340 Saundeks, Recent Connecticut Bird Notes. [ Ju " y 



of me. They fought continually with the Noddies that were nesting there 

 and though the terns were the aggressors in most cases, they were always 

 worsted in the encounters. The male sang in the evenings from a cactus 

 just above the cave entrance, frequently calling until it was almost dark. 



SOME RECENT CONNECTICUT BIRD NOTES. 



BY ARETAS A. SAUNDERS. 



The following notes are based on my observations in the past 

 four years in Connecticut and relate to occurrences that are un- 

 usual and especially interesting. 



Uria lomvia lomvia. Brunnich's Murre. — Four seen closely at 

 Norwalk, December 31, 1916. 



Larus delawarensis. Ring-bilied Gull. — Three of these gulls were 

 seen January 27, 1917, in Norwalk Harbor. They were feeding near one of 

 the drawbridges in company with Herring Gulls. The gulls here have been 

 fed by people until they have become exceedingly tame. These birds were 

 watched for a long time in the best of light. The markings on the bill and 

 on the tips of the primaries that distinguish the species were quite plain. 

 The difference in size was less apparent than I had expected it to be. One 

 or two gulls of this species were seen in this same spot several times in the 

 month of February. 



Larus atricilla. Laughing Gull. — This species is now becoming 

 almost common along the Connecticut shore. Others have informed me 

 of its presence since 1914. I first noted it at Grove Beach September 1, 

 1916, and have since noted it several times in summer, both at Grove 

 Beach and at Compo Cove near Westport. 



Phalacrocorax auritus auritus. Double-crested Cormorant. — A 

 flock of forty-five seen at Grove Beach May 27, 1916, and another, of 

 seventy-four, seen at the mouth of the Saugatuck River, May 19, 1917. 



Mareca americana. Baldpate. — A rather late date for this species 

 was that of a single drake seen on a small pond at Norwalk on the morning 

 of March 31 and again on April 1, 1917. 



Charitonetta albeola. Bufflehead. — The past winter and spring, 

 1916 and 1917, this species has been more abundant than I have ever seen 

 it before in Connecticut. I first noted it at Grove Beach, December 25, 

 1916, when several small flocks were seen. A few were seen all winter at 

 Norwalk and Westport, and larger flocks appeared again in the spring 

 migration from March 10 to April 7. 



