An 8 a.m. birding group started out with 13 attending and trickled down to 10 by the end of the 2+ hour walk. We entered Great Pond Preserve from its main entrance, which is located on the south side of Great Pond Road, Glastonbury. The walk covered approximately 1.3 miles. We had a slow start into the preserve. The group stayed put observing birds around the roadside entrance. This area can prove to be one of the birdiest spots, where in fact on our way out we did add our one Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Grey skies and chilly weather kept any warblers at bay and out of sight. It was difficult to observe the birds the first hour of our walk. Better lighting brought about improved looks. The Tree Swallows and Northern rough-winged Swallows as well as an Eastern Phoebe or two put a good show on at the pond near the preserve platform’s lookout.

Annette Pasek – Trip Leader
Species observed:
3 Canada goose
2 Mallard / pair
1 Mourning Dove
1 Great Blue Heron
1 Red-tailed Hawk
4 Red-bellied Woodpecker
2 Downy Woodpecker
2 Northern Flicker
2 Eastern Phobe
1 Blue Jay
2 American Crow
7 Black-capped Chickadee
2 Tufted Titmouse
2 Northern rough-winged Swallow
4 Tree-swallow
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
2 White-breasted Nuthatch
4 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
3 Carolina Wren
2 Eastern Bluebird
6 American Robin
4 American Goldfinch
2 Chipping Sparrow
1 Field Sparrow
5 White-throated Sparrow
1 Song Sparrow
6 Brown-headed Cowbird
1 Common Grackle
3 Northern Cardinal