Sundry sightings, including chilly hummingbirds

Written by Jack Sanders
Thursday, 23 December 2010 10:23

Katie Rice of Sunset Hill Road reports,  “I don’t have leisure time for bird watching during the week, but while driving my birding eyes usually pan the electrical wires overhead to perching silhouettes.

“On Thursday morning, which was about 20 degrees, I recognized the unmistakable large crested head, compact body and long, thick bill of a Belted Kingfisher sitting on a wire overlooking Miry Brook in Danbury.   I have not seen one there before and I drive my son daily to school in that vicinity.

“I dropped my son off and doubled back to verify my hunch with the binoculars.  He was still there, perched over the frozen water.

“What would a Belted  Kingfisher eat in winter when the ponds and streams are frozen over?  Shouldn’t he have migrated further south where there is open water with fish, frogs and other water dwellers?”

Inland kingfishers probably do what a number of waterfowl, such as Mute Swans do: They head to the shore of Long Island Sound.  Belted Kingfishers are year-round residents of our area, and will hang out where the water is not frozen.

In summer, while kayaking, we have seen them in Saugatuck Harbor and on some of the Norwalk Islands, so they are probably there in winter, too.

Raven snackers

David Hein of Ridgefield noted our sighting of a pair of ravens in our backyard the day after the post-Thanksgiving vulture-fest. “While the vultures are my least favorite local birds, and they do rest in my taller trees at times, I wanted to let you know that the ravens (probably same group here in southwest Ridgefield that visit you) are here almost every day, snacking underneath my small bird feeders.”

Vermont pairs

Starr Brinckerhoff of Charlotte, Vt., whose roots are in Darien, noticed the recent column picturing a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers and mentioning that seeing a pair is more unusual than a lone one.

“Our experience is that they usually make their rounds in pairs, and you should see how they enjoyed making portholes in one of our ash trees!” Starr said. “If they attack house siding, you must — quite unfortunately — suspect insect infestation, especially Carpenter Ants!”

Hardy hummers

For a week or so Connecticut birders have been flocking to Guilford on the shore east of New Haven where a Calliope Hummingbird has been regularly seen.

We’ve mentioned here that almost every fall, Rufous Hummingbirds wander off-course from the West Coast and wind up in New England. In fact, for two months, one has been sighted daily in Sterling, Conn. It may have moved south in the past week.

But a Calliope is much more uncommon, especially in December — and more amazing.

The Calliope Hummingbird is North America’s smallest bird, spending its summers in the Rockies and winters in the tropics. It weighs only one-tenth of one ounce — you could mail 10 of them for 44 cents! They are only 3.25 inches long.

Our Ruby-throated Hummingbird is slightly larger, at 0.11 ounces and 3.75 inches- a half-inch longer than Calliope.

While birders are excited to be seeing these birds in Connecticut, they are also hoping these tiny creatures head south soon...

Coming up

Bronx-Westchester Christmas Bird Count, Dec. 26, dawn to dusk, various locations, contact Saw Mill River Audubon for information, 914-666-6503 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Great Meadows, trip to popular Stratford bird sanctuaries for a survey of over-wintering ducks, hawks, owls, and other winter specialties, with Brian O’Toole, Saturday, Jan. 8, 8 to 2 p.m., $15, van provided, Greenwich Audubon, 613 Riversville Road, RSVP   203-869-5272 x221, greenwich.audubon.org

Exploring the World of Owls, ages 5 and up, Sunday, January 9, 3:30-5:30 pm., Greenwich Audubon, 613 Riversville Road, RSVP   203-869-5272 x221, greenwich.audubon.org

Bird Tours, with Connecticut Audubon, Tanzania, Jan. 10-22; Cuba, March 1-13; Costa Rica, March 18-29; Galapagos Islands, April 9-18; Mount Auburn, Cambridge, Mass. May 13-15; Martha’s Vineyard, May 26-29; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 860-767-0660.

“First Sundays,” bird walks open to all ages and skills, at Greenwich Point, with Meredith Sampson, first Sunday of the month, through May, 9 a.m. sponsored by Wild Wings, Inc., Bruce Museum and Audubon Greenwich, 203-637-9822.

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.