Dawn broke on day two of the Morning Flight Project with good visibility, a cool breeze from the southwest, and a smattering of landbirds putting in the ole' morning flight try. Being my first day of counting, I sure was excited to! Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were the most obvious and numerous of these, with 33 counted. The environs around the dike harbored more migrants hanging around such as about 115 Eastern Kingbirds and 3 Tennessee Warblers, all adults. Other highlights were a close-passing Black Tern, juvenile Peregrine Falcon, and the juvenile male Cooper's Hawk that greeted me before dawn. I look forward to the experiences I know to expect from the dike in the upcoming weeks. I hope to see you there with me!
Weather and time: mostly cloudy; 68–76ºF; winds southwest at 8-10 mph; visibility excellent; 0615 sunrise; 4.25 hrs.
Morning Flight Count totals:
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 33
Louisiana Waterthrush - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 2
Louisiana/Northern Waterthrush - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 4
Yellow Warbler - 4
warbler sp. - 2
Bobolink - 3 southbound
Orchard Oriole - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 2
Louisiana/Northern Waterthrush - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 4
Yellow Warbler - 4
warbler sp. - 2
Bobolink - 3 southbound
Orchard Oriole - 1
Today's full list can be viewed at: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S19494886
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| These four Laughing Gulls vying for a tasty morsel was mirrored by the efforts of the four humans (and one dog) at the dike trying the same for a songbird engaged in morning flight behavior. Photo by: Glen Davis |
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| Black Tern right over the road. Photo by: Glen Davis |
