This year's second five-digit flight was overwhelmingly a one-man show: Yellow-rumped Warblers (11,889) broke 10,000 for the first time this year, flying solidly throughout the morning. And with the exception of Blackpoll Warbler (114), which staged another impressive late-season flight, very few other warblers joined the mass exodus, despite recording ten warbler species. I was particularly surprised by the dearth of Northern Parulas (3) and Palm Warbles (15; both species that flew in triple-digits on 10/11); perhaps the strong, gusty Northwest winds culled out these weaker fliers. It has been an exceptional year for Blackpoll Warblers at Morning Flight, with a cumulative season total of 2374, well above the season average (1462) and the best yearly count to date.
Interestingly, aside from a local Downy Woodpecker or two, I didn't even see another woodpecker in 4+ hours this morning. Virtually the only other birds taking on the wind were nuthatches and finches, with another good Purple Finch (68) flight today.
Eastern Phoebe - 4
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 43
White-breasted Nuthatch - 4
Brown Creeper - 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
Interestingly, aside from a local Downy Woodpecker or two, I didn't even see another woodpecker in 4+ hours this morning. Virtually the only other birds taking on the wind were nuthatches and finches, with another good Purple Finch (68) flight today.
Eastern Phoebe - 4
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 43
White-breasted Nuthatch - 4
Brown Creeper - 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
American Robin - 60
American Pipit - 8
American Pipit - 8
Cedar Waxwing - 25
Tennessee Warbler - 3
Nashville Warbler - 6
Northern Parula - 3
Cape May Warbler - 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 3
Tennessee Warbler - 3
Nashville Warbler - 6
Northern Parula - 3
Cape May Warbler - 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 11,889
Black-throated Green Warbler - 1
Black-throated Green Warbler - 1
Palm Warbler - 15
Blackpoll Warbler - 114
Blackpoll Warbler - 114
American Redstart - 1
warbler sp. - 1311
Chipping Sparrow - 2
White-throated Sparrow - 1
Dark-eyed Junco - 1
Eastern Meadowlark - 3
Purple Finch - 68
White-throated Sparrow - 1
Dark-eyed Junco - 1
Eastern Meadowlark - 3
Purple Finch - 68
Pine Siskin - 226
Total = 13,795
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| White-breasted Nuthatch (Photo by Doug Gochfeld) |
