Eastern Shore Migration Update: August 30, 2025

Today’s sunset beach morning flight count featured a diverse flight on steady northeast winds. Taxonomic diversity outweighed numbers, and a nice flight of 52 species and 555 individuals were counted migrating past Sunset Beach.

 Warbler diversity was good this morning despite a lack of overall numbers. Redstarts led the pack with 45 counted, followed by four Northern Waterthrush. Singles of other species were counted, with one each of Black-and-white, first-of-season Tennessee, Cape May, Blackburnian, Pine, Yellow-throated, and a first-of-season Wilson’s. 

Passerines were diverse outside of warblers, highlighted by two first-of-season Red-breasted Nuthatches moving south. Red-breasted Nuthatches appear to be already undergoing a significant irruption movement, with widespread movements occurring in the Great Lakes in the northeast. Hopefully we will be seeing many more of these small boreal passerines as the season progresses. Baltimore Orioles had some nice movements, with nine northbound. A Traill’s Flycatcher was also nice to see dropping in to the bushes near the parking lot.

Baltimore Oriole

Traill's (Alder/Willow) Flycatcher

Forward migrants were also moving today with two Northern Harriers counted early on, including one that made a nice pass to the west over the beach. Bobolinks were on the move going south with 111 counted, as well as a lighter flight of 42 Eastern Kingbirds. Shorebird migrants included a vocal southbound Whimbrel. 

Northern Harrier

 Non-bird migrants included a total of four Eastern Red Bats, with three moving north including one out over the bay heading straight in to the beach. Six Monarchs were also moving south. 

 The hawkwatch had a very nice early season flight with a total of 70 raptors counted, with the majority being Osprey as is typical for late August. More raptors will very likely be on the move tomorrow with a nice northeast wind.

 Winds out of the northeast tonight could yield a decent flight tonight, but a major movement is not anticipated. Keep up to date with the daily Eastern Shore Migration Update right here on the CVWO Blog, and follow along with our migration counts live on Trektellen here: 

Sunset Beach Morning Flight Count: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/3748/20250830

Kiptopeke Hawkwatch: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/4022/20250830