Morning Flight - 27 October 2012

With East winds picking up in advance of Hurricane Sandy, today's morning flight was sparsely attended.  However, nothing seems to deter the robins (1312), which were aloft and moving about, heading both north (counted) and south (not counted).  The highlight of the morning was a single Blue-headed Vireo and Field Sparrow, both rare species detected taking part in morning flight here.    

Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1
Blue-headed Vireo - 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 4

American Robin - 1312
American Pipit - 2

Cedar Waxwing - 104

Yellow-rumped Warbler - 113

Palm Warbler - 3
Blackpoll Warbler - 1

Field Sparrow - 1

Eastern Meadowlark - 2
Purple Finch - 16

Pine Siskin - 7

Total = 1567

Other highlights included the first scaup sp. (5) of the fall, American Oystercatcher (1), Northern Rough-winged Swallows (3), and Barn Swallow (1).  Thanks to a tip, I walked out to the end of the south jetty at the Cape May Canal and was pleased to find three Purple Sandpipers there (among the first returnees to Cape Island this fall).