December 18 - Snowy Owl & Say's Phoebe

Today I took a ride west to finally see the long-staying Snowy Owl which has been at Merrill Creek Reservoir since early November.  To get good views it took a bit of a walk but the reward was fine looks at this immature bird. While it did not fly the bird was quite active in looking around, stretching it legs and preening.

Afterward we traveled into New Hope, Pennsylvania and after some time were able to locate the previously reported Say's Phoebe.

December 11 - Connecticut chases redux

Another rarity chase in the Nutmeg State today...This trip brought our group of Andy, Jen, Bill and I to the Windsor-Bloomfield Landfill in search of a Thayer's Gull which had been reported here a few days ago.
Fortunately the weather was nice and there were not too many gulls about, so that made it quicker for us to find the target bird.  Another life bird for me!

See Kurt's excellent photos of the Thayer's Gull here.


Afterwards we stopped nearby in Windsor and got views of a Barnacle Goose. Then on the drive home we stopped at Pennfield Reef in Fairfield for looks at the Harlequin Duck which had been reported, along with two dozen White-Winged Scoters that were incredibly close and in perfect light to enjoy their reddish bills.