on Sperry Road south of Morris Road, Bethany. We carpool to Lake Dawson from there. Leader: Pat Leahy, ptjleahy@yahoo.com, 203-314-0566.

Bird several hotspots in the Town of Cheshire, including Broad Brook Reservoir and Fresh Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary. Broad Brook Reservoir annually hosts 200-400 Ruddy Ducks in fall, one of the highest concentrations of this diving duck in the state. Fresh Meadows offers a diversity of bird species through the year. Broad Brook Reservoir is level walking (100 yards) on leaf-covered

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Join a midweek trip to this outstanding Long Island Sound birding spot. We check for loons, grebes, goldeneye, and other sea ducks. The fields are a good place to look for Snow Buntings, Horned Larks, and sparrows. Meet at Sherwood Island State Park: take Exit 18 off I-95 in Westport and head south on the Sherwood Island Connector. Drive into

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At 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 outside the park at the Shoreline Greenway Trail parking area on Boston Post Road, Madison, just east of the park's main entrance road. Leader: Jerry Connolly, birdshop@sbcglobal.net, 203-710-2011.

Join us for a vigorous walk along the Quinnipiac Trail from Cornwall Avenue in Prospect through Regional Water Authority and Prospect Land Trust property off of Boardman Drive. Expect many steep areas with rough terrain. Wear appropriate footwear and bring water. Inclement weather cancels. Meet at the end of the cul-de-sac on Boardman Drive, Prospect. We’ll carpool to Cornwall Avenue

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Join a midweek trip (on the Second Wednesday!) to this outstanding Long Island Sound birding spot. We check for loons, grebes, goldeneye, and other sea ducks. The fields are a good place to look for Snow Buntings, Horned Larks, and sparrows. Meet at Sherwood Island State Park: take Exit 18 off I-95 in Westport and head south on the Sherwood

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We'll look for waterbirds and fowl including Long-tailed Ducks, scoters, and loons, as well as shorebirds, gulls, and raptors as we visit Milford hotspots that will likely include Milford Point, Mondo Ponds, and Caswell Cove. Dress warmly and plan to carpool. The trip ends by noon. Inclement weather will probably cancel the trip. Check with the leader if you have

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Enjoy a mid-week field trip to Hammonasset Beach State Park, 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 outside the park at the Shoreline Greenway Trail parking area on Boston Post Road, Madison, just east of the park's main entrance road. Leader: Greg Hanisek,

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White Memorial Foundation is a 4,000-acre nature preserve. The diverse mixture of habitats includes mature deciduous and evergreen forests, as well as fields of tall grass, weeds, and shrubs that are managed for various stages of succession. One of the best birding sites in the state and an Important Bird Area, White Memorial Foundation has approximately 35 miles of woodland

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Snow date - Sunday, February 23, 2025 This all-day trip includes stops at Beavertail State Park, Moonstone Beach, Trustum Pond, and other great birding sites along the Rhode Island coast. We will see lots of sea ducks including all three scoter species, Common Eider, and Harlequin Duck. We’ll look for birds of prey, including Rough-legged Hawk and several owl species.

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Join us on a visit to this excellent birding area. We’ll look for shorebirds birds such as Long-tailed Duck and scoters, as well as raptors and shorebirds. Meet at the Dunkin Donuts parking lot at 60 Access Road, Stratford, near the intersection with Main Street (Route 113); we carpool from there. Leader: Frank Mantlik, mantlik@sbcglobal.net, 203-984-9410.

A late winter walk at this urban park with varied habitat including woodlands, fields, streams, and ponds. Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser, Kingfisher, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and Brown Creeper are all possible. Walking is easy and flat with one dirt path through a wooded area. Total distance is approximately 2.5 miles. Meet at the Edgewood Park parking lot next to the tennis

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Join Molly Zahn and Peter Grund for a walk at the Lake Wintergreen area of West Rock Ridge State Park. We will circle the lake and, if there is time, walk up to the water tower close to the top of the ridge. The walk around the lake is on gravel or dirt paths and is mostly flat. The walk

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Bird the harbor shore at Lighthouse Point Park for gulls, loons, ducks, and early returning shorebirds. Then we proceed to the Richard English Bird Sanctuary at the Deer Lake Camp in Killingworth. Check with the trip leader for approximate arrival time at each location. Bring lunch and dress warmly. Meet at the Hawk Watch parking lot, Lighthouse Point Park, 2

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Join nationally-recognized wildlife artist and birder Mike DiGiorgio for a walk to look for resident and migrating songbirds. We'll explore the fields, gardens, and woodland trails. Birders of all ages and skill levels, including beginners, are welcome. Meet at the Community Gardens parking area, 257 Copse Road, Madison. Leader: Mike DiGiorgio, mdigiorgio@comcast.net.

Osbornedale State Park offers a variety of species in its fields and forest, and around its ponds. It is always a surprise which species will be discovered as we walk through the park. We may see a flyover Bald Eagle, nesting Bluebirds, early warbler migrants, Green Heron, and Orchard Oriole, as well as Indigo Bunting, Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, and the various

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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 Eli Whitney Museum parking lot, 915 Whitney Avenue, Hamden. Leader: John Oshlick, john.oshlic@yahoo.com, 203-584-1955.

Rain date: Saturday, May 10, 2025 Jack Swatt, New Haven Bird Club Life Member and Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) volunteer Whip-poor-will monitor, will lead a walk to listen and look for Whip-poor-will at the Naugatuck State Forest. Jack will give a short talk on the status of Whip-poor-wills in the Northeast and Connecticut. We will then

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River Road in Kent along the Housatonic River provides a major north-south riparian corridor for spring migration. River Road has produced a nice variety of Northwestern Connecticut nesting species including Acadian and Least Flycatchers; Yellow-throated and Blue-headed Vireos; Winter Wren; and Cerulean, Golden-winged, and Worm-eating Warblers. The vast uninterrupted forest rising from the river is an ideal location for a

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Hartman Park is known for its breeding population of Cerulean Warbler. There is also a power cut which may have Prairie, Blue-winged, Magnolia and other warblers. Both Cuckoos have been seen here as well. The Hartman Park walk involves a moderate distance walk on moderately strenuous terrain. Meet at the commuter parking lot, Exit 55 off I-95. Leader: John Oshlick,

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Sleeping Giant dominates the landscape north of New Haven. The park hosts diverse habitats: riparian woods, rivers and streams, stands of white pines, mature deciduous forests, and cliffs and meadow edge. Although it is famous for its ankle-twisting and heart-pumping terrain, we will bird along the uphill but (mostly) smooth-surfaced Tower Path. As we move slowly along the Path, we

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Join us at the peak of spring migration on this moderately strenuous hike in a fine birding location. We’ll search for migrants and residents. We often see more than 15 species of warblers on this trip, including resident Hooded, Chestnut-sided, Prairie, and Worm-eating Warblers. Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Scarlet Tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, and many other birds are residents here, too.

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Join Pat Leahy for a walk on Regional Water Authority property in Bethany. Pat has been maintaining a bluebird trail on several of the properties there. Bluebirds, swallows, and spring migrants are plentiful. Walking is not strenuous and on well-maintained trails. Meet at Lake Chamberlain Regional Water Authority parking area on Sperry Road, south of Morris Road, Bethany. Leader: Pat

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Rich meadows and fields, forested wetlands, trap rock ridge, and riparian woods host breeding populations of sparrows and warblers, woodpeckers, hawks, Baltimore Orioles, Rose-breasted Grossbeaks, Indigo Buntings, and other field and woodland birds. Other migrating species are possible. Meet at the Hansen Park parking lot down a driveway just east of 52 Patten Road, North Haven. Leaders: Craig Repasz, crepasz@hotmail.com,

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Barn Island WMA is a large expanse of varied habitat along the Connecticut shore near the Rhode Island border, including large tracts of salt marsh, deciduous woodlands and a large brushy field. We’ll see 60+ species of birds, with notable resident species including White-eyed and Yellow-throated Vireo, Saltmarsh Sparrow and Willow Flycatcher likely to be seen. This is a good spot to

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Join Pat Leahy for a walk on protected Regional Water Authority property in Woodbridge. Views of the lake and dam, some wetlands and lakeside forest. The trip will be a 3 mile hike on a flat trail. Meet at Lake Bethany Regional Water Authority parking area on Hatfield Hill Road, Bethany. We will carpool to Lake Watrous from there. Leader:

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The Chippens Hill area of Bristol has historically been farmland. The Environmental Learning Centers of Connecticut and the city of Bristol are working to save some of the habitat where Bobolinks, Meadowlarks, and Grasshopper Sparrows have been found. Join Jack Swatt for a tour of these areas in search of these declining species. Bring plenty of water and be prepared to walk

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Greg Hanisek, one of the best birders in the state, will lead the walk in this scenic and spacious forest in the northern part of the state. Nesting species here include Blue-headed Vireo, Hermit Thrush, Canada Warbler, and Black-throated Blue Warbler. Meet at the entrance to Mohawk Mountain State Park on Route 4 in Cornwall, four miles west of Goshen.

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