Morning Flight – 24 October 2014

A strong northwest wind greeted birds and birders at the Higbee Dike this morning. A look at the overnight radar revealed that there were likely more birds leaving Cape May than arriving, but we still enjoyed a lovely flight during the first 90 minutes of daylight. Kinglets were a definite highlight, with several Ruby-crowneds flying within inches of our faces at times.


Weather: partly sunny, winds NW 15-20mph, 55-57ºF, visibility excellent.

Morning Flight totals:
Northern Flicker – 27
Red-breasted Nuthatch – 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet – 12
Ruby-crowned Kinglet – 120
kinglet, sp. – 21
American Robin – 95
American Pipit – 20
Cedar Waxwing – 19
Northern Parula – 3
Black-throated Blue Warbler – 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler – 1,054
Palm Warbler – 22
Blackpoll Warbler – 1
Blackpoll/Bay-breasted Warbler – 1
Northern Waterthrush – 1
warbler, sp. – 12
Chipping Sparrow – 5
Savannah Sparrow – 1
Dark-eyed Junco – 1
Indigo Bunting – 1
Eastern Meadowlark – 12
Rusty Blackbird – 12
Purple Finch – 67
Pine Siskin – 132
House Finch – 16
American Goldfinch – 21