Hammonasset in Winter

A recognized Important Bird Area (IBA), Hammonasset State Park in Madison, CT is also known to most birdwatchers as one of Connecticut’s premier spots for birding. Originally inhabited by Native Americans and later used as a military firing range, Hammonasset was purchased by the State of Connecticut in approximately 1919 for development into a state park.

The roughly 1,000-acre park includes about 10,000 ft of sandy beach along Long Island Sound, 600 acres of tidal marshes, 300 acres of grassy areas primarily used for camping and picnicking, and about 100 acres of forested uplands that are remnants of state’s glacial history. Hammo’s tidal marshes provide nesting and foraging habitats for threatened and reclusive birds such as the Seaside and Saltmarsh Sparrows, American Bittern and Clapper Rail. In addition, state and federally listed Piping Plover and Least Tern use Hammo’s beaches and sand bars as nesting areas.

Hammo’s location as a large undeveloped area along the Connecticut coast attracts numerous species of birds during spring and fall migration; however no matter what season, a visit to Hammo will usually offer a good variety of bird sightings. Common sightings during the winter are water birds such as loons, scaup, scoters, eiders, grebes, and goldeneye, and arctic species such as snow bunting and horned lark. Other birds spotted at Hammo during the winter months include crossbills, fox sparrow, snowy owl and numerous species of shorebirds.

Have a look at the field trips section of the newsletter for an upcoming walk to observe winter birds at Hammonasset. Check back with us after the walk at menunkatuck .org for photos and a list of sightings!

Submitted by Nina Levenduski