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This installment covers the period July through September. Four events are the primary focus of this period. They are the shorebird migration, the start of fall "landbird" migration, Hawk migration, and the post-breeding appearance in Connecticut of a number of species. We will discuss the phenomena of fall migration of shorebirds and landbirds first in general and then in greater detail. This three month period may be the most important time of the birding year to apply a logical strategy to your efforts. The occurrence of the different shorebird species in Connecticut is quite predictable to where and when. Therefore, to improve your ability to find the greatest species list of these impressive migrants it is essential to understand this predictability. The fall migration of shorebirds is very important to the birding year and it falls virtually entirely within this three month window. The songbird migration peaks during the months of September and October. Therefore, we will put emphasis on shorebirds and related birding in this article and continue the songbird discussion in the last installment of this series.

The intention of this series is to help beginning and intermediate birders improve their skills. Advanced birders are not forgotten however and at the conclusion of this article we discuss advanced birding tips for this period. These will include rarities to hope for and how to bird that most impressive weather event, the hurricane!

Fall Migration Generalities
The avian migration to winter quarters is generally more protracted than the spring migration. Now there are young birds hatched this year migrating for the first time. Adult birds are no longer under the pressure to arrive quickly on the breeding grounds, to establish and defend territories and attract mates. Adults generally migrate before their offspring and they migrate more directly and efficiently. Thus adults will pass through Connecticut first. Some shorebird species migrate mostly through the interior of the continent and only a few young birds or an occasional adult may appear in the northeast during a given fall. Examples of such species are Baird’s Sandpiper and Buff-breasted Sandpiper.

The pressure of reproduction pushes birds to move northward at any opportunity. During fall migration birds have the luxury of picking good flying conditions. Long distance flight is most efficient in cool stable air. This means most birds will move southward in the nice cool clear weather following the passage of a cold front. This is particularly true of young birds since some adults will migrate on any night with decent weather. These cold fronts roll across the continent with regularity during August and September and produce helpful tailwinds as well.

There are some special considerations to be aware of with shorebird migration and we will discuss them presently.

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Shorebird Migration
In order to find the greatest mix of shorebird species you need to have a working knowledge of their migratory habits, habitat preferences, and what plumages they will be sporting when they’re here. During migration shorebirds use specific and predictable stopover locations on their way to wintering quarters. Depending on the species, wintering quarters may be as near as the east coast of North America including Connecticut, or as far away as Argentina and Chile, the so-called "Southern Cone". It is fascinating to think that the Whimbrel we flush as we walk a Connecticut beach may have been flushed from its nest on the tundra by a foraging Polar Bear a few weeks earlier. In a few weeks hence, it may be flushed from a well deserved nap on the rocky coastline of Chile by a Southern Sea Lion crawling out of the Pacific Ocean to sunbathe. Inconsiderate mammals at every turn!

South-bound shorebirds start arriving here in July and continue to pass through for months. The first to arrive are adults in worn breeding plumage. After this we start to see a mixture of worn breeding plumage and adult birds molting into winter plumage. When juveniles begin to show up here most of the adults we still see will be far along in their molting into winter plumage. Finally, late in the migration, nearly all shorebirds here will be juveniles with the exception of those species which will winter here, such as Dunlin.

As with other species, shorebirds migrate when the weather is favorable. In addition to this they make shorter migratory movements based upon the tidal cycle. While they are migrating, shorebirds are either eating or roosting. As a rule they roost at the high tide and feed during falling, rising, and low tide. When the tide goes high some birds will resume their southward trek. These movements are relatively short and these individuals will usually stop at another hightide shorebird roost site. By watching a roost site fill up with shorebirds not only will you see a great many of the local birds but occasionally you will observe some of these tidal migrants fly in. This raises another point of importance, you MUST obtain a tide chart for Connecticut if you want your shorebirding to be the most productive. They are available free at fishing stores as well as on the internet. Some limited information is usually published daily in most newspapers.

Perhaps the most important information a birder needs in order to find the most species during migration is the habitat preferences of those species. There are two types of habitat preferences, roosting habitat and feeding habitat. The following lists are the different feeding habitats in Connecticut available to shorebirds and which species usually prefer them. Some species utilize several habitats. This listing is generally true but not carved in stone, you may find shorebirds feeding in unusual locations during migration.

Shorebird Feeding Habitats

Sand bars, sand and pebble beaches
Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Spotted Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Ruddy Turnstone, Red Knot, Sanderling.

Tidal mudflats and salt marshes
Black-bellied Plover, American Golden-Plover, Semipalmated Plover, American Oystercatcher, American Avocet (rare), Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Willet, Whimbrel, Hudsonian Godwit, Marbled Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Baird’s Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Dunlin, Curlew Sandpiper (rare), Stilt Sandpiper, Ruff (rare), Short-billed Dowitcher, Long-billed Dowitcher, Wilson’s Phalarope.

Fresh water marshes, pond edges, and fresh water mudflats
Killdeer, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, Common Snipe, Wilson’s Phalarope.

Areas of short grasses and barrens such as airports, fields, and gravel/grass parking lots
American Golden-Plover, Killdeer, Upland Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Baird’s Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Common Snipe.

Coastal rocky areas and stone breakwaters
American Oystercatcher, Ruddy Turnstone, Purple Sandpiper

Red-necked Phalarope and Red Phalarope are very rarely seen in Connecticut. Both species winter at sea and predicting where they will turn up on shore during migration is extremely difficult at best.

In general, shorebirds feed on invertebrates exposed by the falling tides. As the waterline recedes the birds follow it to find newly exposed areas that haven’t been picked over yet and where the invertebrates are more readily obtained. Some species will feed on the exposed mud while others feed in the shallowing waters. When the tide is completely out the birds will be spread out feeding over a large area. This is the most difficult time to find a particular bird or to be sure you have seen all the shorebirds present. When the tide is coming in the feeding birds tend to be "pushed" ahead of it by the incoming water. Mid-tide and higher can be one of the best times to search as the birds are concentrating ahead of the rising water. Finally, as the tide nears the high point, groups of shorebirds will start heading for roost sites and the shoreline will be abuzz with these flocks zipping up and down the beaches until they settle down to preen and sleep. Discussion of specific roost sites for shorebirds will be discussed later in this article.

There is one last habitat to check for shorebirds, one that experienced birders realize can be extremely exciting. Rain puddles. That’s right, rain puddles. During and immediately after rainy weather an amazing variety of shorebirds can be found in fields and parking areas that have standing water, particularly near the coast. These puddles may yield virtually any shorebird on the Connecticut list, and perhaps, if you are living right, a species not yet on it! You can make no better shorebirding decision than to go check the puddles in the grassy areas of Connecticut’s shoreline on a rainy day, particularly at high tide. While the coast is the most productive locale, inland fields can be surprisingly productive during rainy weather. Don’t just drive by that flooded farm field, have a peek. You may just make your own day!

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"Land Bird" Migration
The fall migration of songbirds actually begins in July with species such as Cerulean Warbler and Louisiana Waterthrush winging their way to winter haunts. The migration continues slowly until the last half of August when things really start to pick up. During September the landbird migration is in full swing. Most migrant species during this period are insectivores and as with shorebirds the adults head south earliest. The bulk of the species migrate at night and often concentrate at coastal locations in Connecticut during the day. This is because the general direction of migration is due southward, particularly with first year birds. As these nocturnal travelers fly south they reach the coastline of the northeast United States which falls away to the southwest. Connecticut’s shoreline runs east to west, directly opposed to the general flow of migration. Songbirds need to stay over landmasses during migration. Those that manage to find themselves far out at sea when dawn breaks will in all probability perish. Thus our shoreline acts as a barrier and fall mornings can find birds "piled" up against it. However they can be locally numerous nearly anywhere in the state on a given morning. We will discuss the fall landbird migration in greater detail in the last installment of this series.

The most promising weather conditions for good landbirding is the passage of a sharp cold front. This results in cool clear skies at night, excellent conditions for migration, and usually northwest winds. This creates nights of heavier movement with more birds passing through our area. The trees and bushes of Connecticut often have many foraging migrants after these nights. It is most productive to be out birding early, very early. You should be in the field to bid the sunrise good day. Birding can help cure the occurrence of insomnia since you don’t really have much time to spend in bed anyway!

Some through-migrants are more easily found in Connecticut during the fall than during the spring. Such species as Philadelphia Vireo and Cape May Warbler are good examples. We will discuss specifics under the sections on the months.

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July
As June ends and July begins landbirds are very busy raising their broods. Anyone who feeds birds throughout the summer can testify about how noisy the fledglings are as they beg for food from their parents. The first week of July is a transition time for birders when our attention shifts from woodlands to water habitat. While it is still enjoyable to search for Thrushes and Warblers, by the second week in July you should be thinking shorebirds! If your desire is to see the greatest number of species during the year, or at least you wish to study the greatest assortment of species possible, then you should devote the entire month of July to looking for shorebirds and other species associated with shorebird habitat. With the exception of species that breed in Connecticut all the shorebirds appearing here now should be in worn, or not so worn, breeding plumage. Species that you should have no trouble finding now include Semipalmated Sandpiper, Piping Plover (at breeding sites), Killdeer, American Oystercatcher, Greater Yellowlegs, Willet, Spotted Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, and Short-billed Dowitcher. Less common at this time but good possibilities are Black-bellied Plover, Lesser Yellowlegs, Whimbrel, Ruddy Turnstone, Red Knot, Sanderling, Pectoral Sandpiper, and Stilt Sandpiper. Uncommon to rare species that might be found by a lucky birder during July include American Avocet, Upland Sandpiper (away from breeding sites), Hudsonian Godwit, Marbled Godwit, Curlew Sandpiper, Ruff, and Wilson’s Phalarope. Some species enter into the Connecticut birding scene after breeding. These species typically are water habitat related and include Herons, Gulls, and Terns. Laughing Gulls breed in large numbers on Long Island, New York but as yet are not Connecticut breeders. By July however they start to pour in and will be a fixture of the Connecticut waterfront until November. More interesting to birders ( a natural prejudice is at work here!) is the appearance of elegant Roseate Terns feeding off the beaches and roosting with the more numerous Common Terns that are also now moving to the mainland. Both these species breed on islands in Long Island Sound and spend more and more time on mainland beaches and sandbars after the young have hatched and fledged. Indeed some of the juvenile Terns eventually will join the adults here. Common Terns can be found at nearly all waterfront locations but the Roseates are much less common and harder to find. Consistently good locations for Roseate Terns have been the waterfront near Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, the mouth of the Connecticut River, Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison, and the sandbars off Milford Point in Milford. Listen for the distinctive "look-it" call they bark out and the whiter appearance of this endangered species to find them among the Common Terns. Endangered Least Terns are raising their young at sites such as Sandy point in West Haven and Milford Point but may be seen at a number of other locations as well. The big Terns may start to put in appearances now as well. Royal Tern may show up in small numbers in Connecticut waters and be found roosting with other Terns or gulls. Caspian Terns tend to be one-day-wonders (one-tide-wonders actually) and are unpredictable but the combination of salt-marsh and beach together are your best bet. As a rule you should look every roosting group of gulls or Terns over carefully for uncommon to rare species. A roosting Caspian Tern is big enough to "blend in" with roosting gulls and you won’t be the first birder to miss one that is actually in your view if you aren’t careful.

There is only one way to get better at identifying shorebirds, and that is careful study of birds in the field. Do not write them off as too hard, or they surely will be for you! Since the species mix around at this time usually is fairly limited, it is an excellent time to study them. Pay a great deal of attention to the structure of birds you can identify. This will be an enormous help when you see birds that appear odd due to various molt stages. Least Sandpiper is sometimes misidentified as the Little Stint of Eurasia. A quick glance at the bill by a birder who has studied structure before will quickly eliminate any such capricious thoughts however.

Unfortunately Connecticut shoreline locations open to the general public are not numerous. Some of the best locations are State Parks and preserves. There are three outstanding locations for general shorebirding in Connecticut. From east to west they are the mouth of the Connecticut River (access here limited to boat launch until Labor Day) including Griswold Point, Great Island Marsh, and the associated mudflats; Hammonasset Beach State Park, and Milford Point. There are many other locations that are good as well including Bluff Point State Park in Groton, North Cove in Old Saybrook, New Haven Harbor particularly at Sandy Point in West Haven, Sherwood Island State Park in Westport, and Greenwich Point in Greenwich (only open to residents in season). Anywhere you find access to tidal mudflats or salt-marshes have a look, you may be surprised. A word about personal responsibility. These birds are under a great physical stress during migration. They need the opportunity to feed and rest for the long arduous journey to winter quarters. They will be disturbed many times by beach-walkers, dogs, predators, and more. Please do not add birders to that list. Make every effort practicable to not disturb them, it could mean life or death for some individuals.

Visiting a heavily used feeding area or roost site repeatedly is bound to pay off. There is a constant flow of migrants through these locations and you be the likely birder to find the rarity if you persist. Try and visit each of the different habitats as many times as possible during the period. You will not get every species of shorebird in one habitat.

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August
August is a month of great opportunity for the birder in Connecticut. Shorebirding is reaching its peak, the landbird migration is picking up, and it’s the first good opportunity of the fall for rare and uncommon species. While the landbird migration is starting now it is probably best for beginning and intermediate birders to continue to concentrate on shorebirds and shorebird habitat. All the shorebird species listed for July will be present and perhaps more numerous. In addition, you may find an adult American Golden-Plover or two, Solitary Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, or White-rumped Sandpiper. You should visit the same locations as July and it is a good idea to check out mudflats around fresh water now for Solitary Sandpiper. Rain puddles and rain related mud is a must check near coastal locations and inland. I once stopped at a flooded farm field in August and found Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, and Pectoral Sandpiper all feeding together in a puddle less than fifteen feet across. Similarly, I once checked a flooded lawn in Old Lyme after a rain storm and found 19 Common Snipe huddled in the wet grasses!

Adult shorebirds will be heavily molting now and by the end of the month some juvenile migrants will be in evidence as well. Again, study the common species. You will be amazed at the variation in individuals within a species, such as Semipalmated Sandpiper. While looking for the more uncommon species you may be well rewarded by looking for roost sites in salt-marshes. Some species decidedly prefer roosting within marshes to roosting in the open on sandbars and beaches. These species include Whimbrel, Godwits, Least Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Ruff (rare), and Dowitchers. One such location that is easily observed is the marshes around the Meigs Point parking area in Hammonasset Beach State Park. This has been a particularly good spot in recent years for a declining species hard to find in Connecticut, Stilt Sandpiper. This species is sometimes passed-off as a Dowitcher by beginning birders. Learn structure! Airports and open areas of short grass should be checked for American Golden-Plover, Upland Sandpiper, and Pectoral Sandpiper as well as Cattle Egret. One experienced Connecticut birder checked the fields at Sikorsky Field in Stratford for these species and found Connecticut’s only record of Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. While the sandpiper may not have been impressed by the man standing near the fence, I can assure you the man was impressed by the sandpiper! Other productive locations for these species include Groton/New London Airport in Groton and the fields in Hammonasset Beach State Park. Indeed, perhaps the single best shorebirding decision you can make is to go to Hammonasset on a rainy late August day, especially at the high tide.

One of the most impressive events you may witness while shorebirding is the attack of a falcon. If while you are studying a roosting flock it suddenly explodes into panicked flight, the odds are either a Merlin or Peregrine Falcon is hurtling your way. These feathered rockets are part and parcel of the shorebird migration. If you think sleeping on a beach is idyllic, imagine cracking open an eye and seeing a hungry Grizzly Bear tearing across the sand towards you. Now you know how a shorebird feels when it awakes to find itself in the cross-hairs of a Peregrine! By watching the movements of the fleeing birds you can guess where the falcon is and usually see it. These attacks are over fast, but they will probably be repeated if the falcon misses.

Terns are still in evidence and finding Roseates should be at its easiest. Least Terns depart early and will be thinning out noticeable by now but the appearance of the first Foster’s Terns and Black Terns more than makes up for it. Black Terns should be looked for among Tern roosts while Foster’s Terns prefer to stay within marshes, though they can be found roosting with other Terns as well. Check any Terns feeding deep within marshes for Foster’s. Royals and Caspians should be looked for at roosts as well. One thing you will notice now is the number of juvenile Terns on Connecticut beaches. These youngsters will often follow the adults around incessantly begging. Those of you who are parents will understand why the adults seem fed up with these demands.

There are other species to watch for around shorebird haunts. In fresh water marsh habitat watch for Least Bittern, rails, and mixed flocks of Swallows. Cliff Swallow is possible anywhere swallows are now gathering. At coastal marshes watch for Little Blue Heron (particularly immatures), rails, swallows, and migrating Eastern Kingbirds. Swallow flocks can be enormous during August and can contain all the eastern species. While you are around salt-marshes scan the edge of the mudflats where they meet the marsh grasses for Rails. Clapper is the most likely but you may find migrating Virginia Rails and Soras, or even something better. The marshes of the lower Connecticut River were once famous for rail hunting. Around the turn of the century Soras migrating down the river at dusk were noted in "flocks"! Times have changed but these marshes are still excellent for rails in migration.

Many species of landbird are migrating now, particularly adult birds. If you want to take a break from shorebirds and water birds, pick a morning after a clear night and search coastal areas or edge habitat (areas where woodlands meet fields, etc.) for these birds. You may find migrant adult warblers and others. Finding landbirds now can be a little hit or miss and generally speaking your time is better spent on shorebirds etc. One landbird species to especially watch for at this time is Olive-sided Flycatcher. This species has declined significantly in recent years. It migrates early and should be looked for at the very top of dead trees around water. Its habit of sitting at the very top makes it easier to see but its low numbers considerably reduce your chances of finding one on a given year. You won’t find one unless you look though! Beware the odd Pewee that occasionally sits high in the open to taunt hopeful birders.

Nighthawks become a real possibility in the evening sky as August comes to an end. I highly recommend going to Hammonasset for sunset at the end of the month. While you stand and enjoy the colors of the evening sky you may be treated to dozens of Common Nighthawks bounding about the park. Some will go bouncing by at head level. If this combination of beauty and birds doesn’t give you goosebumps, just why do you bird anyway?

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September
While August is a month of opportunities, September is a month to be opportunistic. Your birding decisions should be entirely driven by weather and tidal conditions. Shorebird migration continues and some of the more uncommon species are most likely this month. Landbird migration hits full stride now and can be wonderful on the right days. Migrating hawks are at peak numbers and can be quite impressive on the right days. So which days are the right days for what birds?

As discussed previously, the passage of a sharp cold front results in cool stable air and northwest winds. These conditions mean heavier migration of landbirds and hawks through Connecticut. The birding emphasis now swings back to landbirding, though some shorebirding is still important. Generally speaking the most productive time to search for landbirds is first thing in the morning. The first two or three hours of light can be dedicated to looking for Thrushes, Vireos, Warblers, Sparrows and other songbirds. Hawks tend to start moving a little later in the day when the combination of warm thermals created by the sun combine with the northwest wind to create the most efficient conditions for diurnal (daylight) migration. So after you have spent two or three hours landbirding you can head to a hawk-watch site and take in the show. A muggy overcast day, or a cool drizzly day, are days to shorebird. Since shorebirding is also directly tied to tides, you may be able to do all three during a marathon day of birding if the optimal tidal conditions are in the afternoon. One consideration to make however is that the passage of a sharp cold front also tends to send shorebirds on their way as well and the pickings may be a little thin in the front’s wake. The unstable and inclement weather proceeding the cold front can be excellent for shorebirding.

There is one unique weather/migration phenomena to discuss here. It is called "blocking weather" and it is inclement weather that persists over several days. It stops movement and causes migrants to concentrate where they meet it. If the inclement weather is mostly to our south and the edge of the rain and clouds are in our area we may have these delayed birds around in good numbers. Thus even drizzly weather can be good for warblers. When the blocking weather finally clears, larger than usual numbers of birds will move at once. This can create excellent birding days. Good birders are weather watchers!

Juvenile shorebirds will be at their peak during this month. Species of note to watch for are American Golden-Plover, Western Sandpiper (most Westerns we see here are juveniles), Baird’s Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher ( a surprisingly difficult species to find in Connecticut), and Wilson’s Phalarope (nearly always juveniles). Most Baird’s Sandpipers migrate through the interior of the continent and some years they are virtually absent from the northeast. The best place to find Buff-breasted Sandpiper in recent years has been the Groton/New London Airport with more than a half dozen birds on many days. These birds may be difficult to see well as they are usually quite distant from the road and access to the airport is not extensive. A better place to see these attractive little gems well is Hammonasset Beach State Park. Check all the parking areas and fields. These birds love short grass areas and should be looked for where that habitat exists. September is one of the better months to find Hudsonian Godwit in Connecticut, usually juveniles.

When that cold front passes and a good night for migration occurs, plan on looking for landbirds in the morning. As discussed before, coastal locations are best but if you can’t get to the coast you can do quite well anywhere in the state with a little luck. Early in the morning these nocturnal migrants are quite active and tend to be found in little roving flocks. Listen for the tell-tale chip notes. There will almost always be more birds present than it sounds like since many will be silent at any given moment. Some of the species that may be in these flocks include Chickadees, Kinglets, Vireos, Warblers, and Tanagers. Philadelphia Vireo is very rare in Connecticut during the spring and uncommon but regular in fall. The best place to see this species has been Bluff Point Coastal Preserve in Groton where this species is annually seen with as many as three recorded in a single day. This state preserve also happens to be the best place in Connecticut to see the migration of songbirds. Just as you enter the park you pass under a railroad bridge. Immediately after that the woods on your left has been nicknamed the "Hot Corner" and on peak days over twenty thousand warblers have been observed passing through in the behavioral phenomena called "Morning Flight". This phenomena occurs wherever nocturnal songbirds are and can be seen to a lesser extent at other locations such as Hammonasset, Sherwood Island State Park, etc.. This is a complex and little understood phenomena and is beyond the scope of this article. For shear numbers the Bluff Point manifestation of this phenomena has to be experienced, and birders from as far away as Vermont, Maine, and New Jersey have traveled here to do just that. The day or two after a cold front can be mind boggling with so many birds flying out that birders often flinch from fear of being hit! Of course you don’t have to travel to Groton to look for songbirds. Wherever you do go just be aware that any tree or bush may hold a bird or two or twenty!

Hawk-watching is a form of birding that enthralls some people and they do little other birding. For the birder who wants to see every species they can some hawk-watching is highly recommended, if for nothing else than the experience! Odds are that you will see something good fly over and there may be no better place to learn from more experienced birders than yourself. Premier hawk-watching sites in Connecticut include Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven and Greenwich Hawk Watch in Greenwich, as well as other locations. The beauty of hawk-watching however is it can happen anywhere! Wherever you are birding you should keep an eye on the sky. Inland areas of ridges and hills are best for Broad-winged Hawks and mid September is the peak time of their migration. Enormous flocks, or "kettles" can be seen on the right days. Inland locations are also good for species such as Red-shouldered Hawk and Red-tailed Hawk. Shoreline locations are good for Harriers, Accipiters such as Sharp-shinned Hawk, and Falcons such as American Kestrel and Peregrine Falcon. Hawks are daylight migrants. They take advantage of weather conditions and terrain that make their movement more efficient. Those conditions are rising thermals caused by the sun to give lift, and northwest winds to give an added boost. Terrain features that assist in thermal creation are ridgelines and hills and inland hawk-watch sites tend to be located on or near these. Hawk-watchers are great sources of information and hawk-watch sites are great places to learn how to identify hawks in flight. Don’t be afraid to ask how the bird flying over was identified, most hawk-watchers are only too happy to share their knowledge.

Let’s summarize the weather conditions and the recommended birding associated with those conditions:

Beautiful clear days with northwest winds after the passage of a cold front: Landbirds at coastal locations, edge habitat anywhere, and secondarily in any tree or bush you walk by! Hawk movement at hawk-watch sites and in the sky wherever you are birding. Shorebird habitat later in the day. The are some landbird migrants that often are associated with shorebird habitat as well, such as American Pipit so be alert. If you can find a quiet area away from human noise, go out at night and listen carefully to the sky. There are birds up there and if you listen long enough you should hear the chips and calls of these travelers. Pure magic!

Rain showers and periods of extended fair days with little or no wind: Landbirds will be moving through steadily and so will shorebirds. Depending on which species you still need to find for the year, or which birds you just want to see again, you can pick which habitats to search. This is not prime hawk finding weather however. It is a good time to sneak in a pelagic trip out of state actually!

Extended rainy periods: Shorebird habitat, rain puddles, flooded fields. Rainy days in September are good birding days so get a little wet! Remember, if the rain and clouds are immediately to our south landbirds will be arriving here anyway and should be searched for. When these extended rainy periods end you MUST get out and search for songbirds.

Hot, humid, hazy, periods: Shorebird habitat is most productive and therefore recommended. Land migration will still be happening but can be quite desultory. Your time is better spent on the shore, where you will feel cooler anyway!

September is a month of great movement. Bird often, bird smart.

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Advanced Birding Tips
There are so many possibilities it is impossible to address them all in this article. First let us list rarities that are good possibilities by month. July; Curlew Sandpiper, Little Gull, Loggerhead Shrike. Also as an outside possibility during periods of very humid oppressive weather you should watch Long Island Sound for Wilson’s Storm-Petrel. I can’t explain why they sometimes venture in during this weather but they do. August; Cattle Egret, White Ibis, Purple Gallinule, American Avocet, Ruff, Western Tanager. September; Eared Grebe, Sandhill Crane, Phalaropes, Western Kingbird, Sedge Wren, Northern Wheatear, Blue Grosbeak, Henlow’s Sparrow.

These are a few of the species that are possible. Others include such gems as Anhinga, Swallow-tailed Kite, Fork-tailed Flycatcher, and many, many more. This period is absolutely rife with possible rarities, especially during extended periods of strong southwest wind flows. The best approach is simply to be prepared for anything!

The wildcard weather event of the year can occur during this period, the hurricane. These expressions of nature’s power bring great destruction and hardship for humans. They also bring birds. In Connecticut these storms are infrequent and usually arrive when they are weakening or are essentially spent. When one of these storms runs up the eastern seaboard, or arrives here from out over the Atlantic, we have the potential for superb rarities. I don’t need to stress that your safety comes first. Don’t be out birding if the storm is strong enough to pose a real threat to you. What good is a new life bird if it costs you your life? Most storm driven rarities are found as the storm subsides or is already over.

Long Island forms a natural barrier to the Atlantic Ocean for us. Long Island Sound sees very few pelagic birds because of this. Here in Connecticut we pay a price for that with few pelagic species on the state list, and very few lucky birders who have some on their state lists. When a hurricane travels across the ocean pelagic birds are unable to feed due to the tremendous wind and waves. These birds are often kept in the storm because of the storm’s rotation. These birds weaken quickly and many die. Some survive the storm but are carried many miles by it and escape in a weakened state. Many of these perish as well. When a hurricane hits our area and it has stayed out over the water many pelagic birds are driven to land and some are driven far inland. In recent years strong hurricanes have resulted in impressive stranding of pelagic birds, such as Black-capped Petrels on the Great Lakes! Not just pelagic birds are affected by these storms either. Coastal species are often victims as well. If a hurricane hits here, and you have the chance, get out and look for these storm-blown birds. Safety first remember!

In the wake of a hurricane that has come up the seaboard you should search for possible species such as Brown Pelican, Magnificent Frigatebird, Reddish Egret, Wood Stork, Purple Gallinule, Wilson’s Plover, Red and Red-necked Phalaropes, Jaegers, Saline’s Gulls, Sandwich Tern, and southern breeders such as Prothonotary Warbler and others. If enough of the storm is out over the water, or it arrives here from the open Atlantic, then every pelagic species is a possibility to enter our state. In addition to those, many southern species are possible as well, such as; Audubon’s Shearwater, Band-rumped Storm-Petrel, Tropicbirds, Masked and Brown Booby, Jaegers, Arctic Tern, Bridled and Sooty Tern, and things even rarer! If the storm goes inland to our south we may still see rarities from it as weakened and displaced birds try to recover and find their way back home.

The places to search are primarily coastal locations but large bodies of fresh water should be searched as well. If the storm is strong enough there may be birds blown well inland. After a strong storm an Audubon’s Shearwater was found in Connecticut on a lake that borders Massachusetts! Many of these weakened birds will be found in odd places and shearwaters have been picked up off streets and lawns in the wake of these incredible storms. Beaches and sandbars may have storm ravaged survivors sitting among the usual species. You may see other storm birds sitting on the water or flying through the sound searching for a way back to the real ocean. So remember, the next time a hurricane hits Connecticut the best birds of the year may have arrived with it. See you in the field.

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Conclusion
This period is an exciting and busy time for birders. Birders want to be everywhere at once, but of course we can’t. The best laid strategy and the most time spent in the field doesn’t mean you will see everything, or even the best things. It does raise your chances tremendously however. The limitations of these articles is that they can’t possibly cover all the information and advice that I would like to give to the reader. There is just so much to know. As I have said before, don’t be afraid to ask advice from more experienced birders. No one knows everything (beware the birders that think they do!) but everyone knows something! I believe it is our ethical responsibility to teach others what little we know about birding and that is what I have tried to do in these articles. I hope you have learned something from them.

The next installment will conclude the series and will cover the months of October, November, and December. It will also include a section on the informational resources available to birders to improve anyone’s Connecticut Birding year.