Dawn flight on Assateague

Great morning along the dunes of Assateague this morning, with lots of migrant activity. We watched Red-breasted Nuthatches drop out of the sky at dawn! Almost a hundred Northern Flickers reorienting up the beach, accompanied by a few Red-bellied Woodpeckers, 2 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers and a Red-headed Woodpecker. Around five Pine Siskin flyovers too. 

chlorophonia
BirdLog Checklist Summary for: Sunday, Sep 30 2012

Number of Checklists: 3
Number of Species: 67

Checklists included in this summary:
(1): Assateague SP--Shell Road
Date: Sep 30, 2012, 6:17
(2): Assateague I. NS--Life of the Forest
Date: Sep 30, 2012, 9:38
(3): Assateague I. NS--beach at Ranger Station
Date: Sep 30, 2012, 11:35

29 Canada Goose -- (1)
5 American Black Duck -- (1)
71 Double-crested Cormorant -- (1),(2)
17 Brown Pelican -- (1),(3)
20 Great Blue Heron -- (1),(2)
71 Great Egret -- (1),(2)
13 Snowy Egret -- (1),(2)
14 Little Blue Heron -- (2)
3 Tricolored Heron -- (2)
6 Turkey Vulture -- (2),(3)
6 Osprey -- (1),(2)
2 Northern Harrier -- (1)
2 Bald Eagle -- (2)
7 Greater Yellowlegs -- (1),(2)
7 Lesser Yellowlegs -- (2)
388 Laughing Gull -- (1),(2)
5 Ring-billed Gull -- (1),(2)
9 Herring Gull -- (1),(3)
5 Great Black-backed Gull -- (1)
2 Caspian Tern -- (1)
2 Royal Tern -- (1),(3)
4 Mourning Dove -- (1)
3 Great Horned Owl -- (1)
1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird -- (1)
3 Belted Kingfisher -- (1)
1 Red-headed Woodpecker -- (1)
15 Red-bellied Woodpecker -- (1),(2)
2 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker -- (1)
7 Downy Woodpecker -- (1),(2)
105 Northern Flicker -- (1),(2)
2 Eastern Wood-Pewee -- (2)
1 Eastern Phoebe -- (1)
1 Red-eyed Vireo -- (2)
7 Blue Jay -- (1)
186 Tree Swallow -- (2)
10 Carolina Chickadee -- (1),(2)
21 Red-breasted Nuthatch -- (1),(2)
10 Brown-headed Nuthatch -- (2)
7 Carolina Wren -- (1),(2)
1 Golden-crowned Kinglet -- (1)
1 American Robin -- (2)
10 Gray Catbird -- (1),(2)
13 Northern Mockingbird -- (1)
4 Brown Thrasher -- (1),(2)
2 European Starling -- (1)
2 American Pipit -- (1)
36 Cedar Waxwing -- (1),(2)
2 Black-and-white Warbler -- (1),(2)
3 Nashville Warbler -- (1)
6 Common Yellowthroat -- (1)
3 American Redstart -- (1),(2)
4 Northern Parula -- (2)
1 Magnolia Warbler -- (1)
6 Palm Warbler (Western) -- (1)
9 Pine Warbler -- (1),(2)
23 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) -- (1)
2 Prairie Warbler -- (1)
1 Black-throated Green Warbler -- (1)
5 Eastern Towhee -- (1),(2)
10 Field Sparrow -- (1)
1 Savannah Sparrow -- (1)
1 Song Sparrow -- (1)
11 Northern Cardinal -- (1),(2)
4 Bobolink -- (1)
5 Red-winged Blackbird -- (1),(2)
13 Boat-tailed Grackle -- (1),(2),(3)
5 Pine Siskin -- (1)

This trip summary was created using the BirdLog app for iPhone and iPad.
See BirdLog for more information.

Big Night last night!

Looked like there was lots of movement overhead last night. These are the signals from the Dover AFB NEXRAD from early in the evening. Off out to Assateague right now to see what migrants might be around today.

Assateague Trip Summary -- Yesterday

Fun day yesterday, with lots of migrants in evidence - Wilson's Warbler, Peregrine, Merlins, hundreds of Double-crested Cormorants. Photos to follow. Today promises to be better, with good conditions for migration last night!

chlorophonia
BirdLog Checklist Summary for: Saturday, Sep 29 2012

Number of Checklists: 10
Number of Species: 85

Checklists included in this summary:
(1): Assateague SP--Shell Road
Date: Sep 29, 2012, 6:19
(2): Assateague I. NS--Life of the Forest
Date: Sep 29, 2012, 8:23
(3): Assateague I. NS--Life of the Dunes
Date: Sep 29, 2012, 9:41
(4): Assateague I. NS--Life of the Dunes
Date: Sep 29, 2012, 10:39
(5): Assateague I. NS--Ferry Landing
Date: Sep 29, 2012, 10:51
(6): Assateague I. NS--Life of the Marsh
Date: Sep 29, 2012, 11:18
(7): Truitts Landing
Date: Sep 29, 2012, 13:15
(8): Scotts Landing
Date: Sep 29, 2012, 15:49
(9): Bayside Development Pond
Date: Sep 29, 2012, 17:18
(10): Ocean City--Skimmer Island
Date: Sep 29, 2012, 17:42

7 Canada Goose -- (1),(9)
7 American Wigeon -- (9)
1 American Black Duck -- (7)
12 Mallard -- (7),(9)
8 Green-winged Teal -- (7)
1 Green-winged Teal (American) -- (7)
3 Wild Turkey -- (7)
832 Double-crested Cormorant -- (1),(2),(3),(4),(5),(6),(7),(8),(10)
26 Brown Pelican -- (1),(3),(6)
28 Great Blue Heron -- (1),(2),(3),(5),(7),(8),(10)
56 Great Egret -- (2),(3),(5),(6),(8),(9),(10)
9 Snowy Egret -- (1),(3),(9),(10)
12 Little Blue Heron -- (5),(6),(10)
12 Tricolored Heron -- (7),(10)
27 Cattle Egret -- (10)
1 Black-crowned Night-Heron -- (10)
6 Turkey Vulture -- (5),(6),(7)
12 Osprey -- (2),(3),(5),(6),(7),(10)
1 Northern Harrier -- (8)
1 Cooper's Hawk -- (7)
13 Bald Eagle -- (2),(3),(4),(7),(8)
1 Clapper Rail -- (2)
3 Clapper/King Rail -- (7)
5 Killdeer -- (1),(2)
9 American Oystercatcher -- (10)
2 Greater Yellowlegs -- (2),(7)
8 Lesser Yellowlegs -- (7)
4 Ruddy Turnstone -- (10)
388 Laughing Gull -- (1),(2),(5),(6),(7),(8),(9),(10)
3 Ring-billed Gull -- (5),(6),(8)
48 Herring Gull -- (1),(5),(6),(8),(10)
1 Herring Gull (American) -- (1)
35 Great Black-backed Gull -- (10)
35 Caspian Tern -- (1),(2),(3),(5),(6),(10)
39 Forster's Tern -- (7),(10)
138 Royal Tern -- (1),(6),(7),(8),(10)
3 Black Skimmer -- (10)
1 Mourning Dove -- (4)
2 Yellow-billed Cuckoo -- (2),(6)
1 Great Horned Owl -- (1)
10 Belted Kingfisher -- (1),(5),(6),(7),(8),(9)
6 Red-bellied Woodpecker -- (1),(2),(7)
7 Downy Woodpecker -- (1),(2),(3),(7)
12 Northern Flicker -- (1),(2),(3),(4),(6),(7)
1 Peregrine Falcon -- (1)
3 Merlin -- (6)
2 Eastern Wood-Pewee -- (2),(7)
4 Eastern Phoebe -- (6),(7),(8)
1 Red-eyed Vireo -- (7)
10 Blue Jay -- (1),(7),(8)
7 American Crow -- (1),(7)
15 Carolina Chickadee -- (1),(3),(7),(8)
4 Tufted Titmouse -- (7)
22 Red-breasted Nuthatch -- (1),(2),(3)
12 Brown-headed Nuthatch -- (2),(3),(7)
1 Marsh Wren -- (7)
20 Carolina Wren -- (1),(2),(3),(6),(7),(8),(10)
1 American Robin -- (2)
27 Gray Catbird -- (1),(2),(3),(6)
10 Northern Mockingbird -- (1),(3),(4),(6),(8)
2 Brown Thrasher -- (1)
10 European Starling -- (6),(8)
2 Black-and-white Warbler -- (7)
9 Common Yellowthroat -- (1),(2),(3)
7 American Redstart -- (1),(3),(6),(7),(8)
2 Magnolia Warbler -- (2),(8)
1 Blackburnian Warbler -- (1)
5 Blackpoll Warbler -- (2),(3),(8)
7 Palm Warbler (Western) -- (1),(2),(6)
5 Pine Warbler -- (2)
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler -- (2)
3 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) -- (1)
1 Wilson's Warbler -- (2)
13 Eastern Towhee -- (1),(2),(3)
25 Chipping Sparrow -- (8)
8 Field Sparrow -- (1)
1 Saltmarsh Sparrow -- (7)
3 Song Sparrow -- (1)
21 Northern Cardinal -- (1),(2),(6),(7),(10)
1 Indigo Bunting -- (1)
1 Bobolink -- (1)
1 Red-winged Blackbird -- (1)
2 Common Grackle -- (2)
4 Boat-tailed Grackle -- (2),(3),(5),(6)
1 American Goldfinch -- (7)

This trip summary was created using the BirdLog app for iPhone and iPad.
See BirdLog for more information.

Black-throated Green Warbler

Black-throated Green Warbler, a photo by sjdavies1969 on Flickr.

Never get tired of these!

Blue-headed Vireo

Blue-headed Vireo, a photo by sjdavies1969 on Flickr.

From yesterday - my first Blue-headed Vireo of the fall.

Blue Grosbeak

Blue Grosbeak, a photo by sjdavies1969 on Flickr.

My 89th species for the stormwater ponds. Wonder what #90 will be?

Blue Grosbeak -- Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds -- Sep 28, 2012

New birds continue to show up at the ponds - today's highlight, a Blue Grosbeak! I didn't arrive until we'll after 0900 and it was already getting hot and quiet, but still managed to dig up 36 species.


chlorophonia
Sep 28, 2012
Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds
Traveling
0.73 miles
114 Minutes
Observers: 1
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: 3/8 cloud cover, N force 2, 80 F.

7 Canada Goose
3 Wood Duck
14 Mallard
1 Pied-billed Grebe
1 Great Blue Heron
1 Red-tailed Hawk
15 Mourning Dove
2 Chimney Swift
2 Belted Kingfisher
6 Red-bellied Woodpecker
2 Downy Woodpecker
2 Northern Flicker
4 Eastern Phoebe
1 Blue-headed Vireo
1 Red-eyed Vireo
20 Blue Jay
3 American Crow
3 Carolina Chickadee
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
3 Carolina Wren
2 House Wren
9 American Robin
7 Gray Catbird
8 Northern Mockingbird
6 European Starling
1 Chestnut-sided Warbler
1 Magnolia Warbler
1 Black-throated Blue Warbler
2 Common Yellowthroat
7 Song Sparrow
9 Northern Cardinal
1 Blue Grosbeak
1 Indigo Bunting
10 Brown-headed Cowbird
2 American Goldfinch
8 House Sparrow

Blue-headed Vireos etc -- Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds -- Sep 27, 2012

Another fun morning at the ponds, my first Blue-headed Vireos of the fall being my highlight. Photos to follow.

chlorophonia
Sep 27, 2012
Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds
Traveling
0.63 miles
101 Minutes
Observers: 1
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: 7/8 cloud cover, calm, 70 F.

7 Canada Goose
1 Wood Duck
7 Mallard
1 Great Blue Heron
1 Green Heron
4 Black-crowned Night-Heron
1 Red-tailed Hawk
3 Mourning Dove
43 Chimney Swift
2 Belted Kingfisher
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker
1 Downy Woodpecker
4 Northern Flicker
2 Eastern Phoebe
2 Blue-headed Vireo
176 Blue Jay -- Good morning flight.
5 American Crow
4 Fish Crow
3 Carolina Chickadee
5 Tufted Titmouse
2 White-breasted Nuthatch
6 Carolina Wren
41 American Robin
7 Gray Catbird
2 Northern Mockingbird
10 European Starling
1 Tennessee Warbler
1 Northern Parula
2 Magnolia Warbler
2 Black-throated Blue Warbler
4 Black-throated Green Warbler
3 Black-and-white Warbler
1 American Redstart
6 Common Yellowthroat
2 Song Sparrow
4 Northern Cardinal
4 Common Grackle
2 Brown-headed Cowbird

Nashville Warbler

Nashville Warbler, a photo by sjdavies1969 on Flickr.

At the ponds yesterday. Check out the bugs on the milkweed. The warbler didn't seem interested in them - feeding on milkweed, I guess they're toxic?

Lincoln's Sparrow etc -- Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds -- Sep 25, 2012

A fun morning at the stormwater ponds, highlights being a Lincoln's Sparrow, Nashville Warbler and Red-tailed Hawk (first time I have recorded these at the ponds), and another Pied-billed Grebe. Blue Jays continue to move through, and there was a good flight of Chimney Swifts after dawn too. Forty eight species in total. Would have been 49 if I'd gotten a decent look at that tanager - Scarlet is the default, but it wasn't possible to rule out Summer on the lousy look I had.

chlorophonia
Sep 25, 2012
Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds
Traveling
1.07 miles
146 Minutes
Observers: 1
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: Clear, calm, 45 F at dawn
.
2 Canada Goose
2 Wood Duck
16 Mallard
1 Pied-billed Grebe
1 Great Blue Heron
1 Black-crowned Night-Heron -- Juvenile.
1 Red-shouldered Hawk -- Juvenile.
1 Red-tailed Hawk
2 Rock Pigeon
15 Mourning Dove
54 Chimney Swift
2 Belted Kingfisher
2 Red-bellied Woodpecker
2 Downy Woodpecker
9 Northern Flicker
7 Eastern Phoebe
1 Red-eyed Vireo
93 Blue Jay
6 American Crow
5 Fish Crow
2 Carolina Chickadee
2 Tufted Titmouse
2 White-breasted Nuthatch
5 Carolina Wren
1 House Wren
3 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
3 Swainson's Thrush
9 American Robin
10 Gray Catbird
5 Northern Mockingbird
3 Brown Thrasher
16 European Starling
1 Nashville Warbler
1 Northern Parula
5 Magnolia Warbler
2 Black-throated Blue Warbler
3 Black-throated Green Warbler
2 Black-and-white Warbler
8 Common Yellowthroat
10 Song Sparrow
1 Lincoln's Sparrow
9 Northern Cardinal
1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
1 Indigo Bunting
5 Common Grackle
2 House Finch
2 American Goldfinch
2 House Sparrow

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Didn't have a chance to get out this morning, but stopped by Lake Needwood on the way home this evening and found some interesting migrants there. 

Taken by sjdavies1969 http://www.flickr.com/photos/27588142@N06/8021448062

Migrants underway tonight

Plenty of migration underway tonight. Good signals on our local NEXRAD in Sterling VA, and across the southeastern US.

Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds -- Sep 23, 2012

Plenty of interest at the ponds today. Blue Jay movement continues, a late Canada Warbler and my first Brown Thrasher at the ponds. Left to the sound of a Red-breasted Nuthatch honking away.

chlorophonia
Sep 23, 2012
Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds
Traveling
0.72 miles
118 Minutes
Observers: 1
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: Clear, NW force 3, 55 F.

25 Canada Goose
2 Wood Duck
11 Mallard
3 Black-crowned Night-Heron
1 Rock Pigeon
7 Mourning Dove
1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird
2 Belted Kingfisher
3 Red-bellied Woodpecker
3 Downy Woodpecker
5 Northern Flicker
1 Eastern Wood-Pewee
2 Eastern Phoebe
61 Blue Jay
3 American Crow
1 Red-breasted Nuthatch
2 White-breasted Nuthatch
3 Carolina Wren
1 House Wren
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
12 American Robin
8 Gray Catbird
1 Northern Mockingbird
1 Brown Thrasher
24 European Starling
5 Magnolia Warbler
2 Black-throated Blue Warbler
1 Black-throated Green Warbler
3 Common Yellowthroat
1 Canada Warbler -- Bright individual, bright yellow below, obvious dark necklace.
3 Song Sparrow
6 Northern Cardinal

Prairie Warbler

Prairie Warbler, a photo by sjdavies1969 on Flickr.

The first I have seen at the stormwater ponds.

Yesterday's Blue Jay flight

Blue Jays, a photo by sjdavies1969 on Flickr.

Some of the many Blue Jays headed south yesterday.

Migration tonight - further west

Plenty of activity on the NEXRAD tonight, but not over the northeastern US. It's all happening west of here.

Blue Jay flight -- Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds -- Sep 22, 2012

Interesting couple of hours at the stormwater ponds, with a good movement of Blue Jays in progress - logged over 250! Also my first Prairie Warbler for the ponds. Some photos later.

chlorophonia
Sep 22, 2012
Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds
Traveling
0.77 miles
126 Minutes
Observers: 1
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: 4/8 cloud cover early, clearing later. SE force 2, 70 F.

2 Canada Goose
19 Mallard
1 Great Blue Heron
1 Green Heron
2 Black-crowned Night-Heron
2 Turkey Vulture
1 Cooper's Hawk
3 Rock Pigeon
23 Mourning Dove
8 Chimney Swift
2 Belted Kingfisher
8 Red-bellied Woodpecker
1 Downy Woodpecker
7 Northern Flicker
1 Eastern Wood-Pewee
1 Eastern Phoebe
260 Blue Jay -- Small loose groups moving SE at treetop level or higher. Max group size 32, couple groups of 20-odd, mostly single digit-sized groups.
17 American Crow
8 Fish Crow
2 Tufted Titmouse
2 White-breasted Nuthatch
4 Carolina Wren
2 House Wren
31 American Robin
7 Gray Catbird
4 Northern Mockingbird
20 European Starling
2 Northern Parula
1 Chestnut-sided Warbler
1 Magnolia Warbler
1 Prairie Warbler
2 American Redstart
3 Common Yellowthroat
3 Song Sparrow
6 Northern Cardinal
3 Common Grackle
3 House Finch
1 House Sparrow

Cooper's Hawk in early morning light

This juvenile Cooper's Hawk was bold and aggressive - I saw it take a swipe at a passing Black-crowned Night-Heron, among other things. Seemed a bit ambitious to me! Guess it was hungry... http://www.flickr.com/photos/27588142@N06/8008676945

Cape May Warbler etc -- Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds -- 2012-09-20 06:41

Plenty of migrants around this morning, highlighted by a Cape May Warbler, Solitary Sandpiper and my first Ruby-crowned Kinglet of the fall. Yesterday's Pied-billed Grebe was still around too.

chlorophonia
2012-09-20 06:41
Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds
Traveling
1.09 miles
114 Minutes
Observers: 1
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: Clear, calm, 50 F at dawn.

10 Canada Goose
3 Wood Duck
10 Mallard
1 Pied-billed Grebe
1 Great Blue Heron
3 Black-crowned Night-Heron
Comments: Adult, juvenile and 2nd cycle bird.
1 Cooper's Hawk
2 Red-shouldered Hawk
1 Solitary Sandpiper
11 Mourning Dove
4 Chimney Swift
2 Belted Kingfisher
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker
6 Downy Woodpecker
5 Northern Flicker
1 Eastern Wood-Pewee
1 Eastern Phoebe
1 Great Crested Flycatcher
1 Red-eyed Vireo
24 Blue Jay
6 American Crow
1 Tufted Titmouse
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
3 Carolina Wren
1 House Wren
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
27 American Robin
15 Gray Catbird
3 Northern Mockingbird
14 European Starling
3 Tennessee Warbler
2 Northern Parula
7 Magnolia Warbler
1 Cape May Warbler
3 Black-throated Green Warbler
10 Common Yellowthroat
6 Song Sparrow
7 Northern Cardinal
2 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
20 Common Grackle
6 House Finch
6 American Goldfinch

Migration kicking off tonight

There's a good signal on our local NEXRAD in Sterling Virginia, and indeed, from all the stations on the eastern seaboard. Check it out:

Thunderstorms and tornado warnings

Here's the NEXRAD view of the thunderstorm system that is currently drenching us. There is also a tornado warning in effect for Montgomery county right now! Needless to say, these conditions and the southerly airflow we currently have are not conducive to bird migration!

Northern Waterthrush

Northern Waterthrush, a photo by sjdavies1969 on Flickr.

A bad photo, but it was exciting to see this bird at the stormwater ponds on Sunday. Check out the streaky chin - this area is always unmarked on the very similar Louisiana Waterthrush, though not all Northerns are as streaky as this here either.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Yellow-billed Cuckoo, a photo by sjdavies1969 on Flickr.

Migrants continued to push through over the weekend. Here's a Yellow-billed Cuckoo on Saturday, at the Woodend Sanctuary in Chevy Chase. I'll bet it was a good day for Broad-winged Hawks too - we saw three pass south, high overhead.

Smattering of migrants -- Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds -- 2012-09-15 06:46

A few migrants around this morning, most notably Great Crested Flycatcher, a couple of pewees and a beautiful fresh Blackpoll Warbler. Refreshing light breeze out of the north - Ahh!

chlorophonia
2012-09-15 06:46
Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds
Traveling
0.84 miles
102 Minutes
Observers: 1
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: Clear, N force 2, 60 F.

14 Canada Goose
1 Wood Duck
9 Mallard
1 Great Blue Heron
2 Turkey Vulture
18 Mourning Dove
1 Belted Kingfisher
3 Red-bellied Woodpecker
5 Downy Woodpecker
3 Northern Flicker
1 Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)
2 Eastern Wood-Pewee
1 Great Crested Flycatcher
3 Blue Jay
3 American Crow
1 Fish Crow
1 Tufted Titmouse
5 Carolina Wren
24 American Robin
14 Gray Catbird
3 Northern Mockingbird
9 European Starling
1 Chestnut-sided Warbler
1 Magnolia Warbler
1 Blackpoll Warbler
4 Common Yellowthroat
2 Song Sparrow
12 Northern Cardinal
6 Common Grackle
1 House Finch
30 House Sparrow

Migrants aloft

At the beginning of the evening, conditions were poor and there was little signal from the local NEXRAD. But look how it's picked up now the winds have swung to the north behind the cold front. Should be some interesting birding tomorrow.

No migration on the NEXRAD tonight

So this is what it looks like when there isn't much happening. Low base reflectivity and no real directionality to the signal that is there. Given the currently unfavorable conditions, this is expected. The imminent passage of a cold front (see previous post) should liven things up a bit tomorrow.

Another cold front - migrants coming!

After southerly winds all week, the wind should swing around to the northwest as this front passes, producing much more favorable conditions for migration over the weekend and in to the early part of next week.

Eastern Screech-Owl -- Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds -- 2012-09-13 06:50

Interesting morning. Some warblers around, but the highlight was definitely the soft whinnies of a screech-owl, coming from the trees along the west side, shortly after sun-up.

chlorophonia
2012-09-13 06:50
Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds
Traveling
0.75 miles
108 Minutes
Observers: 1
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: Clear, calm, 55 F.

9 Canada Goose
2 Wood Duck
7 Mallard
1 Great Blue Heron
Specie Comments: Adult.
1 Green Heron
Specie Comments: Adult.
1 Black-crowned Night-Heron
Specie Comments: Adult.
1 Cooper's Hawk
13 Mourning Dove
1 Eastern Screech-Owl
Specie Comments: Whinneying quietly from trees on west side of ponds shortly after dawn.
5 Chimney Swift
2 Belted Kingfisher
2 Red-bellied Woodpecker
4 Downy Woodpecker
1 Hairy Woodpecker
2 Northern Flicker
1 Eastern Phoebe
2 Red-eyed Vireo
1 Blue Jay
3 American Crow
1 Fish Crow
1 Tufted Titmouse
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
5 Carolina Wren
1 House Wren
1 Eastern Bluebird
Specie Comments: Heard calling overhead.
1 Swainson's Thrush
38 American Robin
14 Gray Catbird
1 Northern Mockingbird
9 European Starling
2 Chestnut-sided Warbler
3 Magnolia Warbler
2 Black-throated Blue Warbler
Specie Comments: Males.
3 American Redstart
5 Common Yellowthroat
8 Song Sparrow
8 Northern Cardinal
9 Common Grackle
1 American Goldfinch

Sabine's Gull (photo. As in very distant photo!)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27588142@N06/7980968925

Sabine's Gull continues -- Triadelphia Reservoir--Greenbridge Rd. -- 2012-09-12 14:25

Now in the fifth day of its stay, a beautiful adult Sabine's Gull that arrived on a cold front Saturday evening is still at the Triadelphia Reservoir, on the border between Montgomery and Howard counties. Nice bird!

chlorophonia
2012-09-12 14:25
Triadelphia Reservoir--Greenbridge Rd.
Stationary
0 miles
79 Minutes
Observers: 1
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: Clear, SW force 2, 80 F.

26 Canada Goose
6 Double-crested Cormorant
3 Great Blue Heron
2 Turkey Vulture
1 Bald Eagle
1 Sabine's Gull
Specie Comments: Continuing adult. Flew in from the north around 1430. Spent some time in the far southern part of the res., south of the dam, before heading to the area immediately across from Greenbridge. Appeared to take two small fish disturbed by feeding cormorants. Still in view off Greenbridge at 1545, sitting on water.
1 Ring-billed Gull
1 Mourning Dove
1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird
2 Belted Kingfisher
1 Pileated Woodpecker
2 Carolina Chickadee
1 Tufted Titmouse
1 Carolina Wren

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Rose-breasted Grosbeak, a photo by sjdavies1969 on Flickr.

Another migrant. I do love these guys. I well remember my first - a chubby, berry-stained vagrant on Tresco in 1986!

Swainson's Thrush

Swainson's Thrush, a photo by sjdavies1969 on Flickr.

My first Swainson's Thrushes of the fall migration showed up today.

Another big flight last night

Here are the base reflectivity and velocity NEXRAD images from last night (around 2315). Another expanding donut of reflectivity with strong north-south movement.

Lots of migrants -- Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds -- 2012-09-11 06:15

After a clear sky and gentle northwesterly winds last night, there were many migrants around this morning. Highlights included Black-throated Green and Tennessee Warblers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, my first Swainson's Thrushes of the fall, and a flyover Red-breasted Nuthatch. The latter might be starting an eruption, as there have been several recent local sightings.

chlorophonia
2012-09-11 06:15
Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds
Traveling
1.19 miles
177 Minutes
Observers: 1
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: Clear, calm, 50 F.

17 Canada Goose
2 Wood Duck
11 Mallard
1 Double-crested Cormorant
1 Great Blue Heron
1 Green Heron
1 Black-crowned Night-Heron
1 Red-shouldered Hawk
13 Mourning Dove
2 Chimney Swift
2 Ruby-throated Hummingbird
1 Belted Kingfisher
3 Red-bellied Woodpecker
3 Downy Woodpecker
3 Northern Flicker
1 Empidonax sp.
Specie Comments: Suspect Least.
1 Eastern Phoebe
8 Red-eyed Vireo
3 Blue Jay
4 American Crow
1 Fish Crow
4 Carolina Chickadee
3 Tufted Titmouse
1 Red-breasted Nuthatch
Specie Comments: Flyover.
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
6 Carolina Wren
1 House Wren
4 Swainson's Thrush
24 American Robin
19 Gray Catbird
4 Northern Mockingbird
11 European Starling
2 Tennessee Warbler
2 Chestnut-sided Warbler
5 Magnolia Warbler
2 Black-throated Blue Warbler
2 Black-throated Green Warbler
2 American Redstart
3 Common Yellowthroat
3 Song Sparrow
9 Northern Cardinal
2 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
77 Common Grackle
1 House Finch
7 American Goldfinch
7 House Sparrow

Birds on the move tonight

The following images are from the Sterling VA NEXRAD station - the first three are the base reflectivity, the last is the velocity. Note the expanding donut of reflectivity as the evening progresses, and the strong north-south direction of movement in the velocity image. Northerly winds are finally encouraging some migration.

Double-crested Cormorant, Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds, Sep 9, 2012

Not the most exciting bird, especially as there was an adult Sabine's Gull up the road at the Triadelphia Reservoir  today. Still, the first Double-crested Cormorant I have seen at the stormwater ponds (I have to take what I can get ). The first photo was taken when it first appeared overhead around 0646. After circling a few times, it landed on one of the ponds. I did not see it leave, but saw it circling again around 0715 (second photo). From the re-growing innermost primary in the right wing, this would seem to be the same bird. 

Also of note, a flock of Cedar Waxings was also new for the ponds, and the male Hooded Warbler was still around.





Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds, Montgomery, US-MD
Sep 9, 2012 6:21 AM - 8:22 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.18 mile(s)
Comments:     Clear, mostly calm, occasional NW force 2, 55 F at dawn. Submitted from BirdLog World for iOS, version 1.4.8
30 species

Canada Goose  57
Wood Duck  5
Mallard  33
Double-crested Cormorant  1     Arrived 0646.
Great Blue Heron  1
Black-crowned Night-Heron  1
Red-shouldered Hawk  1
Mourning Dove  12
Chimney Swift  2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Northern Flicker  1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  1
Eastern Wood-Pewee  1
Blue Jay  2
American Crow  4
Carolina Chickadee  2
Tufted Titmouse  2
Carolina Wren  3
American Robin  40
Gray Catbird  10
Northern Mockingbird  6
European Starling  36
Cedar Waxwing  8
Common Yellowthroat  1
Hooded Warbler  1     Male.
Song Sparrow  5
Northern Cardinal  5
Common Grackle  12
House Sparrow  26

Finally some northerly winds

Following the passage of a cold front yesterday, we finally have some winds out of the northwest. Hopefully this will encourage some migration?

Another cold front coming

This may freshen things up. There's a bunch of rain coming ahead of the front, and it looks like winds will swing around to the northwest once it's passed.

Hooded Warbler - Again! (photo)

Hooded Warbler, a photo by sjdavies1969 on Flickr.

Is this the same bird from August 30? It's male, and it was in exactly the same spot as my previous sighting!

Low pressure and southerly winds continue

The picture says it all. Low pressure all up and down the East Coast, with even lower pressure in the north, has made for persistent light southerly winds for the last week or more.

Hooded Warbler - Again! -- Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds -- 2012-09-08 08:08

A quiet morning, with few migrants in evidence. Due to the continued southerly airflow over the eastern U. S., perhaps? The surprise of the morning was a male Hooded Warbler, in precisely the same spot as I saw one on August 30. Can it be the same bird? Aren't they supposed to be migrating? Or have conditions for migration been that poor its decided to hang around the stormwater ponds for the last nine days?! Photo coming later.

chlorophonia
2012-09-08 08:08
Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds
Traveling
0.61 miles
56 Minutes
Observers: 1
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: Clearing rapidly, S force 2, 77 F.

1 Canada Goose
3 Wood Duck
10 Mallard
1 Great Blue Heron
2 Black-crowned Night-Heron
Specie Comments: 1 adult, 1 juvenile.
4 Mourning Dove
1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird
1 Belted Kingfisher
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker
1 Downy Woodpecker
1 Red-eyed Vireo
1 Blue Jay
8 American Crow
1 crow sp.
1 Tufted Titmouse
2 White-breasted Nuthatch
1 Carolina Wren
2 American Robin
6 Gray Catbird
1 American Redstart
1 Common Yellowthroat
1 Hooded Warbler
Specie Comments: Male.
5 Song Sparrow
2 Northern Cardinal
3 Common Grackle
1 Baltimore Oriole
1 American Goldfinch

Yellow-throated Vireo song

On the Northwest Branch the other day, a few Yellow-throated Vireos made their presence known by singing vigorously. These are presumably migrants here, so why they would be singing isn't clear to me. Still, it provided me an opportunity to snap this spectrogram of the song. Two quavering phrases are visible, the first higher pitched than the second.

Migrants continue -- Northwest Branch Trail - Burnt Mills Dam -- 2012-09-04 08:49

Still six species of warbler this morning, a couple of Yellow-throated Vireos and a Yellow-billed Cuckoo, along the Northwest Branch in Silver Spring.

chlorophonia
2012-09-04 08:49
Northwest Branch Trail - Burnt Mills Dam
Traveling
2.33 km
129 Minutes
Observers: 1
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: Overcast, cloud breaking later, calm, 80 F.

2 Canada Goose
7 Wood Duck
1 Great Blue Heron
1 Mourning Dove
1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo
2 Chimney Swift
3 Ruby-throated Hummingbird
3 Red-bellied Woodpecker
2 Downy Woodpecker
3 Northern Flicker
1 Eastern Wood-Pewee
1 Empidonax sp.
1 Eastern Phoebe
2 Yellow-throated Vireo
6 Red-eyed Vireo
1 Blue Jay
1 American Crow
4 Carolina Chickadee
7 Tufted Titmouse
3 White-breasted Nuthatch
4 Carolina Wren
1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
11 American Robin
2 Northern Parula
2 Chestnut-sided Warbler
3 Magnolia Warbler
3 Black-and-white Warbler
2 American Redstart
1 Common Yellowthroat
4 Northern Cardinal
2 Common Grackle
2 American Goldfinch

Hudsonian Godwit

Hudsonian Godwit, a photo by sjdavies1969 on Flickr.

Another digiscoped shot of this distant bird on Sunday. Even roosting like this, the lack of patterning to the upperparts and scapulars distinguished it from the two Marbled Godwits also present.

Hudsonian Godwit

Hudsonian Godwit, a photo by sjdavies1969 on Flickr.

Here's a terrible digiscoped shot of Sunday's Hudsonian Godwit at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge. The remains of the red and black patterning on the belly and undertail, and the long two-toned bill are visible in this image.

Snowy Egret flight -- Prime Hook NWR--Broadkill Marsh -- 2012-09-02 17:48

Between around 1830 and 1930 this evening, we witnessed an awesome flight of Snowy Egrets at Broadkill Marsh. Over the course of the evening, we counted 800 Snowy Egrets moving south along the coast, mostly in small groups (10-30), though one loose flock numbered around 80-odd.

chlorophonia
2012-09-02 17:48
Prime Hook NWR--Broadkill Marsh
Traveling
1.37 km
127 Minutes
Observers: 2
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: Overcast, calm, 80 F.

2 Blue-winged Teal
13 Northern Shoveler
19 Double-crested Cormorant
1 Great Blue Heron
800 Snowy Egret
Specie Comments: Impressive flight from approx 1830 to 1930, moving south in groups of 10, 20, 30 etc (largest group noted was 81), along coastline and over the marsh. Scrutinized as many as we could, including by scope, but surprisingly monospecific (saw one distant individual that may have been a juvenile Little Blue). Slowed to a trickle and finally dried up right as we hit 800!
17 Green Heron
1 Clapper Rail
10 Semipalmated Plover
1 Greater Yellowlegs
1 Lesser Yellowlegs
3 Sanderling
265 Semipalmated Sandpiper
1 Least Sandpiper
1 White-rumped Sandpiper
140 Laughing Gull
1 Herring Gull
8 Caspian Tern
46 Forster's Tern
32 Black Skimmer
2 Mourning Dove
1 Marsh Wren
75 European Starling
2 Common Yellowthroat
2 Blue Grosbeak
473 Bobolink
3 Red-winged Blackbird
1 Brown-headed Cowbird

Godwits -- Bombay Hook NWR--Raymond Pool -- 2012-09-02 10:56

A fun day on the Delaware shore today, with several memorable highlights. Here's my eBird checklist for Raymond's Pool at Bombay Hook, where there were two Marbled and one Hudsonian Godwit amongst the many other shorebirds. Good to see Hudsonian again - an uber-migrant, breeding on the arctic tundra, wintering in the southern cone of South America. I even have a lousy digiscoped shot of it (coming soon).

chlorophonia
2012-09-02 10:56
Bombay Hook NWR--Raymond Pool
Traveling
2.32 km
148 Minutes
Observers: 1
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: Overcast, SE force 2, 80 F.

1 Great Blue Heron
3 Great Egret
5 Snowy Egret
1 Little Blue Heron
2 Bald Eagle
2 Clapper Rail
77 Black-bellied Plover
223 Semipalmated Plover
445 American Avocet
96 Greater Yellowlegs
20 Lesser Yellowlegs
X Greater/Lesser Yellowlegs
Specie Comments: Many left unidentified due to light and distance.
1 Hudsonian Godwit
2 Marbled Godwit
233 Semipalmated Sandpiper
2 Western Sandpiper
2 Least Sandpiper
5 Dunlin
X peep sp.
Specie Comments: Many left unidentified due to distance and light.
6 Short-billed Dowitcher
X Short-billed/Long-billed Dowitcher
Specie Comments: Many left unidentified due to light and distance.
108 Laughing Gull
7 Caspian Tern
1 Forster's Tern
4 Bank Swallow
1 Marsh Wren
1 Common Yellowthroat
2 Blue Grosbeak
1 Red-winged Blackbird

Tropical storms Kirk and Leslie

Doesn't look like either Kirk (right) or Leslie (left) will cause many problems for us here in the Mid Atlantic states, though I guess Leslie might hit Atlantic Canada.

August 2012 roundup

The Birdlog app for iPhone allows you to keep a cumulative total of all the birds you've seen over a user-defined period ("Trip Counter"). I'm not much a lister, but I thought it would be interesting to keep track of everything I recorded during the month of August. Here's the roundup. Birdlog came up with a total of 148 species, but I think that should really be "taxa" instead, as that seems to include various forms and subspecies etc. Most recorded bird of the month? Interestingly enough, Black-headed Gull! There were a lot of them at the foreshore in Havant, I guess. Favorite bird of the month? Probably the Red Kite at Wern Watkin - haven't seen one in such a long time. 

chlorophonia
BirdLog Counter: Trip
August 2012
08/01/2012 00:00 to 08/31/2012 23:59
Number of Checklists: 48
Number of Species: 148

373 Canada Goose
25 Mute Swan
50 Wood Duck
460 Mallard
6 Great Cormorant
29 Great Blue Heron
7 Gray Heron
3 Great Egret
15 Little Egret
35 Green Heron
52 Black-crowned Night-Heron
3 Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
1 Black Vulture
11 Turkey Vulture
4 Osprey
1 Eurasian Sparrowhawk
3 Cooper's Hawk
1 Red Kite
1 Bald Eagle
5 Red-shouldered Hawk
1 Common Buzzard
14 Eurasian Moorhen
17 Eurasian Coot
12 Northern Lapwing
26 Killdeer
20 Eurasian Oystercatcher
1 Common Sandpiper
4 Spotted Sandpiper
2 Solitary Sandpiper
3 Common Greenshank
1 Lesser Yellowlegs
77 Common Redshank
10 Eurasian Curlew
220 Black-tailed Godwit
129 Semipalmated Sandpiper
22 Least Sandpiper
490 Black-headed Gull
8 Mew Gull
1 Mew Gull (European)
14 Herring Gull
3 Herring Gull (European)
77 Lesser Black-backed Gull
1 Sandwich Tern (Eurasian)
1 Rock Pigeon
4 Rock Pigeon (Domestic type)
2 Stock Dove
87 Common Wood-Pigeon
18 Eurasian Collared-Dove
164 Mourning Dove
3 Yellow-billed Cuckoo
1 Tawny Owl
2 Barred Owl
105 Common Nighthawk
256 Chimney Swift
55 Common Swift
18 Ruby-throated Hummingbird
26 Belted Kingfisher
61 Red-bellied Woodpecker
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
34 Downy Woodpecker
5 Hairy Woodpecker
17 Northern Flicker
7 Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)
2 Pileated Woodpecker
2 Green Woodpecker
2 Eurasian Kestrel
1 American Kestrel
1 Amazona sp.
1 Olive-sided Flycatcher
27 Eastern Wood-Pewee
1 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
7 Acadian Flycatcher
1 Eastern Phoebe
6 Great Crested Flycatcher
13 Eastern Kingbird
7 White-eyed Vireo
27 Red-eyed Vireo
23 Blue Jay
16 Eurasian Magpie
9 Eurasian Jackdaw
13 Rook
38 American Crow
55 Fish Crow
24 Carrion Crow
2 crow sp.
4 Common Raven
1 Northern Rough-winged Swallow
1 Purple Martin
6 Bank Swallow
68 Barn Swallow
31 Common House-Martin
53 Carolina Chickadee
2 Coal Tit
4 Great Tit
15 Eurasian Blue Tit
44 Tufted Titmouse
12 Long-tailed Tit
3 Eurasian Nuthatch
32 White-breasted Nuthatch
7 House Wren
16 Eurasian Wren
95 Carolina Wren
15 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
4 Willow Warbler
1 Phylloscopus sp.
2 Blackcap
26 European Robin
2 Spotted Flycatcher
2 Common Redstart
1 Veery
1 Wood Thrush
16 Eurasian Blackbird
232 American Robin
94 Gray Catbird
22 Northern Mockingbird
296 European Starling
2 Dunnock
1 Gray Wagtail
1 White Wagtail (British)
4 Cedar Waxwing
3 Ovenbird
1 Worm-eating Warbler
4 Blue-winged Warbler
6 Black-and-white Warbler
14 Common Yellowthroat
1 Hooded Warbler
23 American Redstart
7 Northern Parula
11 Magnolia Warbler
7 Chestnut-sided Warbler
1 Black-throated Blue Warbler
3 Canada Warbler
1 Eastern Towhee
46 Song Sparrow
1 Scarlet Tanager
85 Northern Cardinal
3 Indigo Bunting
1 Red-winged Blackbird
122 Common Grackle
8 Brown-headed Cowbird
16 Baltimore Oriole
6 Common Chaffinch
5 Eurasian Bullfinch
7 House Finch
5 European Greenfinch
173 American Goldfinch
52 European Goldfinch
133 House Sparrow

This trip summary was created using the BirdLog app for iPhone and iPad.
See BirdLog for more information.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak -- Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds -- 2012-09-01 06:27

Started the month off with a Rose-breasted Grosbeak at the Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds, refueling on berries with robins, flickers and a couple of Baltimore Orioles. Photo below.

chlorophonia
2012-09-01 06:27
Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds
Traveling
1.35 km
93 Minutes
Observers: 1
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: Clear at first, clouds approaching from NW until fully overcast. NW force 2, 75 F.

2 North American Beavers, 8 White-tailed Deer.

12 Canada Goose
2 Wood Duck
3 Mallard
1 Great Blue Heron
1 Green Heron
1 Black-crowned Night-Heron
1 Red-shouldered Hawk
17 Mourning Dove
36 Chimney Swift
2 Belted Kingfisher
2 Red-bellied Woodpecker
6 Northern Flicker
1 Red-eyed Vireo
1 Blue Jay
2 American Crow
5 Carolina Wren
24 American Robin
10 Gray Catbird
2 Northern Mockingbird
40 European Starling
1 American Redstart
4 Common Yellowthroat
4 Song Sparrow
3 Northern Cardinal
1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
2 Baltimore Oriole
4 American Goldfinch

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Rose-breasted Grosbeak, a photo by sjdavies1969 on Flickr.

Migrant Rose-breasted Grosbeak this morning, feeding on berries at the Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds.

Worm-eating Warbler

Worm-eating Warbler, a photo by sjdavies1969 on Flickr.

At the Middle Patuxent Environmental Area yesterday.