Migration movement has been fairly light in recent days.
Except for an unexpected DOWNEY WOODPECKER last Friday, there was little recent change in our birds up until Saturday night. That night, with the fog, and in spite of the contrary wind, there was a big sparrow movement, especially WHITE THROATED SPARROWS. There was a lesser movement last night (Sunday).
No surprising species: A MOURNING DOVE (that may or may not be the same one seen here for several day a week or so back); a WHITE BREASTED NUTHATCH (which we only get a time or two each year); a few more PURPLE FINCHES and a new group of GOLDFINCHES & PINE SISKINS.
Raptors have been spotty with a few through each day but most weren't hunting, just perching and/or clashing with others of their own kind. The songbirds appreciated the time to feed.
Most raptors have been PEREGRINES, followed by EAGLES (likely locally wintering).
A HARRIER or two hunt the island each day.
MERLINS are seen but not every day. Likewise with KESTRELS.
Saturday was the most active recent day for predators. At one point there were 2 adult Eagles 150 metres from the house with one of them chowing down on a gull. One gull down and the thousands of others departed for safer parts. Only a dozen or so decided to take their chances here.
The second Eagle and a pair of RAVENS stood by for left-overs.
At the same time there was a Kestrel, a Merlin and a Peregrine lined up at 30 metre intervals along the rocks, also watching the Eagles and each other. A second and a third Peregrine were perched further up the island.
Only a Harrier was missing from our usual species gallery and one of those showed up a short time later.
The number of CORMORANTS moving is picking up. Most are headed down the gulf, appearing to be migrants, but a fair number reverse direction as if just in local movement.
Other water bird activity is pretty much static. No HARLEQUINS yet, other that the short lived sighting several weeks ago.
No PURPLE SANDPIPERS, either, after the 1st early sighting. In fact, shorebirds have been non-existent except for one or two nocturnal visitors that I couldn't identify.
Very uncharacteristicaly they would only appear on a very small section of boardwalk and lawn; only at night; they persisted nightly for over 3 weeks and they were completely unfindable anywhere on the island during the day.
Eventually I managed to ID the birds as juvenile AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER.
I never caught one flying in at dusk/dark and although that's not proof, I assume the plovers were day-lighting in the tall grass, completely hidden, immediately adjacent to their night feeding spot.
I'm still seeing occasional butterflies when temperatures climb. They can still find some ASTERS, BUTTERCUPS, DANDELIONS and various other blooms which we usually associate with spring.
Most plants are showing signs of season's end: dead heads, browning leaves & drooping stalks, but we haven't had a frost yet. Plus 5 degrees C (41F) (which we have right now) has been our lowest temperature so garden plants are just maturing and hardening off, not dying. More new blossoms on the pie pumpkins every day.
I thinned the last planting of Carrots yesterday and thinned the Beets for supper greens Saturday night.
The Swiss Chard continues to grow faster than it's used (3 large bags in the fridge, now). Also lots of carrots, beets and parsnip in the fridge and more in the ground, maturing.
Most Radish from the last sowing are getting too big and the Lettuce is getting rather tough.
Another few weeks and back to store produce.
No surprising species: A MOURNING DOVE (that may or may not be the same one seen here for several day a week or so back); a WHITE BREASTED NUTHATCH (which we only get a time or two each year); a few more PURPLE FINCHES and a new group of GOLDFINCHES & PINE SISKINS.
Raptors have been spotty with a few through each day but most weren't hunting, just perching and/or clashing with others of their own kind. The songbirds appreciated the time to feed.
Most raptors have been PEREGRINES, followed by EAGLES (likely locally wintering).
A HARRIER or two hunt the island each day.
MERLINS are seen but not every day. Likewise with KESTRELS.
Saturday was the most active recent day for predators. At one point there were 2 adult Eagles 150 metres from the house with one of them chowing down on a gull. One gull down and the thousands of others departed for safer parts. Only a dozen or so decided to take their chances here.
The second Eagle and a pair of RAVENS stood by for left-overs.
At the same time there was a Kestrel, a Merlin and a Peregrine lined up at 30 metre intervals along the rocks, also watching the Eagles and each other. A second and a third Peregrine were perched further up the island.
Only a Harrier was missing from our usual species gallery and one of those showed up a short time later.
The number of CORMORANTS moving is picking up. Most are headed down the gulf, appearing to be migrants, but a fair number reverse direction as if just in local movement.
Other water bird activity is pretty much static. No HARLEQUINS yet, other that the short lived sighting several weeks ago.
No PURPLE SANDPIPERS, either, after the 1st early sighting. In fact, shorebirds have been non-existent except for one or two nocturnal visitors that I couldn't identify.
Very uncharacteristicaly they would only appear on a very small section of boardwalk and lawn; only at night; they persisted nightly for over 3 weeks and they were completely unfindable anywhere on the island during the day.
Eventually I managed to ID the birds as juvenile AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER.
I never caught one flying in at dusk/dark and although that's not proof, I assume the plovers were day-lighting in the tall grass, completely hidden, immediately adjacent to their night feeding spot.
I'm still seeing occasional butterflies when temperatures climb. They can still find some ASTERS, BUTTERCUPS, DANDELIONS and various other blooms which we usually associate with spring.
Most plants are showing signs of season's end: dead heads, browning leaves & drooping stalks, but we haven't had a frost yet. Plus 5 degrees C (41F) (which we have right now) has been our lowest temperature so garden plants are just maturing and hardening off, not dying. More new blossoms on the pie pumpkins every day.
I thinned the last planting of Carrots yesterday and thinned the Beets for supper greens Saturday night.
The Swiss Chard continues to grow faster than it's used (3 large bags in the fridge, now). Also lots of carrots, beets and parsnip in the fridge and more in the ground, maturing.
Most Radish from the last sowing are getting too big and the Lettuce is getting rather tough.
Another few weeks and back to store produce.
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