Birds were few and far between today over Sunset Beach. A total of 338 individual migrants were recorded this morning of 27 species. The winds were strong from the west pushing the little movement of birds to the seaside or grounded any movement quickly in the morning. The only notable movement was terns including Forster’s, Common, and Sandwich Terns that were moving in small packs intentionally south leave the more local birds behind. The big highlight was a close pass of a hatch year Parasitic Jaeger shooting south. This is the second Parasitic Jaeger of the year and thankfully the head morning flight counter was there to see this one after missing the first spotted by Mario on Baxter’s day off.
Parasitic Jaeger (Baxter's shot)Warblers were practically nonexistent over the bay with only four American Redstarts and one Northern Waterthrush noted. Two flocks totalling 153 Bobolinks passed over the refuge side of the peninsula heading south.
The Hawkwatch also experienced a slow flight. The Hawkwatch recorded five raptors today - three Ospreys and two Broad-winged Hawk. They also recorded 135 Eastern Kingbirds.
Despite a slow flight at Sunset Beach, there were a good number of migrant passerines around the shore particularly on the seaside of the peninsula. Warblers required some persuading but 11 species of warbler were found in the thickets on the seaside. A major highlight was a second Cerulean Warbler for the season at Indiantown Park.
Away from passerines, the potato fields on northern Arlington Road continue to have a number of shorebirds. A Buff-breasted Sandpiper and American Golden Plover continued. Semipalmated Plovers dominated with several hundred present, but numbers of Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers, Killdeer, as well as Black-bellied Plovers were also present. Cherrystone hosted a Cattle Egret, possibly the continuing individual that has been seen off and on this August.
Baxter and I spent the evening watching the flight over Ramp Road at the Eastern Shore of Virginia NWR. We got to enjoy the typical movements of wading birds heading south but more notably was the aerial insectivores. 17 Common Nighthawks, hundreds of Barn Swallows, and dozens of Chimney Swifts were flying over Wise Point. 200+ Eastern Kingbirds rose off the tip, circled, gained altitude, and many headed south towards Fisherman’s Island.
-Andrew
