8/29 migration

Swainson's Thrush

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

The highlight in the woods today was a Yellow-billed Cuckoo. The woods were pretty active, but most of that activity was Yellow-rumped Warblers. Swainson's Thrushes remain in good numbers with 17 seen today. Other notable species include Golden-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, White-crowned Sparrow, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

Warbler species(9): Nashville-4, Black-throated Blue-1, Yellow-rumped-25, Black-throated Green-1, Palm-3, Blackpoll-1, American Redstart-2, Common Yellowthroat-3, and Wilson's-2.

8/28 migration

There was decent activity in the woods early this morning, but as soon as it started getting hot out, it became quite dead.

Highlights: Northern Goshawk, Pileated Woodpecker, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Swainson's Thrushes, Lincoln's Sparrow, and a Red Crossbill.

Warbler species(7): Nashville-3, Northern Parula-1, Yellow-rumped-5, Black-throated Green-1, Palm-1, Blackpoll-2, and Common Yellowthroat-5.

8/27 migration

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

The woods were quite active again, although things were more spread out. Warbler diversity remains good, with 10 species today. Swainson's Thrushes were present in high numbers with at least 13 at the point. Other thrushes were quite skittish and flew off before they could be identified.

Highlights: Northern Goshawk, Philadelphia Vireo, Brown Creeper, 5 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Swainson's Thrush, and 5 Lincoln's Sparrows.

Warbler species(10): Nashville-3, Northern Parula-1, Cape May-1, Yellow-rumped-30, Black-throated Green-2, Palm-3, Blackpoll-2, Northern Waterthrush-1, Common Yellowthroat-3, and Wilson's-3

FYI

I just wanted to let everyone know that this blog may not be updated daily depending on staffing but I will be giving a quick rundown of what is seen each day in the woods at the end of the Waterbird Count blog which hopefully will suffice when we can't give a full day's rundown here.

Thanks,

Scott

Recent migration

Things have really picked up in the woods this past week, including 21 species of warbler between the past 2 days and today. Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Swainson's Thrush, Philadelphia and Red-eyed Vireos, and Common Nighthawks are some of the more recent arrivals. There continues to be a decent variety of raptors around the point, including a Goshawk.

Warblers today include: Tennessee, Nashville, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Cape May, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Pine, Palm, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, Black-and-white, A. Redstart, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson's, and Canada.

8/13 migration

Not much today, and no evening count was conducted. Just 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper and 6 Least Sandpipers.

8/12 migration

The woods weren't covered today, but it didn't seem like much was going on in them from the walks to the shack. Waterfowl were slow this morning, but there was a decent variety of shorebirds. This morning:

Common Loon-1
Red-necked Grebe-6
Great Blue Heron-1
Ruddy Turnstone-1
Sanderling-4
Semipalmated Sandpiper-2
Least Sandpiper-8
Caspian Tern-1
Tern Sp.-1

This evening Red-necked Grebes really moved again, as did the fog. Within 10 minutes the visibility went from 30 km to barely seeing just past the shack at around 9:00.

Red-necked Grebe-140
Waterbird Sp.-14

8/10 and 8/11 migration

Ruddy Turnstone

8/10-Not much around-No shorebirds or waterfowl, led to the 'bird of the day' being a Palm Warbler. Very foggy for some of the day as well.

8/11-Hawk diversity has been pretty good this week, and 4 species were seen today. Another slow day for waterfowl, but shorebirds were excellent. This morning:

Dabbler Sp.-1

Common Loon-3

Red-necked Grebe-1

Piping Plover-3

Spotted Sandpiper-1

Ruddy Turnstone-1

Sanderling-5

Semipalmated Sandpiper-2

Least Sandpiper-16

Baird's Sandpiper-1

Not much time was spent at the point this evening, due to rain, but most of the shorebirds above were still around, with an additional Sanderling. No waterfowl were seen.

8/9 migration

The woods were slow today, along with waterfowl, but there was a good variety of shorebirds.

This morning:

Double-crested Cormorant-4
Great Blue Heron-1
Semipalmated Plover-2
Least Sandpiper-1
Baird's Sandpiper-1
Bonaparte's Gull-4

This evening:

Common Loon-2
Red-necked Grebe-6
Sanderling-5
Semipalmated Sandpiper-1
Shorebird Sp.-1

8/8 migration

There was pretty good activity in the woods today, with a decent variety of warblers, including at least 15 Palm. Waterbirds were pretty slow this morning:

Common Loon-3

Red-necked Grebe-1
Great Blue Heron-1
Baird's Sandpiper-2
Short-billed Dowitcher-1
Bonaparte's Gull-1

It was better this evening:

Common Loon-1
Red-necked Grebe-47
Grebe Sp.-2
Killdeer-1
Sanderling-7
Bonaparte's Gull-1

8/7 migration

Pretty slow in the woods today. Highlights today were 10 Red Crossbills, 1 Palm Warbler, 1 Harrier, and 1 Kestrel. Another couple of hours were spent this morning at the shack and almost everything was migrating by at the horizon and couldn't be identified. This morning:

Mallard-1
Common Loon-2
Red-necked Grebe-1
Waterbird sp.-58
Sanderling-2
Baird's Sandpiper-3
Spotted Sandpiper-1
Bonaparte's Gull-1

Things were much closer late this evening and the following were seen:

Red-necked Grebe-80
Waterbird Sp.-5
Sanderling-2(different from the morning)

This summer and past week's migration

Lesser Yellowlegs

Sanderling

Willets

Another year of nesting Piping Plovers was nice, with 4 successfully fledged chicks, 3 of which survived the summer. There were a few unusual/uncommon sightings this summer at the point including a Whimbrel in mid-June, a White-crowned Sparrow several times in July, 4 Willets on July 2, a Black-billed Cuckoo throughout July, Red Crossbills a couple of times in July, a Cape May Warbler on July 10, Common Loons throughout July, a Palm Warbler on July 21, a Woodcock, Cape May Warbler, Palm Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, and 2 Baltimore Orioles on July 22, a Tennessee Warbler on July 23, a White-winged Scoter and 6 warbler species on July 26, a Woodcock and House Wren on August 4, and a Bonaparte's Gull yesterday. The beginning of fall migration appeared to start on July 22 here, with a good number and diversity of species. This past week there have been 5-7 warbler species each day, and usually a couple species of shorebirds. Some of the shorebirds this past week include Lesser Yellowlegs, Sanderling, Semipalmated Sandpiper, American Golden-Plover, Least Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Ruddy Turnstone, and Killdeer.

With migration obviously taking place, a few hours were spent this morning at the waterbird shack and the following migrants were seen:

White-winged Scoter-1
Common Loon-5
Red-necked Grebe~170
Double-crested Cormorant-5
Waterbird sp.-20
Least Sandpiper-1
Semipalmated Sandpiper-1