The Famous American Golden-Plover

Thanks to the movie, The Big Year (Link) the American Golden-Plover has gained an almost mythic status to new birders.  In the Movie, Jack Black shares a scene with his father over the epic migration of the Golden-Plover.  And indeed the Golden-Plover's migration covers almost all of the Americas as they move from Tundra to Southern Cone.  This migration, coupled with free movie stardom, has made people flock and wonder at the American Golden-Plover.

For the bird enthusiast, the Golden-Plovers migration is just the start.  For most of us, who don't live in the tundra or southern cone, the Golden-Plover is only a casual visitor to our locales.  Connecticut is no exception.  Although the past week has seen more than a few Golden-Plovers, they are still delightful birds and worth chasing.  When one was reported at Hammonasset Beach State Park, I had to go and chase it.  This young GP was so cooperative that it got within 10 feet of me and allowed me to take some great pictures.  I can't wait to go chasing this bird again and be witness to its migration!

All About Birds - The American Golden-Plover

American Golden-Plover in 

Looking for food in the open Fields

Can you find the American Golden-Plover

ID Challenge: What do you think it is?

Migrants Migrants and More Migrants

Fall Migration is in full swing and Connecticut has had some great visitors in the past few weeks.  Amazingly, all the photos were taken at Hammonasset Beach State Park. I've attached links to the park below.  HBSP is an amazing park and one that has been classified as an Important Bird Area by National Audubon and people work to try to expand the park.  Recently, there were efforts to try and pave over the open grass and gravel parking lots and make them asphalt.  While this would increase the amount of non-point source population in the park, it would also decrease the open grass and gravel fields that so many birds love.  These parking lots have yielded, Golden Plovers, Black-Headed Gulls, Lapland Longspurs, Horned Larks, Lesser Black-Backed Gulls and many more.  News Link here  Since the Paving stopped, the Birds keep will coming back to this little spot.

My last visit here got me two great birds to add to my Connecticut List.  Wilson's Phalarope and American Golden-Plover.  I had seen both species before on my trip to Texas and got to see them in their breeding plumage.  While they weren't as decorated as when I saw them in spring, it was still a wonderful opportunity to see these birds.  The pharalope was having a good time playing hide-and-seek with the many birders trying to see it.  He kept darting in and out of  the tall grasses and we went picture crazy trying to snap a photo or two... or 50.  The Golden-Plover was playing a different game.  He was playing chicken with us and got within 10 feet of the birders watching him.  I am going to put a more detailed post of the pictures and poses I got from that experience in my next blog!  Until then, get outside and see some birds!

A Wilson's Phalarope

An American Golden Plover

A Snowy Egret and Little Blue Heron Face Off!

2013 Birds:
263

Hammonasset Beach State Park
DEEP
Friends of Hammonasset