Day 327: November 23rd – Between Hockey Games

Sunny, high 50s and calm

   

       We were on the road as usual today, but not birding.  At least that was not our primary objective.  We were grandparenting…being hockey grandparents to be exact.  Our son’s three children aged 13 and under all play and it so happened that they all played on this very day.  Fortunately, the games were scheduled throughout the day.  Unfortunately, they were not all scheduled at the exact same place.  And so, we covered quite a bit of Connecticut.  We did manage to squeeze in a bit of birding between games, however.  It’s an addiction, what can I say?

       After the youngest, Marley, played here game, we tried out one of the local parks where we had never birded before.  It is a beautiful little pond surrounded by deciduous forest.  I heard flickers, Red-bellies, Downeys, and more, but they were all distant.  The only bird that would offer itself as a subject was a mallard, and well, mallards have graced the pages of this blog on more than a few occasions, and I determined that this would not be another installment featuring that duck.

      

       The next game was an hour and a half northeast of our present location later in the afternoon.  So, off we went.  We found a few farm fields near the arena and managed to locate a flock of European starlings.  Should have stuck with the mallard, you say? Well, the starlings have recently molted into their white-tipped plumage and it really is quite attractive.  So, today’s photo will feature this newly adorned bird.

       

       The bird was seen under the glow of a waxing gibbous moon which made it all the more attractive (I’m still convincing myself and my audience).  It was also not far from a lovely little park which had lots of great scenery but precious few birds.  Nonetheless, it was quite photogenic and thus blog worthy. 

       With the next game on schedule in short time, we had to scurry over to the arena after which we traveled another hour and twenty minutes to get to the third and final game.  Long day, but guess what.  All three played very well and all three games came up in the W column.  Worth every minute and every ounce of gas!