Sunrise
Birding LLC
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About Sunrise Birding LLC Field Trips:
Cancellations and Refunds: All cancellations must be made in writing. In the event that you must cancel your booking at any stage, all payments you have made to Sunrise Birding, LLC will be retained by us, except at our discretion. You may have the opportunity to transfer your booking to another tour or another person, provided you are unavoidably prevented from coming on the tour. In this case, you will bear any extra costs that such changes may incur. There are no refunds once the trip is confirmed to go ahead and no refunds will be made for unused meals, transportation, or other trip features. Sunrise Birding, LLC cannot accept liability for airline cancellations or delays or penalties incurred by the purchase of non-refundable airline tickets or other expenses incurred by tour participants in preparing for this tour. Join our Mailing List to receive the latest schedules of walks and tours. Mailing List signup>> |
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All photos by Gina Nichol unless otherwise noted. Contact Gina Nichol at [email protected] |
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The Tyler Mill Preserve beside the Muddy River is roughly 1,500 acres of forest and fields encompassing Tamarac Swamp, adjacent to McKenzie Reservoir in Wallingford. Ecologically diverse, this lovely reserve is one of the premier birding sites in the mid-State and boasts a vibrant nesting population of Worm-eating Warblers other goodies! Other forest and field-loving breeders here include such beauties as Indigo Bunting, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, and the secretive, Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Red-shouldered Hawks and Barred Owls hunt its wetlands, both Waterthrushes frequent the rivers, and Pileated Woodpeckers, Wood Thrush, and Veery patrol the forests. Tyler Mill is a magnet for migrant songbirds. Its varied habitats have attracted more than 137 species, including twenty-six species of warblers, and provide a wonderful place to spend a day birding. We hope you can join us. 
Today we’ll explore one of Connecticut’s premier inland sites, the River Road area in Kent, tucked within the Housatonic Valley’s heavily forested northwest highlands, and sits adjacent to the Housatonic River. It is uniquely situated between steep-sloped forested ridgelines and moist riparian woodlands. The river and ridgelines create a major north-south migration corridor for birds. Within this vast and largely undeveloped region are a mosaic of numerous microhabitats which support a rich variety of birds, including such less common and local nesters as Cerulean, Hooded, Canada and Prairie Warblers, and a fine array other species. Everything from Cliff Swallows to Common Raven occurs; it’s a place where species such as Winter Wren, and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker rub shoulders with their southern cousins such as Fish Crow, and Black Vulture.
After lunch in Kent (not included), we will visit N. Kent Road in search of Shrubland species, including Orchard Oriole, Indigo Bunting, Field Sparrow, and Prairie Warbler, and we’ll stop for Hooded Warbler 
Back by popular demand - Boston Hollow in Ashford is a 2-mile-long ravine through Yale Forest lands. A small stream runs its length, shaded by hemlocks, with steep forested hills and scattered cliffs on either side. It is the place to hear and see such beauties as singing Winter Wrens, Canada Warblers, and Northern Waterthrushes. Black-throated Blue Warblers sing from its hillsides and Blackburnian and Black-throated Green Warblers reside in its hemlock groves. It's a place where Common Ravens nest on the cliffs, and Broad-winged, Red-shouldered, and Cooper's Hawks nest in its forests. Northern Goshawks even hunt the deep woods here.
A visit to Boston Hollow is a chance to explore lush northern forests rich with birdlife. It's the only place in Connecticut that I've found Red Crossbill in June. It's a place where Hermit Thrushes sing their ethereal song and Nashville Warblers have nested. Its Spruce stands may hold nesting Golden-crowned Kinglet or Magnolia Warbler. Evidence of Pileated Woodpeckers can be found throughout the hollow, and Least Flycatcher, Blue-headed Vireo, and Brown Creeper are heard along much of its length. It's a beautiful place to explore.
After lunch, time permitting, we'll visit other local sites for a chance to see Cerulean Warbler and Indigo Bunting.