Migration has been a bit of a non-event so far. An occasional warbler, a couple ORIOLES, a random flycatcher, a handful of PEEPS ........ more like post-breeding dispersal than migration.
Weather wouldn't appear to be a problem but with almost uninterrupted fair-weather nights it seems that the lion's share of migrants are passing right over, even on the dark of the moon.
The moon is nearing it's full phase now and the weather is a bit less settled so it will be interesting to see if things change much.
Then, too, expectations come into play. Notwithstanding some notable exceptions, the fall migration here is generally less of an event compared with the spring movement.
Then, too, expectations come into play. Notwithstanding some notable exceptions, the fall migration here is generally less of an event compared with the spring movement.
The birds are generally more concentrated by the time they arrive from the south.
Raptors have been entertaining, though.
HARRIERS in particular have moved through daily. Numbers ranged from a couple to over 20 on a day last week. An occasional individual has lingered for multiple days.
PEREGRINES are here pretty much every day and MERLINS slightly more frequently. Of course the Merlins have words with any Harriers in the vicinity.
EAGLES have been frequent, availing themselves of the many gulls that are hanging around.
There seems to be thin but wide-spread feed and lots of gulls and SHEARWATERS and a few GANNETS are near the island. The island provides a convenient lounging location for the gulls.
Raptors have been entertaining, though.
HARRIERS in particular have moved through daily. Numbers ranged from a couple to over 20 on a day last week. An occasional individual has lingered for multiple days.
PEREGRINES are here pretty much every day and MERLINS slightly more frequently. Of course the Merlins have words with any Harriers in the vicinity.
EAGLES have been frequent, availing themselves of the many gulls that are hanging around.
There seems to be thin but wide-spread feed and lots of gulls and SHEARWATERS and a few GANNETS are near the island. The island provides a convenient lounging location for the gulls.
There are upwards of 1,000 to 2,000 GREAT BLACK BACKED & HERRING GULLS on MSI most of the time and occasionally triple that number.
Their number is deceptive when they are roosting but an Eagle cruising the area will soon put them all aloft and reveal the true population.
Gulls are often more active at night than one would think. Out here a lot of them like to spend the night on the lawn and around the buildings.
Gulls are often more active at night than one would think. Out here a lot of them like to spend the night on the lawn and around the buildings.
Primarily they are feeding on earthworms but I wouldn't want to be an exhausted songbird or emerging Puffling when the Walking Stomachs are around.
We have also had an OWL HAWK ....... Yes, that's right. Not a Hawk Owl but an Owl Hawk.
Before you race for the internet: Short Eared Owls , especially the females, closely resemble Harriers. They have many similarities in appearance, behaviour, habitat and flight pattern.
Well; one of those afore mentioned Harriers is a very dark juvenile and it's missing ALL of it's tail feathers. It makes a perfect Short Eared Owl!!
That bird has been a guest for 5 full days. I saw it a few minutes ago so it's starting day 6 and showing no inclination to check out.
We have also had an OWL HAWK ....... Yes, that's right. Not a Hawk Owl but an Owl Hawk.
Before you race for the internet: Short Eared Owls , especially the females, closely resemble Harriers. They have many similarities in appearance, behaviour, habitat and flight pattern.
Well; one of those afore mentioned Harriers is a very dark juvenile and it's missing ALL of it's tail feathers. It makes a perfect Short Eared Owl!!
That bird has been a guest for 5 full days. I saw it a few minutes ago so it's starting day 6 and showing no inclination to check out.
It's worked out a hunting pattern that maximizes opportunities for passerines, shorebirds and puffins. It even been seen to threaten a few gulls.
Swallows, mainly BARN SWALLOWS have been moving through for the past few days. No big numbers but a steady trickle. Last evening about a half dozen TREE SWALLOWS appeared.
Swallows, mainly BARN SWALLOWS have been moving through for the past few days. No big numbers but a steady trickle. Last evening about a half dozen TREE SWALLOWS appeared.
This morning I see a couple of the Trees hunting so early that I still had the porch light on. The early hour plus the damp, foggy conditions suggest they are desperate for food.
Seabirds and waterfowl immediately adjacent to the island are generally underwhelming. Typically there is a handful of EIDERS (likely residents), a few scattered DC CORMORANTS (likely locals), an occasional COMMON LOON, perhaps a random local duck or two passing.
Seabirds and waterfowl immediately adjacent to the island are generally underwhelming. Typically there is a handful of EIDERS (likely residents), a few scattered DC CORMORANTS (likely locals), an occasional COMMON LOON, perhaps a random local duck or two passing.
Sunday there was a single CANADA GOOSE which circled, touched down just off shore, looked around and departed towards Grand Manan.
Shorebirds are pretty much limited to a few SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, very random WILLETS like the 3 individuals that I saw last week and perhaps a dozen GREATER YELLOWLEGS over a 2 week period. Virtually all of the resident SPOTTED SANDPIPERS have left.
Yesterday produced a minor up-tick with a NIGHTHAWK stopping by for a rest amid strong winds.
I spotted it fighting the head wind towards me and it grounded on a big bare rock about 20 feet from me. I took a few pictures and exited the area. Shortly after I saw it sailing around.
Shorebirds are pretty much limited to a few SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, very random WILLETS like the 3 individuals that I saw last week and perhaps a dozen GREATER YELLOWLEGS over a 2 week period. Virtually all of the resident SPOTTED SANDPIPERS have left.
Yesterday produced a minor up-tick with a NIGHTHAWK stopping by for a rest amid strong winds.
I spotted it fighting the head wind towards me and it grounded on a big bare rock about 20 feet from me. I took a few pictures and exited the area. Shortly after I saw it sailing around.
Presumably it was either wary of its exposed perch with the Harrier actively hunting or it found its perch on a bare rock too difficult to hold in the wind.
Anyway, after doing a couple chores, I returned to the house to find the Nighthawk settled (in typical length-way orientation) atop the log seats on the patio. My camera was laying about 8 feet from its perch.
Game on!
I knew that, like Woodcock, Common Nighthawks prefer to hold motionless, often to the point of allowing themselves to be touched, but I also knew that windy conditions usually make them jumpy.
The long and short of it was that I slowly and carefully retrieved my camera (too close to take a picture); I backed off to 12 feet and spent a few minutes trying for a decent portrait (The bird wouldn't keep its eyes open!) and then I left.
The Nightjar dozed and rested for a couple more hours and then moved on.
While the Nighthawk wasn't a very active subject, 3 or 4 CAPE MAY WARBLERS were the exact opposite as they feed and squabbled over grapes adjacent to the Nighthawk.
Tuesday there was still at least one adult male and one adult female around. I took them to be hold-overs, judging by the way that they alternated between grapes and grape jelly at different locations.
A couple of RUBY THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS have stopped over for several days. As best I can tell, there are almost no new ones moving through. The PURPLE ASTER is near into peak bloom and we usually have lots of Hummers refuelling.
The bloom this year is getting very little variety in butterflies. MONARCHS have been the one bright spot with some every day. One day last week produced an easy hundred.
There are still some PUFFINS left on the island. I had estimated that about 4 dozen active nests remain and I haven't seen any fledglings on the lawn for about a week. I had around 50 the prior week.
However, this morning I counted just over 80 in-coming meals along the east side of the island within 10 minutes. That easily extrapolates to 150 active nests island-wide.
The LEACH'S STORM PETRELS are maturing well. One that I checked yesterday is still a big fluff ball but tail feathers are well developed. I expect that it is beginning to lose weight in preparation for fledging.
Anyway, after doing a couple chores, I returned to the house to find the Nighthawk settled (in typical length-way orientation) atop the log seats on the patio. My camera was laying about 8 feet from its perch.
Game on!
I knew that, like Woodcock, Common Nighthawks prefer to hold motionless, often to the point of allowing themselves to be touched, but I also knew that windy conditions usually make them jumpy.
The long and short of it was that I slowly and carefully retrieved my camera (too close to take a picture); I backed off to 12 feet and spent a few minutes trying for a decent portrait (The bird wouldn't keep its eyes open!) and then I left.
The Nightjar dozed and rested for a couple more hours and then moved on.
While the Nighthawk wasn't a very active subject, 3 or 4 CAPE MAY WARBLERS were the exact opposite as they feed and squabbled over grapes adjacent to the Nighthawk.
Tuesday there was still at least one adult male and one adult female around. I took them to be hold-overs, judging by the way that they alternated between grapes and grape jelly at different locations.
A couple of RUBY THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS have stopped over for several days. As best I can tell, there are almost no new ones moving through. The PURPLE ASTER is near into peak bloom and we usually have lots of Hummers refuelling.
The bloom this year is getting very little variety in butterflies. MONARCHS have been the one bright spot with some every day. One day last week produced an easy hundred.
There are still some PUFFINS left on the island. I had estimated that about 4 dozen active nests remain and I haven't seen any fledglings on the lawn for about a week. I had around 50 the prior week.
However, this morning I counted just over 80 in-coming meals along the east side of the island within 10 minutes. That easily extrapolates to 150 active nests island-wide.
The LEACH'S STORM PETRELS are maturing well. One that I checked yesterday is still a big fluff ball but tail feathers are well developed. I expect that it is beginning to lose weight in preparation for fledging.
Maine birds mailing list
maine-birds@googlegroups.com
http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds
https://sites.google.com/site/birding207
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Maine birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to maine-birds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
0 comments:
Post a Comment