Well, the research season has closed with the departure of the UNB crew on the 16th.
All in all it seems to have been a fairly successful season.
There are still a goodly number of PUFFINS left on the island and a decent amount of food is coming ashore.
Emerging chicks are generally in pretty good condition although I would like to see them carrying a bit more weight.
The RAZORBILLS & MURRES have been long gone but, as sometimes happen, there are surprises. One such was the sighting of a very late Razorbill with a large chick still on the island on Friday last.
Post-breeding wanders and early migrants are just a trickle.
Swallows have been sighted on each day recently with a group of 25+ mid-week and another group some 20 strong on Saturday. TREE SWALLOWS are most common, with BARN SWALLOWS & CLIFF SWALLOWS in small numbers.
The WESTERN KINGBIRD proved to be a one day wonder, although it put on a good show for the time it was here.
There was at least one EASTERN KINGBIRD around on Saturday and I've seen 2 this morning.
Yesterday, Sunday, there was one and maybe two juvenile BLACK BILLED CUCKOOS around.
Two or more NORTHERN WATER THRUSHS have been around since late last week with one of them hanging around the house and garden and it's been typically quite approachable.
A handful of YELLOW WARBLERS continue but similiar species are notable in their absence.
NORTHERN GANNETS have been very evident over the past few days, providing some near-shore plunge diving displays.
Raptors over the past week have been spotty.
A few HARRIERS moved through mid to late week.
A couple of EAGLES have been spending various amounts of time around MSI and Gull Rock., Sometimes as singles and sometimes at the same time.
2 or 3 different PEREGRINE FALCONS appear every day or so if the weather is decently clear.
Shore birds have tapered off and/or concentrated into a couple flocks. The total on the island was last estimated at about 50 LEAST SANDPIPERS & 50 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS.
The SPOTTED SANDPIPERS around are likely just our residents and continue at about two dozen scattered over the island.
The latter part of last week produced sightings of 3-4 GREATER YELLOWLEGS; 1-2 WILSON'S SNIPE & 1 WILLET.
I also saw what appeared to be a PURPLE SANDPIPER. However, the very early date makes that ID somewhat questionable.
I didn't see the YELLOW CROWNED NIGHT HERON yesterday but even if it has departed it had an exceptional stay of well over a week. Herons rarely stay even a full day.
The PURPLE ASTER, GOLDENROD & BUTTERCUP are (very) slowly begining to bloom. Those, especially the Aster, are the mainstay for HUMMINGBIRDS & BUTTERFLIES. In years without the blossoms (like last fall) we see virtually no Butterflies and few Hummers.
All in all it seems to have been a fairly successful season.
There are still a goodly number of PUFFINS left on the island and a decent amount of food is coming ashore.
Emerging chicks are generally in pretty good condition although I would like to see them carrying a bit more weight.
The RAZORBILLS & MURRES have been long gone but, as sometimes happen, there are surprises. One such was the sighting of a very late Razorbill with a large chick still on the island on Friday last.
Post-breeding wanders and early migrants are just a trickle.
Swallows have been sighted on each day recently with a group of 25+ mid-week and another group some 20 strong on Saturday. TREE SWALLOWS are most common, with BARN SWALLOWS & CLIFF SWALLOWS in small numbers.
The WESTERN KINGBIRD proved to be a one day wonder, although it put on a good show for the time it was here.
There was at least one EASTERN KINGBIRD around on Saturday and I've seen 2 this morning.
Yesterday, Sunday, there was one and maybe two juvenile BLACK BILLED CUCKOOS around.
Two or more NORTHERN WATER THRUSHS have been around since late last week with one of them hanging around the house and garden and it's been typically quite approachable.
A handful of YELLOW WARBLERS continue but similiar species are notable in their absence.
NORTHERN GANNETS have been very evident over the past few days, providing some near-shore plunge diving displays.
Raptors over the past week have been spotty.
A few HARRIERS moved through mid to late week.
A couple of EAGLES have been spending various amounts of time around MSI and Gull Rock., Sometimes as singles and sometimes at the same time.
2 or 3 different PEREGRINE FALCONS appear every day or so if the weather is decently clear.
Shore birds have tapered off and/or concentrated into a couple flocks. The total on the island was last estimated at about 50 LEAST SANDPIPERS & 50 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS.
The SPOTTED SANDPIPERS around are likely just our residents and continue at about two dozen scattered over the island.
The latter part of last week produced sightings of 3-4 GREATER YELLOWLEGS; 1-2 WILSON'S SNIPE & 1 WILLET.
I also saw what appeared to be a PURPLE SANDPIPER. However, the very early date makes that ID somewhat questionable.
I didn't see the YELLOW CROWNED NIGHT HERON yesterday but even if it has departed it had an exceptional stay of well over a week. Herons rarely stay even a full day.
The PURPLE ASTER, GOLDENROD & BUTTERCUP are (very) slowly begining to bloom. Those, especially the Aster, are the mainstay for HUMMINGBIRDS & BUTTERFLIES. In years without the blossoms (like last fall) we see virtually no Butterflies and few Hummers.
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