Date: 9/9/26 7:43 am From: Steve Mayo via CTBirds <ctbirds...> Subject: [CT Birds] Hawk Watching in Greater New Haven (Lighthouse Park Closure)
Lighthouse Park may open in "mid-September".
It's a painfully ironic situation. Early September is usually slow there. But during the past few days, the hawk-watching weather has been perfect, and hawks have been regularly seen overhead in South Central CT. The park is closed for safety reasons, i.e.,, cleanup activities following the August 13 storm. This resulted in the loss of important September and seasonal data for species of conservation interest, such as Osprey, Sharp-shinned Hawk, and American Kestrel.
Perhaps the best alternate location for watching bird migrants is Ecology Park (Branford), with its sweeping 360-degree views. Lately 12 raptor species have been seen at that former landfill and many were lingering.
Hawk watching was last documented at East Shore Park (New Haven) in 2010. I believe the flight path was consistently East to West. The site is only 1 mile to the North of Lighthouse Park yet the birds were not from Lighthouse. It may be worth revisiting.
Maltby Lakes (Orange) can be an excellent site as we enter Broad-winged Hawk season A RWA permit for access is easily obtained online for a fee.
A massive effort to find productive hawk watch sites occurred from 1975 to 1980. Observers checked over 30 New Haven area sites. Lighthouse Park, with its unique topography, was selected as the place to be. West Rock (Woodbridge) was suggested at the time as a possible prospect.
Steve Mayo Guilford
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