Morning Flight, Thursday 5 October and Saturday 7 October 2017

This week continued with small-ish arrivals of songbirds and pretty small morning flight responses but things seemed to be ramping up throughout the period. Yesterday Melissa experienced a high and delayed flight in multiple directions and that effect continued and only grew in effect today. The past two nights of light south wind likely created conditions for the birds to come in from the north at a high altitude and under a clear ceiling, making for a flight that is high and dispersed-- feeling magical and bewildering all at the same time. ~250 warblers of 12 species flew almost entirely south. Most birds were spotted high and some were even seen descending in altitude as they tracked their way mostly due south. The flightlines occurred across the visible/detectable area and started soon after sunrise. These observed behaviors show that an onward migration from the night through daybreak was the main mode of migration for landbirds this time. 

Today it turned out that many young birders came from Maryland, Delaware, and NJ to see and enjoy Cape May birding. It was great to see Jerald, Dan, Patrick, Jasper, and everyone else!

Check out the list below to see the nice breakdown of species and numbers. 
http://www.trektellen.org/count/view/1746/20171007

Back during the nice flight on 2 October, Doug Gochfeld came and caught these AMAZING shots... enjoy!

Black-and-white Warbler

Adult Bay-breasted Warbler, "Old Bay" feathers at its sides (thanks Tait for that metaphor) coming...

and going! Look at all that bay, as it looks at Delaware Bay.

Northern Parula getting chased by a Connecticut Warbler

but little parulas are tough!

Pine Warbler