View from the Field: Morning Flight

Today and yesterday were once again slower days on the dike. South winds and warm temperatures in general are obviously not ideal for fall migration, but there can still be good amounts of birds moving in these conditions if a recent cold front brought in birds that are still migrating through the area (which is what was happening at the very beginning of the count). Since we haven’t had a cold front in over a week now, we’re at the very tail end of that cycle, essentially relying on whatever birds feel like moving in the early season and on these suboptimal conditions. But such is the nature of actively monitoring migration! We have to make do with what’s right in front of us and” concentrate on the moment,” as Qui Gon Jinn would say.

And what better birds to concentrate on than Barn Swallows, possibly one of the most classically recognizable birds in the world, which moved past the dike in decent numbers this morning. When an early morning feeding flock of Purple Martins and Barn Swallows circled overhead before drifting south, I assumed that most aerial insectivores would be loafing around the point today. Clearly, they had something else planned, and over 100 Barn Swallows ended up zipping past the dike.

Another lovely treat of the moment is the smattering of waxwings that have been flying by the dike, with juveniles starting to appear now. I can’t wait to see big flocks of them soon and to hear the chorus of their thin, reedy calls, but I must admit to having some mixed feelings: I’m eager to see all of the wonderful abundance and diversity of birds on their way to Cape May and parts beyond; however, I’m also scared of the challenge to count and record all of it! Guess I’ll just have to live in the moment and focus on what’s in front of me.

Here are the Trektellen and eBird links for yesterday and today’s counts! Photos from today can be found below.

August 7

August 8

Bring on Day 9!