birdmeister
Well-known member
Hello All,
I have enjoyed following other BF members' ongoing threads on various subjects so much that I thought I would start one of my own. What better topic to post about than fall migration, my favorite time of the birding year?
So far it has been a bit slow, as it is still August. Shorebird migration has been going on for some time now. Unfortunately, it is a very down year viewing-wise as water levels here are very high. I have yet to see Solitary, Semipalmated, and Pectoral Sandpipers this fall, let alone rarities!
Today, though, migration was certainly apparent. After rain all day yesterday, today's north winds and no rain were a good combination. I watched the skies for about an hour around lunchtime. Probable migrants were a very high swallow sp., 36 Double-crested Cormorants, and two Monarch butterflies. A Red-shouldered Hawk was a surprise and a possible migrant, but a very early one if so.
Here is my list as reported to eBird:
36 Double-crested Cormorant
Exact count. Flocks of 28 and 8 flew over heading South. Large dark waterbirds. Wingbeats faster than Canada Goose.
4 Black Vulture
3 Turkey Vulture
1 Red-shouldered Hawk
Possibly an early migrant? Appeared overhead and circled slowly to the SE.
1 Mourning Dove
1 Chimney Swift
1 Blue Jay
1 American Crow
1 Barn Swallow
1 swallow sp.
1 Carolina Wren
2 American Robin
2 European Starling
7 Cedar Waxwing
1 Song Sparrow
1 sparrow sp.
1 Northern Cardinal
1 Common Grackle
7 Brown-headed Cowbird
1 House Finch
1 American Goldfinch
1 House Sparrow
11 passerine sp.
3 bird sp.
I am eagerly awaiting more in the days to come!
I have enjoyed following other BF members' ongoing threads on various subjects so much that I thought I would start one of my own. What better topic to post about than fall migration, my favorite time of the birding year?
So far it has been a bit slow, as it is still August. Shorebird migration has been going on for some time now. Unfortunately, it is a very down year viewing-wise as water levels here are very high. I have yet to see Solitary, Semipalmated, and Pectoral Sandpipers this fall, let alone rarities!
Today, though, migration was certainly apparent. After rain all day yesterday, today's north winds and no rain were a good combination. I watched the skies for about an hour around lunchtime. Probable migrants were a very high swallow sp., 36 Double-crested Cormorants, and two Monarch butterflies. A Red-shouldered Hawk was a surprise and a possible migrant, but a very early one if so.
Here is my list as reported to eBird:
36 Double-crested Cormorant
Exact count. Flocks of 28 and 8 flew over heading South. Large dark waterbirds. Wingbeats faster than Canada Goose.
4 Black Vulture
3 Turkey Vulture
1 Red-shouldered Hawk
Possibly an early migrant? Appeared overhead and circled slowly to the SE.
1 Mourning Dove
1 Chimney Swift
1 Blue Jay
1 American Crow
1 Barn Swallow
1 swallow sp.
1 Carolina Wren
2 American Robin
2 European Starling
7 Cedar Waxwing
1 Song Sparrow
1 sparrow sp.
1 Northern Cardinal
1 Common Grackle
7 Brown-headed Cowbird
1 House Finch
1 American Goldfinch
1 House Sparrow
11 passerine sp.
3 bird sp.
I am eagerly awaiting more in the days to come!
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