A rare visitor to a rare oasis

Written by Jack Sanders
Thursday, 07 October 2010 11:15

Allen’s Meadow in Wilton is one of the top birding spots in the region, and Mike Warner showed one reason why recently when he spotted and photographed an extremely rare bird there.

“On Sept. 23, I went to Allen’s Meadow to look for a reported Lark Sparrow seen earlier that morning. Tina Green and Penny Solum arrived and we searched for the Lark Sparrow with no luck.

“At the last moment prior to leaving, Tina spotted a bird in the field. She and Penny identified it as a Northern Wheatear. I snapped a few pictures as the bird fed at the fringe of the field grass.

“E-mails were sent and about 20 people traveled to Wilton to view the strange visitor.

“The Wheatear’s summer breeding ground is in very northern Canada, Greenland, Iceland and the Yukon. It winters in Africa and its exact flight path to Africa is largely unknown.

“A full, written report with photos was sent to the Avian Records Committee of Connecticut for consideration for inclusion as an official sighting.

“The Lark Sparrow, which was relocated shortly after, breeds in the more central United States and winters in Central America. These two wayward migrants ... found the oasis that is so desperately needed for migrating birds, at Allen’s Meadows.”

Mike sent along the picture and while it is good enough to be used for identifying purposes, it was taken too far away to reproduce well here so we offer another taken elsewhere.

Purely coincidentally, the Friends of Allen’s Meadow will have a birding expert speak this Sunday, Oct. 10, at Allen’s Meadow during a 12:30 p.m. tree-planting event.

“The impact of climate change on bird migrations will be briefly addressed,” reports Patrice Gillespie. “Attendees will also hear about and possible see some of the unusual bird species that occur at this stopover site.”

At 1 p.m., there will be a 40-minute hike to the Wilton Library where, at 2, a program on the environment will include a screening of Disney’s “Oceans.” It’s all sponsored by 350.org for its global celebration of sustainable climate efforts.

Allen’s Meadow, also often called Allen’s Meadows, is behind Wilton High School’s northern athletic fields, at approximately 425 Danbury Road (Route 7). For more information, call 203-834-1491.

Disappearing song

Bill LaBella of Redding was “delighted to recently spot my first Northern Bobwhite. At approximately 50 feet from my deck it was casually taking a dust bath in a flowerbed and pecking for food in the dirt. It was so plump and at ease that I initially thought it was one of my neighbor’s stray juvenile chickens. After identifying it as a female Northern Bobwhite with my always-handy binoculars and Audubon field guide I approached it slowly. The tail feathers were very blunted and it moved with a chicken-like head bob. It walked deeper into the flower bed, quietly peeping, only a few feet away from me and seemingly unafraid. Unfortunately my camera was not so close by. Sometime later it cautiously strutted across the lawn taking flight for a short distance and finding cover in a different bed. I did not have the pleasure of hearing its telltale call.”

The Bobwhite was once more common. Its numbers have declined primarily because of the lost of its favorite habitat — fields that are beginning to turn into forests, called “early successional growth.” There was a lot of that around here 50 to 75 years ago as the landscape was changing from agricultural to residential, and Bobwhites were fairly common. Now the forests have grown up — or houses have been planted in the fields. The few Bobwhites left live around the edges of woods.

These birds, our only native quail, are popular with hunters. In fact, in some parts of the country, they are raised and released for hunting.

One of the coolest things about these birds is its call. If you’ve ever heard it, you’ll never forget it. And you will know instantly where the name, Bobwhite, came from. Listen for yourself by Googling “bobwhite call.”

Coming up

Autumn Morning Bird Walks: Saturdays, Oct. 9, 16, 23, 30 Wednesdays, Oct.13, 7:30, free, Audubon Greenwich, 613 Riversville Road, Greenwich.audubon.org, 203-869-5272 x221.

Autumn Birding Series, trips and talks with Luke Tiller:  “Raptor Migration” lecture (Oct. 14) and trip to Lighthouse Point (Oct. 17); “Little Brown Jobs” lecture (Oct. 21) and trip to Allen’s Meadows (Oct. 24); talks Thursdays at 7 p.m. , trips  at 7:30 am;  $15 per lecture/trip or $60 for all six;  RSVP to store: 203-869-5272 x221 Audubon Greenwich, 613 Riversville Road, Greenwich.audubon.org

HawkWatch Weekend and Green Bazaar, many exhibits, vendors, talks, live birds of prey, etc., Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 9 and 10, 11 to 5, Audubon Greenwich, Audubon Greenwich, 613 Riversville Road, Greenwich.audubon.org.

Drawing Bird Songs with Katie Lee, how to draw birds in the wild, Saturday, Oct. 9, 1 to 3, $45, Connecticut Audubon’s Birdcraft Museum, Unquowa Road, Fairfield, 203-259-0416, ctaudubon.org.

Lessons from a Bird’s Brain, how birds learn their songs, with Fernando Nottebohm, Ph.D. Wednesday, October 13, 7:30 p.m., free, Katonah Memorial House, 71 Bedford Road, Katonah www.bedfordaudubon.org

Kenn Kaufman, noted bird author and editor, speaking on migratory birds and the relationship with bird-friendly coffee, Friday, Oct. 22, 7 p.m., with book signing at 6, $20, Audubon Greenwich, 613 Riversville Road, Greenwich.audubon.org, 203-869-5272 x239

Copyright 2010 by Jack Sanders. Send sightings or comments to: jackfsanders [at sign] yahoo.com, or to Bird Notes, Box 1019, Ridgefield, CT 06877; or call 203-438-1183, extension BIRD (2473), and leave a message with your report, spelling your first and last names and telling us your town. If you need help identifying a bird, try your local nature center. If you find an injured bird, call wildlife rehabilitator Darlene Wimbrow of Redding, 203-438-0618, Wildlife in Crisis of Weston, 203-544-9913, or Wild Wings of Greenwich, 203-637-9822. The columnist’s website is www. sandersbooks. com.