It feels like the migration, with the notable exception of shorebirds, is sputtering to get started.
Until Thursday (03/09/15) this place was almost the exclusive domain of the SAVANNAH SPARROWS, just like it is in the breeding season. (Up to 65 feeding on the patio at once.)
On Thursday things picked up a bit.
Until Thursday (03/09/15) this place was almost the exclusive domain of the SAVANNAH SPARROWS, just like it is in the breeding season. (Up to 65 feeding on the patio at once.)
On Thursday things picked up a bit.
I try to always have jelly and/or citrus out throughout the summer but sometimes it does get a little neglected. That was my thought when I looked out the kitchen window and saw several BALTIMORE ORIOLES near the house.
A bit later (and with renewed offerings) I counted 7 Baltimores, all immature or female, as well as one bright ORCHARD ORIOLE.
Since then there have been several Orioles around. Impossible to tell whether they are all from the original group or whether there are new ones.
A bit later (and with renewed offerings) I counted 7 Baltimores, all immature or female, as well as one bright ORCHARD ORIOLE.
Since then there have been several Orioles around. Impossible to tell whether they are all from the original group or whether there are new ones.
Also begining on Thursday, the number of MERLINS picked up and HARRIERS are more frequent. Yesterday at least a dozen Harriers passed through and I've saw one this morning although the sun wasn't yet on the horizon.
Another season first yesterday was a FLICKER which spent most of the day panicing from one end of the island to the other as each successive Harrier strafed the island and continued its journey.
A side note: we encounter stuff like "wing loading" from time to time when flight ability of various birds are being compared. Welllllllll ........ I think I've made a discovery about one species and its method of conserving flight energy.
The Flicker saves effort by not using its wings!
I took over a hundred and thirty flight shots yesterday. Only one image shows any evidence of open wings.
Granted, that's not rigorous scientific study and somebody will likely mention Murphy's Law, but .................
The Flicker saves effort by not using its wings!
I took over a hundred and thirty flight shots yesterday. Only one image shows any evidence of open wings.
Granted, that's not rigorous scientific study and somebody will likely mention Murphy's Law, but .................
Thursday night seems to have also brought a few other species, albeit in small numbers.
Found/seen on MSI yesterday:
6 BLACK & WHITE WARBLERS;
20+ COMMON YELLOWTHROATS;
2 REDSTARTS;
3 RT HUMMINGBIRDS;
2 EASTERN PHOEBES;
9 FLYCATCHER sp.;
2 LEAST FLYCATCHER;
1 FLICKER;
12+ HARRIERS;
9 MERLINS;
2 PEREGRINE FALCONS;
1 BALD EAGLE;
2 WREN sp.;
200 SAVANNAN SPARROWS;
1 DICKCISSEL;
40 ATLANTIC PUFFINS;
2 LEACHE'S STORM PETRELS
Water birds are fairly steady.
Several thousand GULLS are in the area, apparently because of the local food. While MSI gets its share, most of the Gulls use adjacent Gull Rock as a roosting/lounging site. They do like to forage on our lawns at night and during rain storms, gourging on EARTHWORMS
Along with the foraging Gulls are a scattering of NORTHERN GANNETS & SHEARWATERS (mainly SOOTY & GREAT).
DOUBLE CRESTED CORMORANTS both "resident" and migrant are seen daily and GREAT CORMORANTS are picking up. The number of small flocks passing the island has increased over recent days.
A handful of southbound LOONS are seen daily. Most appear to be COMMON but RED-THROATED LOONS have been identified.
Ducks are still just the typical summer species: infrequent RED BREASTED MERGANSERS: occasional BLACK SCOTERS & most resident COMMON EIDERS. (Some late Eider young are still small enough to distinguish from the adults.)
On the non-avarian front, I saw a single BAT three nights running. I suppose it's a migrant but even a brief stay is fast becoming an event of note.
Seals are summer-static with a few hundred (mostly GRAY SEALS) hauling out at North Rock & Gull Rock.
We only get a few actually ashore on MSI but one of those caught my attention Thursday. It has big bite wound on its left flank with the obivious teeth marks of a large shark. I'd estimate that it lost 10 - 15 pounds of tissue but the bite was more like a nibble, removing blubber while doing little damage to the underlying muscle. Nonetheless, a wound as big as its head could still prove to be fatal.
We only get a few actually ashore on MSI but one of those caught my attention Thursday. It has big bite wound on its left flank with the obivious teeth marks of a large shark. I'd estimate that it lost 10 - 15 pounds of tissue but the bite was more like a nibble, removing blubber while doing little damage to the underlying muscle. Nonetheless, a wound as big as its head could still prove to be fatal.
Butterflies are scarce this fall, even though weather is great and the ASTER is in full bloom.
Yesterday, under ideal conditions, I was hard put to find a couple MOURNING CLOAK, a few AMERICAN LADY & CABBAGE WHITE, 1 PAINTED LADY and a possible SULPHUR. Haven't seen a MONARCH all year.
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