Migrants continue to trickle through, albeit with few of any one species. Perhaps the most noticeable are 4 male BALTIMORE ORIOLES spending much of their time scoffing Oranges and Grape Jelly on the patio. Three are bright & mature whilst the fourth is a 1st year guy who seems determined to throw his weight around. He's not very happy when the others are feeding anywhere near him. Since this morning, a female Baltimore Oriole and a female ORCHARD ORIOLE have appeared. The Orchard is working hard to get its share of grape jelly, putting in a good showing against the larger Baltimores. Warblers have been in short supply over the past few days: 1 BLACKBURIAN WARBLER found dead under a shed; a YELLOW WARBLER showing obvious signs of exhaustion and/or starvation; 1 CANADA WARBLER looking healthy but foraging in miserable cold and wet conditions; a few COMMON YELLOWTHROATS; 4 MAGNOLIA WARBLERS busily (and successfully) catching flies among the rocks; 1 or 2 BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS & a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER chasing insects on the roof of the house and another along the shore hunting among the boulders.
Sparrows still dominate, both in species and total number. We're up to summer strength with several hundred SAVANNAH SPARROWS. Glance anywhere and there's likely a territorial scrap underway. 20 Savannahs feeding on the patio is normal and I've counted as many as 50 at one time. At one point on Tuesday there were 8 sparrow species feeding together under our solar panels: WHITE CROWNED SPARROW; WHITE-THROATED SPARROW; CHIPPING SPARROW; SWAMP SPARROW; LINCOLN'S SPARROW; JUNCO; SAVANNAH SPARROW; SONG SPARROW. 1 male and 2 female ROSE BREASTED GROSBEAKS have been seen, as well as a couple PURPLE FINCHES, a handful of GOLDFINCHES, a couple lingering RED-WING BLACKBIRDS, a lone GRACKLE and a single MOURNING DOVE. Swallows, mainly BARN SWALLOWS, with some CLIFF SWALLOWS, have been moving through today and yesterday. Around the shore it's been quiet. Only a couple of SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, to date, along with a single SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER & 2 WILLETS on Wednesday. Overseeing everything are our pseudo-raptor RAVENS and a couple of MERLINS.
PEREGRINES & EAGLES are notable in their absence. EIDERS are steady and should soon be turning their attention to nesting. I saw my first pair making an early morning reconnaissance flight over the island this morning. A count of ducks on the water around the island today yielded 90 female and 97 male Eiders. Not a particularly high count but respectable for the date. HARLEQUINS are down to a handful, perhaps 6, and I'd expect those to be gone soon. GANNETS do an occasional fly-by but usually only in ones or twos. BLACK GUILLEMOTS are random and so far there's no indication that any are contemplating nesting this year. The other ALCIDS (Puffins, Razorbills & Murres) remain somewhat problematic. I believe that the initial Puffin nest check conducted yesterday produced only 2 occupied nests and 1 egg. Something is certainly going on and I'm worried that it's nothing good. There are some birds on the water but nowhere near what there should be. Some birds are coming ashore from time to time but few are staying very long. It's now 3 to 5 weeks beyond the time they are usually settled into the summer routine. Right now, it seems to me that a handful of very dedicated birds have settled into their breeding/nesting cycle while the vast majority either haven't started or have given up. Just speculation on my part but something is very, very, odd.
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