Cruisin with bird n brews

Thursday 9/29, 2022 Cruisin with Birds and Brews. Location, South Glastonbury’s bucolic farm setting and CT river space. Started with the walk portion at 3 p.m. With group assembled we watched gulls, ducks, warblers, herons and more from the Ferry Rd parking lot. Next we moved onto the south walking trail and covered 1/3 of a mile. We were a group of 8. The birding levels ranged from new birders to those with many decades of experience. The weather was mild and somewhat dim skies made for challenging IDs of migrating warblers. The group’s tally was 38 species plus an additional – taxonomic. The additional taxonomic – a set of warblers flew from one treetop to the next in the darkening skies. The consensus for the best bird seen was a Northern Thrasher, this striking bird was seen during the walk on the short path, at the paths south end. This bird of the Mimidae family was with many additional birds, all who were working on Virginia Creeper berries. Other highlights, a single Broad-winged Hawk making its way south, many warbler species yellow-rump, parula, magnolia, black and white, blackpoll, redstart. A pair of Belted Kingfishers graced our presence as well as Four woodpecker species. A fun last minute sighting of a Blue-headed Vireo added to our total number. In abundance were cat bird, white-throated sparrow, starling, crow, jay and mallard. On an aside, one of the country’s longest running continuous ferries dating back to 1655 motored back and forth from Glastonbury and Rocky hill. This walk doesn’t end at the ferry, per the norm, we head to Hops on the Hill for happy hour, where we had views from other collectors antique cars. 

Annette Pasek, President