It's been a breezy, cool week with a few little bumps (Can't really call them spikes.) in the migration.
The only birds that truly hit high numbers were our most common raptors: PEREGRINES and MERLINS.
The middle of last week saw upwards of 40+ Peregrines and 20+ Merlins pass through in a single day. There were enough at one time to almost say it was a kettle.
Fun to see 5 Peregrines, 3 Merlins and a KESTREL squabbling and playing "chase" while a couple of HARRIERS calmly cruised near ground level, hoping to pick off any prey unnerved by the higher predators.
The falcons found their share of food, though. At one point here were 3 Peregrines and a Merlin eating within sight of our kitchen window. A couple of them had attentive, harassing RAVENS watching for an opportunity to snag a free snack.
The flycatchers have dwindled away, although there are 2 or more EASTERN PHOEBES still here this morning, as well as at least one EASTERN WOOD PEWEE.
I reported BARN SWALLOWS a week ago Saturday, expecting that late date would be the last. Not so! A single Barn Swallow appeared a full week later, this past Saturday afternoon. It continued its journey, against an adverse wind, after a brief rest.
We were experiencing a full gale at the time so it likely realized that finding flying insects just wasn't going to happen. Better to wing it further down the road.
Also arriving on Saturday last were some 30-odd HARLIQUIN DUCKS, the first this season. Those birds soon continued further down the coast but I'm expecting our winter residents to arrive soon.
Winds have remained strong to gale force lately and are only just today moderating to the 10 knot range.
In spite of the winds, we have acquired more species to build on the already eclectic mix of songbirds.
Sparrows continue to dominate with as many as 10 species on the patio at one time: SAVANNAH, SONG, CHIPPING, WHITE THROATED, WHITE CROWNED, SWAMP, TREE, FIELD & LARK SPARROWS and JUNCOS.
There has been a CLAY COLOURED SPARROW around, too, but I've never caught it with all of the other species.
Finches continue with fluctuating numbers but PINE SISKINS, GOLDFINCHES & PURPLE FINCHES are always evident.
Three REDPOLLS were around this morning and I suspect that they are newly arrived, not the ones from several days ago.
Other long-staying species include 2 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, 3 ROBINS, 3-4 COWBIRDS, 1 DICKCISSEL, 3 BOBOLINKS, several RED BREASTED NUTHATCHES and 3 or 4 MOURNING DOVES.
Notable for their absence are FLICKERS and OSPREY. The Flickers seem to have pretty much moved through for this fall, and I haven't seen an Osprey at all.
EAGLES, too, have been uncommonly absent for the past 3 weeks and only yesterday did I see my first since I arrived on the island September 17th.
Last night was crystal clear, with a light northerly wind favouring the south-bound migrants. It brought a new bunch of BLUE JAYS (the first for several days), a handful of GRACKLES, a couple RED WINGED BLACKBIRDS and, stylish in autumn brown, a pristine female EASTERN TOWEE.
Gulls, primarily of the HERRING & GREAT BLACK BACKED persuasion, reached several thousand around the first of last week. Gale force northerly wind combined with heavy surf to push them from most of their usual roosting areas, particularly around high tide.
NORTHERN GANNETS have been around in good numbers, with occasional gatherings of several hundred. I assume they are migrating and foraging as they go.
Although the Gannets are generally easier to see, SHEARWATERS, GULLS, HARBOUR PORPOISE, GREY SEALS and other predators can be seen where the Gannets plunge-dive.
I haven't been seeing any evidence of abundant fish around so I'm not surprised that PUFFINS are absent and RAZORBILLS are very scarce. Likewise, KITTIWAKES have been scarce.
DC CORMORANTS & GREAT CORMORANTS both seem to be transiting in flocks, with only a few stopping to forage tight to the shoreline.
GREY SEALS have been abundant with several hundred hauling out on GULL ROCK when sea conditions permit. At other times there will be quite a few just floating in the shelter of the island, frequently dozing with their noses pointed skyward.
-- The only birds that truly hit high numbers were our most common raptors: PEREGRINES and MERLINS.
The middle of last week saw upwards of 40+ Peregrines and 20+ Merlins pass through in a single day. There were enough at one time to almost say it was a kettle.
Fun to see 5 Peregrines, 3 Merlins and a KESTREL squabbling and playing "chase" while a couple of HARRIERS calmly cruised near ground level, hoping to pick off any prey unnerved by the higher predators.
The falcons found their share of food, though. At one point here were 3 Peregrines and a Merlin eating within sight of our kitchen window. A couple of them had attentive, harassing RAVENS watching for an opportunity to snag a free snack.
The flycatchers have dwindled away, although there are 2 or more EASTERN PHOEBES still here this morning, as well as at least one EASTERN WOOD PEWEE.
I reported BARN SWALLOWS a week ago Saturday, expecting that late date would be the last. Not so! A single Barn Swallow appeared a full week later, this past Saturday afternoon. It continued its journey, against an adverse wind, after a brief rest.
We were experiencing a full gale at the time so it likely realized that finding flying insects just wasn't going to happen. Better to wing it further down the road.
Also arriving on Saturday last were some 30-odd HARLIQUIN DUCKS, the first this season. Those birds soon continued further down the coast but I'm expecting our winter residents to arrive soon.
Winds have remained strong to gale force lately and are only just today moderating to the 10 knot range.
In spite of the winds, we have acquired more species to build on the already eclectic mix of songbirds.
Sparrows continue to dominate with as many as 10 species on the patio at one time: SAVANNAH, SONG, CHIPPING, WHITE THROATED, WHITE CROWNED, SWAMP, TREE, FIELD & LARK SPARROWS and JUNCOS.
There has been a CLAY COLOURED SPARROW around, too, but I've never caught it with all of the other species.
Finches continue with fluctuating numbers but PINE SISKINS, GOLDFINCHES & PURPLE FINCHES are always evident.
Three REDPOLLS were around this morning and I suspect that they are newly arrived, not the ones from several days ago.
Other long-staying species include 2 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, 3 ROBINS, 3-4 COWBIRDS, 1 DICKCISSEL, 3 BOBOLINKS, several RED BREASTED NUTHATCHES and 3 or 4 MOURNING DOVES.
Notable for their absence are FLICKERS and OSPREY. The Flickers seem to have pretty much moved through for this fall, and I haven't seen an Osprey at all.
EAGLES, too, have been uncommonly absent for the past 3 weeks and only yesterday did I see my first since I arrived on the island September 17th.
Last night was crystal clear, with a light northerly wind favouring the south-bound migrants. It brought a new bunch of BLUE JAYS (the first for several days), a handful of GRACKLES, a couple RED WINGED BLACKBIRDS and, stylish in autumn brown, a pristine female EASTERN TOWEE.
Gulls, primarily of the HERRING & GREAT BLACK BACKED persuasion, reached several thousand around the first of last week. Gale force northerly wind combined with heavy surf to push them from most of their usual roosting areas, particularly around high tide.
NORTHERN GANNETS have been around in good numbers, with occasional gatherings of several hundred. I assume they are migrating and foraging as they go.
Although the Gannets are generally easier to see, SHEARWATERS, GULLS, HARBOUR PORPOISE, GREY SEALS and other predators can be seen where the Gannets plunge-dive.
I haven't been seeing any evidence of abundant fish around so I'm not surprised that PUFFINS are absent and RAZORBILLS are very scarce. Likewise, KITTIWAKES have been scarce.
DC CORMORANTS & GREAT CORMORANTS both seem to be transiting in flocks, with only a few stopping to forage tight to the shoreline.
GREY SEALS have been abundant with several hundred hauling out on GULL ROCK when sea conditions permit. At other times there will be quite a few just floating in the shelter of the island, frequently dozing with their noses pointed skyward.
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