njones

These responses are helping me learn a lot - and sending me to good sources. Many thanks!

Very new to gulls, and wondering if the all-white gull standing with these other gulls (Herring, I think) could be an Iceland Gull? Stratford, CT, taken Jan 4 on LI Sound. Included cropped shot and also shot of full group, for size. Thanks for any help!

This is all really helpful - including the last article - thanks for posting!

Thanks so much!

Seen December 30, midday, Stratford, CT (at Stratford Point, on LI Sound.) A Northern Harrier spotted about ten minutes earlier. Tentatively ID'd as immature Red-shouldered Hawk, but wondering if it might be broad-winged? Did not see it well in flight; it flew low, behind branches and landed again a short distance away. Appreciate any advice! Thanks.

Thanks so much!

Taken in Westport, CT, Dec. 13, 3:44pm, in tree by roadside. Wondered if it might be Red-shouldered Hawk?

Thanks! That's where I landed too, but I'm not yet experienced enough to feel certain. It helps to hear how you made the ID - I wasn't sure about the wings. I really appreciate your help.

Westport, CT, Sherwood Island, on the sound (salt water), around high tide on Saturday, November 21, seen about 11am: a flock of 36 individuals (counted, not estimated) - which at first I thought were all Red-breasted Mergansers. Now I'm wondering if some of the individuals may have been Common Mergansers, in a mixed flock. Observed about 20 minutes altogether. Photos are from shore, at a bit of a distance, and with tricky light. This was my first sighting of Red-breasted Mergansers, so I'm fairly new to birding and have lots to learn. Any help is greatly appreciated! Origina

I've researched them since this post - I had no idea there were such variations. (It was a little disorienting!) Thanks for the help.

Thanks!

Saw these three individuals on fresh-water pond, Norwalk. CT, Nov 22, 10:30am. Other birds included Mallards, Gadwalls, American Wigeons, Mute Swans, Northern Shovelers, a Northern Pintail, and a pair of Green-winged Teals. I'm having trouble identifying these 3, which remained together for about 40 minutes of observation. Any ideas?

Thanks! Definitely yellowlegs in this area earlier this fall, so that seems likely. Appreciate the help.

Bird seen among American Black Ducks and Hooded Mergansers in salt waters on coast of Westport, CT, November 15, 9:36am. Sherwood Island State Park (beach and wetlands). Doesn't quite look like any of the shorebirds I recognize. Not a great photo - taken from a distance - but I'm looking at the length of the beak. Any ideas?

No wonder I couldn't find them! Thank you.