Eighteen enthusiastic birders went to the Nehantic State Forest and Hartman Park in Lyme on May 17th for a full and satisfying morning of birding. We drove on Keeny Road from west to east in the Forest, stopping numerous times along the way. Noteworthy sightings in the Forest were: Great Blue Heron, Yellow-billed Cuckoo (two separate birds at the northeast section of the Forest), Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, Swainson’s Thrush, Scarlet Tanager, a first-year Orchard Oriole (at the Uncas Pond picnic area), and 14 warbler species, including: Blackburnian, Magnolia, Pine, Worm-eating, and Canada. We also heard several Northern Waterthrush. At Hartman Park, it took some effort, but we eventually saw a Cerulean Warbler. Other observations of interest included a White-eyed Vireo (in the brush at the power line cut), Yellow-throated Vireo (heard only), Eastern Wood Pewee, Eastern Kingbird, Prairie and Worm-eating Warbler, and Indigo Bunting. For the day, we saw about 63 species. These are two beautiful locations in the heart of our fine state that we will go back to year after year.
Chris Loscalzo