Date: 9/9/26 8:42 am From: Lynn Jones via CTBirds <ctbirds...> Subject: [CT Birds] Re: Hawk Watching in Greater New Haven (Lighthouse Park Closure)
If anyone does any hawkwatching at the Maltby Lakes site, I am more than
happy to input the data to HawkCount! When I go, from the parking lot walk
south toward rt 34 along the reservoir edge path. Right past the pump
house is a good spot to see across the water to the powerline cut, above
the trees to the north, you can peek through trees to the other reservoir,
and don't forget to turn and look south for things sneaking by. Feel free
to reach out for more information on the site.
On Wed, Sep 9, 2026 at 10:42 AM Steve Mayo via CTBirds <
<ctbirds...> wrote:
> 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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--
Lynn A. Jones
Museum Assistant
Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History
New Haven, CT
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