Morning Flight - 6 October 2012

With moderate winds from the S/SW, the predominant flight direction was not north today (most warblers were flying into the wind).  Thus, the net warbler gain for Cape Island was actually positive for a change, as more Yellow-rumped Warblers arrived than departed.  Nevertheless, there were a few birds that bucked the trend and headed against traffic, including 235 warblers of 11 species.

This has already been a banner fall for Pine Siskins in Cape May, as this species is uncommonly tallied in large numbers at Morning Flight.  In fact, although the season average is 138, this is primarily due to a record-setting 800 in 2010.  Only one other year has broken triple-digits (274 in 2008).  Thus, 2012's 329 Pine Siskins (all since 9/30) is already a notable season total!

Red-bellied Woodpecker - 6
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 2

Northern Flicker - 38
Eastern Phoebe - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 1

Red-breasted Nuthatch - 10
White-breasted Nuthatch - 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1

American Robin - 28

Cedar Waxwing - 83
Tennessee Warbler - 1
Northern Parula - 18
Cape May Warbler - 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 3

Yellow-rumped Warbler - 122

Palm Warbler - 20
Bay-breasted Warbler - 1

Blackpoll Warbler - 2
Black-and-white Warbler - 2
American Redstart - 2

Northern Waterthrush - 2

warbler sp. - 60
Indigo Bunting - 5

Eastern Meadowlark - 4
Purple Finch - 1
Pine Siskin - 85

Total = 500

Red-bellied Woodpecker (Photo by Sam Galick)

Eastern Meadowlark (Photo by Sam Galick)

Pine Siskin (Photo by Sam Galick)

Grapevine Leaf - this is a cautionary tale about the dangers of
becoming overly trigger-happy at Morning Flight: you end up with photos of
passing leaves! (Photo by Sam Galick)