Morning Flight, 25-27 August 2016

After two days of mostly south wind, the weather vane spun a 180 and this morning provided a really sweet flight.  30 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 581 northbound Cedar Waxwing, 31 Black-and-white Warbler, 193 American Redstart, 11 Chestnut-sided Warbler, and 54 northbound Bobolink were high numbers of the season, thus far, after 12 mornings.  Other highlights, to name just some, were Wilson's Snipe, Cape May, Yellow-rumped, Canada, Tennessee, and Prothonotary Warblers, and what might prove to be the earliest "fall" record of Purple Finch in Cape May.  

Thanks to the great crew that came to watch this morning, it was a pleasure to bird the Morning Flight with you all!

Scroll down to see the last three days!

25 August 2016
Counting period: 06:07 - 08:22 
Count type: all species
Weather (first period): wind South0, 0 % cc, max visibility, 
Observers (first period): Glen Davis

N S N S N S Great Egret    -    2    Purple Martin    -    21    Northern Waterthrush    2    -    warbler sp.    1    -    Barn Swallow    1    26    Black-and-white Warbler    1    -    Mourning Dove    8    8    Blue-gray Gnatcatcher    2    -    American Redstart    3    2    Chimney Swift    1    -    Northern Mockingbird    2    -    Yellow Warbler    1    -    Ruby-throated Hummingbird    2    -    European Starling    -    7    Red-winged Blackbird    5    31    Eastern Kingbird    3    3    American Robin    -    1    Common Grackle    -    4    Cedar Waxwing    20    7    House Finch    -    4    Indigo Bunting    1    -    Tree Swallow    -    2    American Goldfinch    -    3    Monarch    -    1

Totals: 175 individuals, 24 species, 2:15 hours Present: Ovenbird 1

26 August 2016
Counting period: 06:08 - 08:38 
Count type: all species
Weather (first period): wind SW, visibility 13000m, brandywine, cld 20, wind 6mph
Observers (first period): Tom Reed

N S N S N S Great Blue Heron *    1    -    Ruby-throated Hummingbird    2    4    American Redstart    2    -    Great White Egret    3    3    Belted Kingfisher    -    1    Yellow Warbler    1    -    Snowy Egret    -    2    Cedar Waxwing    18    -    Bobolink *    3    41    Brown Pelican    1    -    Tree Swallow    2    5    Baltimore Oriole    1    -    Double-crested Cormorant    1    -    Purple Martin    -    1    Red-winged Blackbird    -    11    warbler sp.    -    3    Swallow    -    72    Common Grackle    -    4    Hudsonian Whimbrel *    1    -    Blue-grey Gnatcatcher    5    -    Monarch    -    3    Western/Semipalmated Sandpiper *    2    -    Starling    29    -    Red-spotted Purple    -    1    Ring-billed Gull *    1    -    American Goldfinch    3    -    Common Green Darner    4    1    Mourning Dove    6    1    Louisiana/Northern Waterthrush    1    1       Chimney Swift    4    2    Northern Waterthrush    -    1

Totals: 248 individuals, 31 species, 2:30 hours Present: Cooper's Hawk 1, Bald Eagle 2, Least Sandpiper 2, Royal Tern 1, Red-bellied Woodpecker 1, Downy Woodpecker 2, Great Crested Flycatcher 1, House Finch 2, American Goldfinch 1, Common Yellowthroat 1, Blue Grosbeak 1

Today, and the season so far:

Species	27 Aug 2016		Season total		Season maximum
	North	South	North	South	North only	Date(s)
American Goldfinch	12	7	36	20	12	8/27/2016
American Redstart	193	0	425	8	193	8/27/2016
American Robin	0	3	15	9	5	8/23/2016
Baltimore Oriole	16	0	73	3	47	8/23/2016
Bank Swallow	0	5	1	13	1	8/22/2016
Barn Swallow	30	3	174	696	67	8/19/2016
Black-and-white Warbler	31	2	67	6	31	8/27/2016
Black-throated Blue Warbler	6	0	7	0	6	8/27/2016
Black-throated Green Warbler	4	0	4	0	4	8/27/2016
Blackburnian Warbler	4	0	5	1	4	8/27/2016
Blue Grosbeak	2	0	2	0	2	8/27/2016
Blue-grey Gnatcatcher	29	0	101	14	34	8/23/2016
Blue-winged Warbler	2	0	6	0	2	8/27/2016
Bobolink	54	0	132	241	54	8/27/2016
Brown-headed Cowbird	4	53	5	95	4	8/27/2016
Canada Warbler	1	0	1	0	1	8/27/2016
Cape May Warbler	5	1	6	1	5	8/27/2016
Cedar Waxwing	581	12	1031	78	581	8/27/2016
Chestnut-sided Warbler	11	0	13	0	11	8/27/2016
Chimney Swift	1	1	20	16	10	8/19/2016
Common Grackle	0	1	10	32	9	8/23/2016
Eastern Kingbird	295	3	1167	510	487	8/22/2016
Eastern Red Bat	0	1	0	1	0
European Starling	0	25	72	132	29	8/26/2016
Great Crested Flycatcher	1	0	2	1	1	8/23/2016 8/27/2016
House Finch	5	0	75	18	42	8/20/2016
Indigo Bunting	3	0	7	0	3	8/27/2016
Killdeer	0	1	0	9	0
Magnolia Warbler	3	0	5	0	3	8/27/2016
Monarch	0	6	2	13	2	8/23/2016
Mourning Dove	25	13	224	118	42	8/23/2016
Northern Flicker	2	1	2	2	2	8/27/2016
Northern Waterthrush	6	1	53	11	12	8/20/2016
Prairie Warbler	5	0	15	0	5	8/23/2016 8/27/2016
Prothonotary Warbler	1	0	3	1	1	8/16/2016 8/19/2016 8/27/2016
Purple Finch	1	0	1	0	1	8/27/2016
Purple Martin	88	0	186	74	88	8/27/2016
Red-breasted Nuthatch	30	3	40	3	30	8/27/2016
Red-eyed Vireo	2	0	4	0	2	8/23/2016 8/27/2016
Red-winged Blackbird	59	220	929	2194	334	8/19/2016
Ring-billed Gull	2	0	3	0	2	8/27/2016
Ruby-throated Hummingbird	4	0	13	5	4	8/27/2016
Tennessee Warbler	2	0	2	0	2	8/27/2016
warbler sp.	36	0	102	8	36	8/27/2016
Wilson's Snipe	2	0	2	0	2	8/27/2016
Yellow Warbler	11	2	48	2	31	8/23/2016
Yellow-rumped Warbler	0	1	0	1	0

Morning Flight, 23-24 August 2016

Two previous nights of conditions conducive for migration, but perhaps not quite perfect for getting birds on the Cape, brought new arrivals and building numbers.  Cape May, Magnolia, and Black-throated Blue Warblers were new on Tuesday, and Red-breasted Nuthatches have truly announced their intentions of irruptive migration this autumn with no less than 9 individuals. 

One nuthatch in the third hour on Tuesday was extra inquisitive and flew around us atop the Higbee Dike.  Red-breasted Nuthatches are often easy to entice with pishing and imitations of their cute, squeaky voice--  "Meep meep, nert nert nurt, griff griff, etc!"  Well this particular nuthatch really liked the imitations approached with 2 feet of my shoulder 4 times!  After two minutes of bouncing around us it returned to the south treeline, when suddenly an early Merlin burst into pursuit.  The little "nert nert" got away, but I will be much more careful when speaking Nuthatch-ese next time!

23 August 2016

Counting period: 06:05 - 06:21 & 06:20 - 09:20 
Count type: all species
Weather (first period): wind NE3, temperature 19 ℃, 0 % cc, max viz, I visitor
Observers (first period): Glen Davis

N S N S N S Great Egret    2    -    Tree Swallow    2    -    American Redstart    132    1    Snowy Egret    7    1    Purple Martin    79    -    Cape May Warbler    1    -    warbler sp.    35    -    Barn Swallow    15    13    Northern Parula    1    -    Semipalmated Plover    -    1    Blue-gray Gnatcatcher    34    1    Magnolia Warbler    1    -    Killdeer    -    1    Red-breasted Nuthatch    9    -    Blackburnian Warbler    1    -    Short-billed Dowitcher    -    1    Northern Mockingbird    4    1    Yellow Warbler    31    -    Greater Yellowlegs    -    5    European Starling    7    13    Black-throated Blue Warbler    1    -    Semipalmated Sandpiper    -    2    American Robin    5    1    Prairie Warbler    5    -    Black Tern    -    1    House Finch    14    -    Bobolink    42    25    Mourning Dove    42    6    American Goldfinch    11    2    Baltimore Oriole    47    -    Chimney Swift    1    -    Ovenbird    1    -    Orchard Oriole    2    -    Merlin *    -    1    Worm-eating Warbler    2    -    Red-winged Blackbird    317    397    Eastern Kingbird    206    3    Louisiana/Northern Waterthrush    1    -    Brown-headed Cowbird    -    11    Great Crested Flycatcher    1    -    Northern Waterthrush    8    1    Common Grackle    9    2    Red-eyed Vireo    2    -    Blue-winged Warbler    1    -    Monarch    2    2    Cedar Waxwing    192    12    Black-and-white Warbler    15    -

Totals: 1792 individuals, 47 species, 3:16 hours Present: House Wren 1

Wednesday, 24 August 2016

Counting period: 06:06 - 08:21 
Count type: all species
Weather (first period): wind SE0, temperature 19 ℃, 0% cc, max viz
Observers (first period): Glen Davis

N S N S N S Tricolored Heron *    1    -    Barn Swallow    1    136    Black-and-white Warbler    2    -    Snowy Egret    4    -    Blue-gray Gnatcatcher    2    -    American Redstart    16    1    warbler sp.    6    -    Red-breasted Nuthatch    1    -    Yellow Warbler    4    -    Solitary Sandpiper    -    1    European Starling    -    2    Prairie Warbler    1    -    Turnstone    -    2    American Robin    -    1    Bobolink    -    1    Mourning Dove    16    17    House Sparrow    -    3    Baltimore Oriole    3    3    Ruby-throated Hummingbird    2    -    American Goldfinch    1    1    Orchard Oriole    1    -    Eastern Kingbird    8    48    Ovenbird    3    -    Red-winged Blackbird    31    1    Cedar Waxwing    5    4    Northern Waterthrush    6    2    Common Grackle    -    4    Purple Martin    3    -    Louisiana/Northern Waterthrush    2    -    Monarch    -    1

Totals: 347 individuals, 30 species, 2:15 hours Present: Eastern Kingbird 30

Morning Flight, 22 August 2016

The count was made today in a cool, gusty atmosphere that was so delightful to feel, contrasting with August's typical weather catalog.  Powerful ~20 mph winds were brought to bear across the region last night, perhaps a little too strong to produce full Neotropical splendor, that is-- large diversity and numbers of long-distance migrants.  Or was it perhaps the lingering precipitation in a large zone in the northeast that could have somewhat squelched large lift-off-headed-our-way?

Barn Swallow may arguably be the longest distance passerine migrant in the world ("passerine" = Phylum Passeriformes = songbirds).  At least their summer and winter ranges stretch farthest north and south, and they totally command aerial respect.  They are amazingly efficient physically and physiologically.  Today was the only day so far with very strong winds and also the only day where all swallow movement was north at Morning Flight.  Hmm...  perhaps the "Barnies" were drifting or trying to avoid drifting out over the ocean and following the geographic contours of the Cape May Peninsula?  Eastern Kingbird, Cedar Waxwing, and Bobolink shared the flight-lines with the swallows today.  Could they have been up to something similar?

EDIT**--  I forgot-- Massive Kudos!! to Richard Crossley and Tom Johnson for their skill with our lovely Lark Sparrow this AM.  -GD

Conditions are looking terrific for another try tonight!  Get ready for LIFT-OFF!!!

Species	Monday, 22 AUG		Season total		Season maximum
	North	South	North	South	North only	Date(s)
American Goldfinch	3	0	9	7	3	8/16/2016 8/22/2016
American Redstart	14	0	79	4	45	8/20/2016
American Robin	3	0	10	3	4	8/19/2016
Baltimore Oriole	1	0	6	0	5	8/19/2016
Bank Swallow	1	0	1	8	1	8/22/2016
Barn Swallow	46	1	127	446	67	8/19/2016
Black-and-white Warbler	1	1	18	4	7	8/19/2016
Bobolink	11	0	33	174	11	8/22/2016
Bonaparte's Gull	1	0	1	0	1	8/22/2016
Cedar Waxwing	211	0	215	43	211	8/22/2016
Eastern Kingbird	487	7	655	453	487	8/22/2016
European Starling	10	0	36	85	19	8/20/2016
Great Egret	0	2	20	24	14	8/20/2016
Killdeer	0	2	0	7	0
Lark Sparrow	1	0	1	0	1	8/22/2016
Least Sandpiper	0	7	1	11	1	8/16/2016
Louisiana/Northern Waterthrush	3	0	9	2	3	8/19/2016 8/20/2016 8/22/2016
Mourning Dove	20	0	127	73	33	8/20/2016
Northern Parula	1	1	1	1	1	8/22/2016
Northern Waterthrush	4	1	31	6	12	8/20/2016
Orchard Oriole	1	0	1	0	1	8/22/2016
Prairie Warbler	1	0	4	0	2	8/19/2016
Purple Martin	10	0	16	52	10	8/22/2016
Red-winged Blackbird	34	23	517	1534	334	8/19/2016
Ruby-throated Hummingbird	0	1	3	1	2	8/19/2016
Semipalmated Plover	3	1	3	7	3	8/22/2016
Tree Swallow	2	0	4	4	2	8/19/2016 8/22/2016
warbler sp.	5	0	24	5	11	8/20/2016
Western/Semipalmated Sandpiper	0	6	0	6	0

Morning Flight, 18-21 August 2016

Today was day 6 of the season and significantly the slowest morning so far.  The present season totals as well as today's small count are posted below.  We are looking forward to the strong cold front that is on it's way.  The next few days should be very good birding!

	2016	21 Aug
Mourning Dove	248	9
Yellow-billed Cuckoo	1
Chimney Swift	28
Belted Kingfisher	3
Bank Swallow	10
Tree Swallow	8
Barn Swallow	653	23
Cedar Waxwing	107
Northern Mockingbird	5
American Robin	20
Starling	166
Red-eyed Vireo	0
House Finch	90
Black-and-white Warbler	50
Tennessee Warbler	1
Northern Parula	1
Pine Warbler	3
American Redstart	233
Northern Waterthrush	151
Louisiana/Northern Waterthrush	25
Louisiana Waterthrush	7
Song Sparrow	0
Indigo Bunting	4
Bobolink	423
Baltimore Oriole	7
Yellow Warbler	124
Red-bellied Woodpecker	0
Field Sparrow	0
Downy Woodpecker	0
White-eyed Vireo	0
Black-throated Green Warbler	2
Common Grackle	20
Blue-winged Warbler	4
Least Flycatcher	1
Great Crested Flycatcher	1
Blackburnian Warbler	1
Prairie Warbler	4
Northern Flicker	1
Chestnut-sided Warbler	2
American Goldfinch	31
Worm-eating Warbler	2
Willow Flycatcher	0
Purple Martin	94	1
Blue Grosbeak	0
Prothonotary Warbler	5
Ruby-throated Hummingbird	6
Red-winged Blackbird	2119
Eastern Kingbird	763	9
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	120
warbler sp.	105
Empidonax sp.	1
Brown-headed Cowbird	228