Last Thursday night (September 7th) saw a bit more migrant movement.
Friday, the 8th, was quite busy with raptors so any prey species that arrived overnight didn't offer many viewing opportunities.
Friday, the 8th, was quite busy with raptors so any prey species that arrived overnight didn't offer many viewing opportunities.
The first real movement of FLICKERS was noted.
Saturday, the 9th, dawned with random warblers & flycatchers evident but it quickly changed to an all-day running battle between raptors and Flickers.
9 KESTRELS, 11 MERLINS & 7 HARRIERS were positively identified and I believe that is conservative.
Flickers exceeded 100 in number.
One, two or three raptors swept along the island and a wave of Flickers would roll ahead and split aside, grabbing cover in any crevice at hand. The raptors would reverse direction or drop out for individual chase. Substitutes would join the play and others would grab a perch to re-assess.
Flickers dashed from cover to perch and occasionally elected to climb high and trust to evasive maneuvering.
Saturday, the 9th, dawned with random warblers & flycatchers evident but it quickly changed to an all-day running battle between raptors and Flickers.
9 KESTRELS, 11 MERLINS & 7 HARRIERS were positively identified and I believe that is conservative.
Flickers exceeded 100 in number.
One, two or three raptors swept along the island and a wave of Flickers would roll ahead and split aside, grabbing cover in any crevice at hand. The raptors would reverse direction or drop out for individual chase. Substitutes would join the play and others would grab a perch to re-assess.
Flickers dashed from cover to perch and occasionally elected to climb high and trust to evasive maneuvering.
Bear in mind, too, that MSI offers very few perch locations so those can get crowded. Most vegetation is barely 4 feet tall.
All but the most panicked or foolhardy small birds stayed buried deep in the vegetation.
I had a BLACK & WHITE WARBLER which I thought was injured just sitting on the patio.
All but the most panicked or foolhardy small birds stayed buried deep in the vegetation.
I had a BLACK & WHITE WARBLER which I thought was injured just sitting on the patio.
Turned out it was simply determined to stay frozen in place to avoid the predators overhead. I sat down about 4 feet from it and it promptly scurried over against my leg and went to sleep.
Perhaps 5 minutes later it woke, looked around and dashed to cover under the boardwalk.
There was a RED EYED VIREO sitting on the boardwalk, completely exposed but apparently too exhausted to care as it slept. Being small and completely motionless works sometimes.
Saturday was also day ten in the residency of the tail-less Harrier. I didn't see it after noon so I suppose that it either joined with other Harriers leaving MSI or perhaps found that the area was too crowned and competition too intense.
Sunday, the 10th, favoured the prey a bit better with the raptor presence down significantly. It seemed that there were never more than 3 Merlins present at any moment but they were working hard. It was impossible to distinguish whether these were 3 hold-overs from Saturday or whether a series of individuals came and left throughout the day. One PEREGRINE was around for about an hour and a couple Kestrels were seen early in the morning. There were 2 or three SHARP SHINNED HAWKS which quickly passed through, avoiding the commotion below.
The Flicker population remained high and possibly increased.
Nonetheless, even with the lesser number of predators, the Flickers found little respite.
I have a sunken blind with a 3 branched piece of driftwood located about 75 feet away, positioned to optimize the morning light and installed specifically for raptors.
Anyway, I decided to spend some time in the blind late Sunday morning, knowing full well that I was too late for the best activity.
Perhaps 5 minutes later it woke, looked around and dashed to cover under the boardwalk.
There was a RED EYED VIREO sitting on the boardwalk, completely exposed but apparently too exhausted to care as it slept. Being small and completely motionless works sometimes.
Saturday was also day ten in the residency of the tail-less Harrier. I didn't see it after noon so I suppose that it either joined with other Harriers leaving MSI or perhaps found that the area was too crowned and competition too intense.
Sunday, the 10th, favoured the prey a bit better with the raptor presence down significantly. It seemed that there were never more than 3 Merlins present at any moment but they were working hard. It was impossible to distinguish whether these were 3 hold-overs from Saturday or whether a series of individuals came and left throughout the day. One PEREGRINE was around for about an hour and a couple Kestrels were seen early in the morning. There were 2 or three SHARP SHINNED HAWKS which quickly passed through, avoiding the commotion below.
The Flicker population remained high and possibly increased.
Nonetheless, even with the lesser number of predators, the Flickers found little respite.
I have a sunken blind with a 3 branched piece of driftwood located about 75 feet away, positioned to optimize the morning light and installed specifically for raptors.
Anyway, I decided to spend some time in the blind late Sunday morning, knowing full well that I was too late for the best activity.
It was no surprise that the only predator to take the podium (several times) was one young Merlin.
Flickers, on the other hand, overran the place to the point of teasing the poor Merlin youngster.
I shot pictures of 3, 4 & 5 Flickers on one branch.
I saw 11 at once on the whole perch and up to 23 on and under the perch.
At times a Merlin was sitting on the perch with Flickers. Calculating a new strategy? Confused? Frustrated? Who knows?
It dropped to the rocky ground and hopped around while the Flickers barely kept their distance (2 feet).
Except for these little interludes it was deadly business as the Merlins pressed their attacks the length and breadth of the island. I saw several attacks, almost from the prey's eyes, as Merlins went after Flickers sitting on top of my blind, 2 feet from my head. 3 Flickers and a Red Eyed Vireo ducked into the blind with me.
Monday, the 11th, the Merlin versus Flicker theater continued with occasional guest appearances by Peregrines, Harriers & Sharpies.
Flickers, on the other hand, overran the place to the point of teasing the poor Merlin youngster.
I shot pictures of 3, 4 & 5 Flickers on one branch.
I saw 11 at once on the whole perch and up to 23 on and under the perch.
At times a Merlin was sitting on the perch with Flickers. Calculating a new strategy? Confused? Frustrated? Who knows?
It dropped to the rocky ground and hopped around while the Flickers barely kept their distance (2 feet).
Except for these little interludes it was deadly business as the Merlins pressed their attacks the length and breadth of the island. I saw several attacks, almost from the prey's eyes, as Merlins went after Flickers sitting on top of my blind, 2 feet from my head. 3 Flickers and a Red Eyed Vireo ducked into the blind with me.
Monday, the 11th, the Merlin versus Flicker theater continued with occasional guest appearances by Peregrines, Harriers & Sharpies.
The vegetation seemed to contain substantially more prey species and a good number of those appeared on the raptor's menu.
Monday closed with an annual but infrequent migrant. Just at dusk I spotted a BELTED KINGFISHER sitting on the boulders. It retreated to the shoreline, presumably to spend the night.
Today, Tuesday, the 12th, has been uninterrupted mayhem from dawn until late afternoon.
Merlins shared the spotlight with Peregrines and a supporting cast of Harriers.
Early this morning I saw 6 Merlins perched together near my blind. A bit later there were three Peregrines sharing the branches.
Flickers continued to star in the victim role but, in spite of the screams, crashes, persecution and aerobatics there appeared to be remarkably few fatalities. In fact, over the past few days I only saw one Flicker die and that one collided with our house as it evaded a Merlin.
Smaller birds haven't faired so well.
I headed for the blind again late in the morning and along the trail (300 yards) I flushed about a dozen Flickers and a few sparrows. As each bird burst for new cover it attracted predator attention.
Monday closed with an annual but infrequent migrant. Just at dusk I spotted a BELTED KINGFISHER sitting on the boulders. It retreated to the shoreline, presumably to spend the night.
Today, Tuesday, the 12th, has been uninterrupted mayhem from dawn until late afternoon.
Merlins shared the spotlight with Peregrines and a supporting cast of Harriers.
Early this morning I saw 6 Merlins perched together near my blind. A bit later there were three Peregrines sharing the branches.
Flickers continued to star in the victim role but, in spite of the screams, crashes, persecution and aerobatics there appeared to be remarkably few fatalities. In fact, over the past few days I only saw one Flicker die and that one collided with our house as it evaded a Merlin.
Smaller birds haven't faired so well.
I headed for the blind again late in the morning and along the trail (300 yards) I flushed about a dozen Flickers and a few sparrows. As each bird burst for new cover it attracted predator attention.
I saw birds escape repeatedly as up to 4 Merlins launched conflicting attacks. In that 900 feet and 5 minutes I witnessed 43 attacks without a solid strike.
Once in the blind though, evidence of hunter success was apparent. Every Merlin using the perch displayed blood & feathers on beaks & talons. One brought in a Common Yellowthroat(?) to eat.
The Merlins monopolized the perch for the first hour although Peregrines made frequent passes.
Then the Peregrines, in particular one juvenile, decided to take possession.
I saw what I believe was this same individual bring in 6 songbirds and eat 5 of them. Two were definite Common Yellowthroats and a couple others also likely. The 6th bird was a RED EYED VIREO, plucked but dropped before it could be eaten.
So it seems that for all the sound and fury, the Flickers have the size, speed and maneuverability to escape the talons most of the time, especially when matched against the same-sized Merlin or the slower flying Harrier.
I think that most of the raptors may have moved out through the mid-to-late afternoon. By suppertime all I could see was one Harrier constantly sweeping the island.
Notable by their absence these last days were EAGLES and HUMMINGBIRDS.
The Hummers, in particular, was mildly concerning because the acres of PURPLE ASTER generally welcomes quite a few late season nectar drinkers. I was pleased to have 3 juvenile/female Hummers working my feeder today.
Bird of the day: OSPREY. One individual rested on the perch at my blind and preened for a half hour in mid-afternoon. It then proceeded towards the southern Maine coast. Ospreys are notable because we see only a few and almost invariably during fall migration.
On Monday I did spend some time in the deep cover and managed to identify 15 Warbler species, a CATBIRD and 4 different flycatchers.
MONARCH BUTTERFLIES have been steadily moving through but not in the high numbers of a week ago.
Other migrating Flutterby species are limited this year.
Seabirds and Waterfowl remain essentially unchanged. Gulls are plentiful and GANNETS are daily, fluctuating as the local feed waxes and wanes.
The LEACH'S STORM PETRELS are nearly feathered and soon to fledge.
The PUFFINS dropped to near zero during the last week. I did see one PUFFLING Saturday night, the only one in nearly 2 weeks. Tonight I saw a single Puffin bring food.
Once in the blind though, evidence of hunter success was apparent. Every Merlin using the perch displayed blood & feathers on beaks & talons. One brought in a Common Yellowthroat(?) to eat.
The Merlins monopolized the perch for the first hour although Peregrines made frequent passes.
Then the Peregrines, in particular one juvenile, decided to take possession.
I saw what I believe was this same individual bring in 6 songbirds and eat 5 of them. Two were definite Common Yellowthroats and a couple others also likely. The 6th bird was a RED EYED VIREO, plucked but dropped before it could be eaten.
So it seems that for all the sound and fury, the Flickers have the size, speed and maneuverability to escape the talons most of the time, especially when matched against the same-sized Merlin or the slower flying Harrier.
I think that most of the raptors may have moved out through the mid-to-late afternoon. By suppertime all I could see was one Harrier constantly sweeping the island.
Notable by their absence these last days were EAGLES and HUMMINGBIRDS.
The Hummers, in particular, was mildly concerning because the acres of PURPLE ASTER generally welcomes quite a few late season nectar drinkers. I was pleased to have 3 juvenile/female Hummers working my feeder today.
Bird of the day: OSPREY. One individual rested on the perch at my blind and preened for a half hour in mid-afternoon. It then proceeded towards the southern Maine coast. Ospreys are notable because we see only a few and almost invariably during fall migration.
On Monday I did spend some time in the deep cover and managed to identify 15 Warbler species, a CATBIRD and 4 different flycatchers.
MONARCH BUTTERFLIES have been steadily moving through but not in the high numbers of a week ago.
Other migrating Flutterby species are limited this year.
Seabirds and Waterfowl remain essentially unchanged. Gulls are plentiful and GANNETS are daily, fluctuating as the local feed waxes and wanes.
The LEACH'S STORM PETRELS are nearly feathered and soon to fledge.
The PUFFINS dropped to near zero during the last week. I did see one PUFFLING Saturday night, the only one in nearly 2 weeks. Tonight I saw a single Puffin bring food.
It was the only one that I noted all day. Somebody has to be last, I guess.
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