Highlights: Snowy Owl

Overall activity has been slow, but some good northern birds were around yesterday and today. The 4th Snowy Owl of the season spent a few hours at the Point yesterday. Unlike the previous three, this Snowy was a very heavily marked bird. Other sightings included; Northern Shrike, Cedar and Bohemian Waxwings, Red and White-winged Crossbills, Pine and Evening Grosbeaks, and Common Redpoll.

Cedar Waxwings &

Bohemian Waxwing (left)

Pine Grosbeak

The waterbird shack &

snow on the Canadian hills

Highlights: Rough-legged Hawk

Common Redpolls came through in good numbers today, otherwise the flight was slow. Both Red and White-winged Crossbills came through in modest numbers. Other sightings included; Brown Creeper, Cedar Waxwing, Snow Bunting, and American Tree Sparrow.

Common Redpoll

I don't know if this guy was eating a carcass

or if he was injured.

November 9

Highlights: Snowy Owl

A Snowy Owl spent a little time out at the tip before heading out across the bay. There were lots of snow squalls and strong winds today. The weather made for a slow birding day, but there were some birds around. Sightings included; Bohemian and Cedar Waxwings, Snow Bunting, Common Redpoll, and White-winged Crossbill.

Bohemian Waxwing

Highlights: Bohemian Waxwing

The warm weather continued and the flight remained relatively slow. The only real change from the last few days was the appearance of the first Bohemian Waxwings of the season. Other sightings included; Northern Goshawk, Northern Shrike, Golden-crowned Kinglet, White-winged Crossbill, and Common Yellowthroat. There was also a Black-backed Woodpecker just west of Wildcat Beach State Park this afternoon.

Highlights: Red Crossbill

As anyone in the region knows, we have been experience very warm weather for November and lots of south winds. While the flight has slowed a bit which each passing day, we continue to have a finch flight. Today there was a flock of about 30 Red Crossbills, and we continue to have daily sightings of Pine and Evening Grosbeaks, Purple Finch, Pine Siskin, White-winged Crossbill, Common Redpoll and American Goldfinch. Other sightings over the last few days have included; Bald Eagle, Rough-legged and Red-tailed Hawks, Northern Goshawk, Cedar Waxwing, and American Tree Sparrow.

Northern Shrike
White-winged Crossbill

Highlights: Snowy Owl

A Snowy Owl spent the day out at the tip, spending most of its time sleeping. It became active at dusk and was working its way down the bayshore. The Lark Sparrow found yesterday was still present at the feeders. Overall migration was relatively slow today. However, there was a decent Common Redpoll movement. Other sightings included; Cedar Waxwing, Pine & Evening Grosbeaks, and White-winged Crossbill.

Highlights: Lark Sparrow (above)

A Lark Sparrow was at the feeders this morning, and was still present as of this afternoon. A Northern Shrike was making regular raids on the feeders throughout the late morning and afternoon. The finch flight slowed a bit compared to yesterday, but Common Redpoll numbers picked up a bit. Other sightings today included; Rough-legged Hawk, Northern Goshawk, Cedar Waxwing, Pine and Evening Grosbeaks.

Northern Shrike

Highlights: Northern Cardinals

&

Short-eared Owl

It was an absolutely beautiful, crisp November day. Tim had a Short-eared Owl come in off the lake first thing this morning. A male and a female Northern Cardinal found their way to the feeders in the late morning. As people familiar with the flight at the Point know, some days the birds mill around to the extent that it becomes very difficult to put a number on the birds. Today was one of those days, but there was surely well over 1,000 Pine Siskin, over 300 American Goldfinch, and around 125 White-winged Crossbill. Common Redpoll numbers increased a bit, and there were again Pine and Evening Grosbeaks present. Two Northern Shrikes headed out over the lake in the afternoon. Other sightings included; Bald Eagle, Rough-legged Hawk, Merlin, Great Black-backed Gull, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Snow Bunting, American Tree Sparrow, and Lapland Longspur.

Common Redpoll

Pine Siskin

Red-breasted Merganser

Highlights: Ancient Murrelet

&

Harlequin Duck

Tim had the best birds of the day out at the waterbird count. A Harlequin Duck flew up the lakeside shoreline, then spent a few hours out on the bay. An Ancient Murrelet gave us pretty decent looks as it flew by at a reasonably close distance in the afternoon. It was another good finch flight, with good numbers of Pine Siskin, Purple Finch, American Goldfinch, and the best White-winged Crossbill flight of the fall to date. Other sightings included; Black Scoter, Cedar Waxwing, Pine and Evening Grosbeaks, and Common Redpoll. Quite a few of the finches were bathing in the Foghorn Pond this afternoon. We also had a Northern Shrike finishing up a songbird meal at the river mouth this evening.

White-winged Crossbill

American Goldfinch & Pine Siskin

Common Redpoll & Pine Siskin

American Tree Sparrow

Cedar Waxwing & Pine Siskin

Northern Shrike

Highlights: Pine Grosbeak

We continued to get blasted with high winds today. There was again a decent finch flight, with a bit of an increase in White-winged Crossbill and American Goldfinch numbers. We're definitely getting a lot of practice at identifying finches in flight. Other sightings today included; Northern Goshawk, Cedar Waxwing, Rusty Blackbird, and Snow Bunting.

Northern Goshawk

Pine Grosbeak

White-winged Crossbill

Another shot of yesterday's Snowy Owl

Highlights: Snowy Owl

Don Jennette, Tom Wheeker, Tim, and I were standing at the waterbird shack when Don very calmly said, "would anybody want to see a Snowy Owl?" The owl had snuck in on us and was sitting out at the tip, priceless. High winds kept songbird migration relatively low today. Sightings included; Pine Grosbeak, Common Redpoll, White-winged Crossbill, Pine Siskin, Purple Finch, and Merlin.

Highlights: Northern Shrike

The songbird migration was slowed by today's snow squalls, but there was still some activity in the woods. Small numbers of Pine Siskin, Purple Finch, and White-winged Crossbill were still moving, and several Yellow-rumped Warblers and a Palm Warbler were seen. Other sightings included; Ruffed Grouse, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Tree Sparrow, and Evening Grosbeak.

Black Scoter

White-winged Crossbill

Yellow-rumped Warbler with moth

Red-breasted Nuthatch

I know what your thinking,"Isn't Chris from Philly?", "Don't the Phillies have a chance to win the world series tonight?", "Gee, I hope that won't effect his effort on the blog tonight."
I would never let that happen. Uh, the Phils have the bases loaded in the first.

Highlights: Cattle Egret (above)

A Cattle Egret spent much of the morning at the harbor, this is just the 3rd record of this species for the Point. Efforts to relocate the egret in the afternoon and again in the evening were unsuccessful. Activity around the woods was particularly slow today. Sightings included; Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, American Tree Sparrow, Pine Siskin, Purple Finch, and White-winged Crossbill.

Horned Grebe

We were saddened by the news that Paradise resident Linda Roberts died last night. Linda added more local flavor than anyone I have known up here. I will miss her and the sound of her shooting from the O. K. Corral, her house down Wildcat Road

Highlights: Northern Shrike (above)

While the finch flight slowed down a bit today, Pine Siskin, Purple Finch, Red and White-winged Crossbill, and Evening Grosbeak were seen. After not being seen for a a few days, there were several Yellow-rumped Warblers today. Northern Goshawks continue to be seen in the woods and making sweeps over the beach at the tip. Hundreds of Snow Bunting continue to be seen daily, and Tim had a few Lapland Longspurs today. Other sightings included; Rough-legged Hawk, Brown Creeper, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Cedar Waxwing, and American Tree Sparrow. It looks like we're going to get blasted with our first taste of winter over the next few days......oh yay.

Northern Goshawk, adult

Northern Goshawk, juvenile

Highlights: Dickcissel (above)

After not being seen for a few days, a Dickcissel reappeared at the feeders. There was also a report of multiple Dickcissels seen at the feeders a couple of days ago. There was no real change in the woods today, but the big finch flight continued. Multiple Northern Goshawks were seen, including an adult. While we have seen a few Common Redpolls, and Pine and Evening Grosbeaks over the last few days, we're still waiting for their numbers to increase and for the first Bohemian Waxwings to arrive.

Highlights: Northern Cardinal

A male Northern Cardinal, a good bird here, was seen briefly this morning. There was another big finch flight this morning. In less than 45 minutes over 200 Purple Finch and 700 Pine Siskins passed the hawk platform. Snow Buntings also continued to occur in good numbers. Other sightings included; Northern Goshawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, American Tree Sparrow, White-winged Crossbill, and Evening Grosbeak.

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Northern Goshawk

Highlights: Black-backed Woodpecker (above), &

Pine Grosbeak

There was another big finch flight today. Hundreds of Pine Siskins and Purple Finch, along with smaller numbers of White-winged and Red Crossbills, and American Goldfinch came through today. Tim also had some Common Redpolls out at the tip today. A single Pine Grosbeak was seen yesterday, and several more were seen today. Snow Buntings were regularly coming in off the lake. I was out along the lake shore a few miles from the tip this evening and the Snow Buntings were still coming in at sunset. Other sightings included; Ruffed Grouse, Bald Eagle, Winter Wren, and Rusty Blackbird.

White-winged Crossbill

Purple Finch

Downy Woodpecker having a bad hair day.

Highlights: Northern Shrikes (above)

Two Northern Shrikes were drawn in by the Merlin pole today. Snow Bunting numbers picked up, and Horned Lark and Lapland Longspur continue out on the beach. A strong northeast wind blew all day, and the waterfowl flight slowed down significantly from yesterday. Long-tailed Duck numbers actually picked up a bit, but all other waterfowl species essentially trickled through. Waterfowl species seen were Greater Scaup, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Red-throated and Common Loon, and White-winged, Surf, and Black Scoters. A couple Bald Eagles were seen, and a young Northern Goshawk made several sweeps of the beach this afternoon. Tim should be back for the waterbird tomorrow.

Northern Goshawk

Northern Goshawk & Snow Buntings

Bald Eagle