I returned to MSI on Wednesday, the 6th.
From then, through Saturday, there was remarkably little bird activity; neither with land or sea birds. There were some sparrows, pretty much just SAVANNAH & WHITE-THROATED; 4 female RED WINGED BLACKBIRDS; 1 KESTREL; 2 PEREGRINES; 1 unidentified Thrush; 1 ROBIN & our "resident" pair of RAVENS.
Undoubtedly there must have been something else on the island, but for May it was as good as deserted.
The same was true for seabirds. The departing lightkeeper had also reported low Alcid numbers in recent weeks.
For 4 days I didn't see a single RAZORBILL or MURRE on shore and less than 200 on the water.
For those 4 days I saw a total of perhaps 20 PUFFINS on the island and none at all on the Eastern side.
Only a few hundred rafted on the water.
It was starting to look like the Summer Of No Puffins.
Things started to turn around Saturday evening with a modest twilight influx of Puffins to the main nesting areas, but still no Razorbills or Murres. The Puffins have stayed, likely encouraged by the cold, foggy weather, and they have been joined by a good number of Razorbills.
The Eastern side of the island still appears quieter than usual but at least it isn't deserted.
The land birds picked up over the weekend, too.
Numerous COMMON YELLOWTHROATS & YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS were seen during the Saturday night and yesterday (Sunday) I noted several OVENBIRDS; 2 VEERYS; 1 WOOD THRUSH;1 SWAINSON'S THRUSH; 1 MOURNING DOVE; increased WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS.
There was good migrant movement again last night and I've noted another wave of White-Throated Sparrows and JUNCOS.
Also noted this morning: season's 1st BALTIMORE ORIOLE & a couple rather late IPSWICH TYPE SAVANNAH SPARROWS.
Last, not least, the 1st ARCTIC TERNS were heard above the fog on Sunday and a couple fleetingly seen.
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