Morning Flight - 27 September 2014

Photo by: Glen Davis

Today was a surprisingly, spectacular flight with 48 species counted for Morning Flight. It was also extra especially challenging to stay grounded with. Birds carried on their movements in a great variety of flightlines and with erratic pacing. On the warbler front Palm Warbler (259), Northern Parula (155), American Redstart (108), and Black-and-white Warbler (82) led the charge. Northern Flicker had it's second biggest flight of the year (highest so far is 451 on Sept 23) with 235.The first three Pine Siskins of the year also now indicate that this year will see a notable influx of both this species and Purple Finch (season high of 9 today) this fall. A count of 20 Red-breasted Nuthatches bodes well for them too.

Weather and time: clear; 61–75 ºF; winds NNW at 5 mph; 0% cloud cover; very good visibility; 0652 sunrise; 4.25 hours.
 
       Morning Flight Count totals:  
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)  2
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)  2
Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  20
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)  1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  235
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)  3
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)  1
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)  41
Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus)  40     south
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)  20
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)  5
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)  3
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  6
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)  1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  24
American Pipit (Anthus rubescens)  5
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)  353
Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis)  25
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia)  82
Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina)  2
Nashville Warbler (Oreothlypis ruficapilla)  1
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)  108
Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina)  3
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana)  155
Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia)  6
Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea)  1
Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca)  2
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)  4
Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica)  1
Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata)  43
Bay-breasted/Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga castanea/striata)  8
Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens)  37
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum)  259
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  38
Prairie Warbler (Setophaga discolor)  1
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens)  13
warbler sp. (Parulinae sp.)  403
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)  2
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)  11
Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea)  9
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)  1
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)  16
Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus)  97
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)  4
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)  19
Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus)  9
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus)  3
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  22
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  12