Eastern Shore Migration Update: August 16, 2026

Winds shifted to the southeast this morning at Sunset Beach, providing a nice light headwind for another good flight of forward migrants. Totals of 35 species and 1752 individuals were counted.

Alternate counter Mario Balitbit was on duty today and brought the heat with the first count record of four Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks in the first hour! These southern waterfowl have undergone a significant range expansion over the last decade, and are now localized summer residents on Virginia’s Eastern Shore following the state’s first breeding confirmation in fall 2024.

Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks (photo by Mario Balitbit)

All five species of the predominant early season forward migrants broke triple digits today, with 492 Purple Martins, 435 Eastern Kingbirds, 367 Barn Swallows, 193 Red-winged Blackbirds, and 118 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. Purple Martin numbers have vastly eclipsed last season’s total of 2346, with this year’s tally currently at 4142. Today’s gnatcatcher push also broke the 2025 season total of 622, and 2026 now sits at 725!

East winds overnight did not produce a significant flight of nocturnal migrants, and the majority of warblers today were continuing south into the breeze including two Northern Waterthrushes, seven American Redstarts, seven American Yellow Warblers, and two Prairie Warblers. Other neotropical migrant activity included the season’s first Baltimore Oriole and a northbound Traill’s (Willow/Alder) Flycatcher. The Chesapeake Bay was calm and quiet other than very distant feeding activity, though a Black Skimmer put in an appearance as well as a nice northbound Wilson’s Storm-Petrel.

South winds will build this afternoon through tonight along with the chance for some overnight rain showers, surely stalling out most overnight migration. Stronger southwest winds in the morning could produce more activity over the Chesapeake Bay, and it will be interesting to see what is trying to move into the headwinds.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s daily migration update on CVWO social media and the CVWO blog: https://vawildliferesearch.org/cvwo-blog

And follow along with the count live every morning on Trektellen: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/3748/20260816

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks

Eastern Shore Migration Update: August 15, 2026

Light northeast winds brought Sunset Beach to life this morning under overcast skies following a significant overnight migration flight and localized downpours in the area. The low cloud cover and local precipitation gave way to a diverse morning highlighted by an impressive shorebird flight. Totals of 57 species and 1673 individuals counted.

The morning was off to a promising start when Mario called out a Clapper Rail dropping out of the sky, which landed nearly at our feet at the edge of the parking lot before dashing quickly into cover in the shrub line! This is a first for the count, and a reminder that these marsh birds are highly migratory. There was a phenomenal flight of shorebirds today including flocks totaling 117 Short-billed Dowitchers and 124 dowitcher sp. pouring south as well as five Long-billed Dowitchers moving north, a first for the count site! Other shorebirds included six Solitary Sandpipers, three Black-bellied Plovers, two Hudsonian Whimbrels, and the season’s first two White-rumped Sandpipers.

Short-billed Dowitchers

Other migrants were not overshadowed by the shorebirds. There was a fair bit of reorientation flight highlighted by the season’s high of four Louisiana Waterthrushes. One Northern Waterthrush, 22 American Redstarts, six Black-and-white, three American Yellow, and one Pine Warbler were also counted. A northbound Willow Flycatcher moving up the shrub line was carefully scrutinized, a scarce migrant on the Eastern Shore. The forward migrant composition today was very different with a mere four Purple Martins counted, and Red-winged Blackbirds took the lead with 732. Other miscellaneous highlights included107 White Ibis, a Northern Harrier, a Bank Swallow, and 110 Eastern Kingbirds.

Willow Flycatcher

American Kestrel

Easterlies tonight will allow more migrants from the interior to correct course and move back inland, though as any day with significant overnight migration, the potential exists for an interesting morning of movement, even on tomorrow’s forecasted southeast winds.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s daily migration update on CVWO social media and the CVWO blog: https://vawildliferesearch.org/cvwo-blog

And follow along with the count live every morning on Trektellen: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/3748/20260815

Eastern Shore Migration Update: August 14, 2026

Gentle southerly and south-southeasterly winds delivered an action-packed morning of forward migration at Sunset Beach. Totals of 32 species and 2713 individuals were counted.

The action started early with Blue-gray Gnatcatchers fighting the fighting the breeze, soon joined by a steady low stream of southbound Purple Martins, Barn Swallows, and Eastern Kingbirds, sometimes with all four species mixed together as they shot south. Purple Martins ran away with the totals for the day with 1510 counted throughout the morning, nearly double the highest count from last season! The pulses of Eastern Kingbirds brought them to their best day so far this season with 261, and Barn Swallows followed with159. Blue-gray Gnatcatchers totaled 89, another great day for this consistently numerous migrant.

There was a bit of interesting diversity interspersed with the southbound flow, including two Cliff, one Northern Rough-winged, and one Bank Swallow. Other passerines included the season’s first Red-eyed Vireo and a Summer Tanager. Warblers were represented only by two Pines. There was also a brief flurry of four Red-headed Woodpeckers late morning, all juvenile birds. Another seasonally early Merlin was seen migrating very low to the water of the Chesapeake Bay, and later on an American Kestrel rose up from the north. A local Yellow-billed Cuckoo also continues to make several trips across the parking lot each day carrying food to a nest.

Red-headed Woodpecker

Purple Martin

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Northeast winds are forecasted for tomorrow morning with favorable conditions for overnight migration with the exception of possible overnight rain locally. Though northeasterlies do not steer birds to the coast in the same way as northwest winds do, there was plenty of action last fall on northeast winds which featured prominently through the first half of the season.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s daily migration update on CVWO social media and the CVWO blog: https://vawildliferesearch.org/cvwo-blog

And follow along with the count live every morning on Trektellen: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/3748/20260814

Eastern Shore Migration Update: August 13, 2026

Light west-southwesterly winds made for a calmer morning at Sunset Beach. Some forward migrants were taking advantage of the more favorable conditions, and totals of 35 species and 396 individuals were counted.

Swallows were back on the move today, with 102 Purple Martins and 51 Barn Swallows counted. Other forward migrant passerines also had a good day, including 55 Eastern Kingbirds and 26 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. There was very little in the way of nocturnal migration last night with precipitation to the north snuffing out the flight, and today’s reverse migration reflected that. For warblers, only three American Redstarts, one Prairie and one Pine Warbler, and one each Northern and Louisiana Waterthrush were counted.

Eastern Kingbird

In terms of waterbirds, there was a sprinkling of shorebird diversity including three unidentified dowitchers, two Least Sandpipers, and a Solitary Sandpiper. Brown Pelicans seemed to be on the move with 53 counted. Two Wilson’s Storm-Petrels made a nice northbound pass out over the bay following a long slick on the water.

Southerly winds return tomorrow, and it will be interesting to see if this shift is accompanied by an uptick in forward migrants such as swallows that sometimes move into the wind or creates any waterbird activity out over the Chesapeake Bay. As is typically the case with southerly winds, overall morning flight activity will probably be on the low side. A frontal boundary passes tomorrow night followed by northeast winds on Saturday, which could kickstart some more migratory action.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s daily migration update on CVWO social media and the CVWO blog: https://vawildliferesearch.org/cvwo-blog

And follow along with the count live every morning on Trektellen: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/3748/20260813

Eastern Shore Migration Update: August 12, 2026

Light northwest winds finally reached Sunset Beach this morning and provided the first notable reverse migration flight of the season. Totals of 40 species and 862 individuals were counted.

Mornings with northwesterlies generally concentrate morning flight along the western bay shore of the peninsula. That was the case today, and the majority of morning flight took place overhead across the parking lot allowing for good views of migrants. Warblers had a good morning, the vast majority being 98 American Redstarts. There was a fair bit of early diversity sprinkled in with eight Black-and-white Warblers, four Northern Waterthrushes, three Northern Yellow Warblers and a shockingly early Yellow-rumped Warbler, an apparent “molt migrant” that dispersing a solid month and a half before the first few of its conspecifics typically reach the Shore. 

American Redstart

Northern Yellow Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Today also marked the first notable reverse Blue-gray Gnatcatcher flight with 93 of the 111 counted being reverse northbound migrants, likely to avoid the risk of westerly wind drift during their diurnal migration. Other songbird migrants included 230 Red-winged Blackbirds, 127 Barn Swallows, and the season’s first vireo, a White-eyed sneaking through the bushes mid-morning. A Northern Mockingbird returned to a favored spotting scope perch, and found it a nice place to relieve itself.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Northern Mockingbird

Calmer winds made for less productive bay watching overall, though hordes of Brown Pelicans, American Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls were attracted to trawling vessels hauling in their catch. Tern activity overall was low, though three Gull-billed Terns moving south over the highway early on were a clear highlight. 

Southwest winds overnight with precipitation overnight to the north will likely limit nocturnal migration, though lighter westerlies by morning could well bring over any migrants that are moving through the area. Assessing the impact of multiple weather variables on migration without a strong event like a cold front is a challenge, so we’ll see what ends up happening!

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s daily migration update on CVWO social media and the CVWO blog: https://vawildliferesearch.org/cvwo-blog

And follow along with the count live every morning on Trektellen: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/3748/20260812

Eastern Shore Migration Update: August 11, 2026

 Winds this morning at Sunset Beach were lighter from the west shifting more west-southwesterly. Overnight migration was limited and precipitation in the area and low cloud limited forward migration, though as usual there were still plenty of birds to see at Sunset Beach. Totals of 39 species and 320 individuals were counted.

Waterbirds played a more significant role in this morning’s migration. Brown Pelicans passed by in several good-sized flocks throughout the morning, totaling 83. A single low westbound flock of Common Terns contributed significantly to the total of 45. A tight flock of 22 Least Sandpipers also shot low through the parking lot. The Chesapeake Bay offered several more nice sightings including four Black Terns, one Wilson’s Storm-Petrel, and the season’s first Parasitic Jaeger, a fairly rare visitor to the Chesapeake Bay. The two adult Brown Boobies also appeared this morning, offering much closer views this morning than in previous days as they moved south over the bay.

Caspian Tern

Least Sandpipers

There was still a fair amount of diversity of other migrants, though generally fewer in number overall. Swallows were slow, with only 21 Barn and seven Northern Rough-winged. Fifteen Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were counted, including the season’s first northbound individual. Warblers remained slow, with eight American Redstart, two Northern Waterthrush, and one Northern Yellow Warbler. A Merlin also shot by over the campground, continuing the trend of early raptors on the count over the past few days.

Merlin

Winds shift more northerly overnight and are forecasted to be blowing north-northwest by morning. Northwest winds are typically the most productive winds for overnight migration on the Eastern Shore, though precipitation to the north may keep the flight a bit calmer overall.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s daily migration update on CVWO social media and the CVWO blog: https://vawildliferesearch.org/cvwo-blog

And follow along with the count live every morning on Trektellen: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/3748/20260810

Eastern Shore Migration Update: August 10, 2026

Slightly calmer winds with a more westerly component made for a more interesting day today at Sunset Beach. More migrants were able to make headway across the lighter crosswinds, with improved diversity and numbers of migrants overall. Totals of 41 species and 701 individuals were counted.

The bulk of today’s diverse flight was still comprised by swallows, of which Barn Swallows had their best day so far with 326, followed by 74 Purple Martin. Eastern Kingbirds had their first notable push of the season so far with 51 today and many more to come. Red-winged Blackbirds also were on the move, totaling 78. Warblers remained slow overall, with only three American Redstarts alongside one Louisiana Waterthrush and a handful of other unidentified waterthrushes.

There were a few uncommon highlights today including an early first-of-season Northern Harrier, a beautiful adult male “gray ghost” that floated overhead in the early morning light. Shorebirds included four distant dowitchers and five Stilt Sandpipers out over Eastern Shore of Virginia NWR. Three Black Terns also made a closer pass this morning, and four Least Terns were counted farther out over the bay. A juvenile American Oystercatcher flying directly overhead headed inland to the northeast was also an unusual sight, with most detections of this beach-nesting shorebird here being far out over the Chesapeake Bay.

Northern Harrier

American Oystercatcher

Osprey

More variety in wind direction is expected in the coming days, which should make for a welcome change of pace in terms of migration. Tonight’s lighter westerlies could deliver another more interesting day tomorrow as nocturnal migrants are drifted to the Eastern Shore from the interior.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s daily migration update on CVWO social media and the CVWO blog: https://vawildliferesearch.org/cvwo-blog

And follow along with the count live every morning on Trektellen: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/3748/20260810

Eastern Shore Migration Update: August 9, 2026

Southwesterly winds continue their reign at Sunset Beach, though a few birds were still moving around despite overnight migration once again being negligible. Birds today were more scattered with more movement occurring farther out to the east of the count site making for backlit viewing. Totals of 41 species and 398 individuals were counted.

In keeping with the previous week of the count so far, the flight today was dominated by forward migrants. Barn Swallows led with 147, followed by 65 Red-winged Blackbirds, and 45 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. Interestingly, Purple Martins were essentially nonexistent with only a single bird counted northbound compared to the 124 yesterday, and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were not detected yesterday at all. These discrepancies are interesting given the generally similar conditions between yesterday and today. Eleven American Redstarts were the only identified warblers this morning, with a few warbler and waterthrush sp. as high and backlit specks out to the east.

Barn Swallow

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

There was still a bit of diversity with the first waterfowl of the season being three southbound Mallards, an early Broad-winged Hawk out to the east, a handful of shorebirds including two Hudsonian Whimbrel, a Solitary Sandpiper and a Greater Yellowlegs, and one Caspian and three Gull-billed Terns moving south out over the Chesapeake Bay. The biggest excitement of the morning was when two Brown Boobies made another appearance over the Chesapeake Bay circling and diving on the horizon. Black Terns also continued their presence with four seen foraging around the bay.

There are signs that a break in the warm and humid southwesterly flow is coming, though there seems to be at least a couple days of more of the same in store. We are far enough along into the season where any break in the pattern could allow a significant overnight migratory movement and an exciting morning flight to follow. Until then, we will keep documenting what migrants are pushing on into the southwesterlies.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s daily migration update on CVWO social media and the CVWO blog: https://vawildliferesearch.org/cvwo-blog

And follow along with the count live every morning on Trektellen: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/3748/20260807

Eastern Shore Migration Update: August 7, 2026

The trend of southwesterly winds continued this morning at Sunset Beach. Forward migrants continued to press on into the wind, but reverse migration was negligible with the winds again shutting down overnight migration.  Totals of 26 species and 272 individuals were counted.

Swallows and gnatcatchers again comprised the majority of the flight today, with Blue-gray Gnatcatchers making an impressive southbound push of 60 in the early portion of the morning. Barn Swallows took the lead in the swallow category with 83, Purple Martins followed with 55, and Northern Rough-winged Swallows continue to steadily move through with 8 counted.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

The trickle of warblers were largely southbound this morning with three American Redstarts, two Northern Waterthrushes, one Yellow-throated Warbler counted, while a northbound unidentified waterthrush was northbound. One Eastern Kingbird moving north was a reminder of the masses of this species that are to still come in just a few weeks. Mourning Doves seemed to be moving around today, though as always distinguishing migrants from the locals of this species is a challenge.

Mourning Doves

Yellow-throated Warbler

Feeding activity in the bay continued today, though with a much-increased number of Laughing Gulls and fewer terns overall. One Black Tern joined the activity for a bit and seemed to be hanging around the area. Three southbound Least Terns were nice to see, a seldom-seen species at this site despite nesting in numbers just two miles away at Fisherman Island. With this year’s young mostly fledged at this point in the season, the tiny Leasts will be one of the first local breeding species to depart the area.

Tomorrow’s outlook seems likely to be quite similar to today in terms of weather conditions, though with the notable personnel change of CVWO's “middle management” Andrew Rapp making his solo debut for the season. Andrew will be well-positioned to spot something to remind the main counter not to abandon his post even for a day of southerly winds in the early season!

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s daily migration update on CVWO social media and the CVWO blog, and follow along with the count live every morning on Trektellen: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/3748/20260807

Eastern Shore Migration Update: August 6, 2026

South-southwesterly winds were blowing off the bay this morning at Sunset Beach. The slight westerly element infused a bit more diversity and life to the flight overall, though forward migrants were on the slow side. Regardless, there were some nice surprises, and totals of 34 species and 243 individuals were counted.

This morning featured a bit more warbler diversity with three American Redstarts, one each of Louisiana and Northern Waterthrush along with two unidentified waterthrushes, and the season’s first Yellow-throated Warber. Two southbound groups of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers totaled 13, and swallows were represented by 55 Barn, 18 Northern Rough-winged, and 22 Purple Martins. Dragonflies were also moving a bit this morning including 16 Common Green Darners.

American Redstart

Barn Swallow

The major highlight came in the second hour when five Brown Boobies were spotted way out on the horizon over the Chesapeake Bay in a small feeding frenzy of terns! All five showed well but distantly for several minutes before flocking up and vanishing somewhere out in the bay. Brown Boobies are a rare but regular and increasing summer and fall visitor to the upper Chesapeake, though they are seldom seen from land in Virginia. All previous records of this species at Sunset Beach have occurred alongside Northern Gannets in later fall, and it is also worth noting that five is the new state high count for the species!

Other bay activity included a close southbound Wilson’s Storm-Petrel as well as seven Black Terns stopping to feed with other tern flocks as they worked their way south. There seems to be an abundance of food at the moment in the bay, and it will be interesting to see if this keeps providing foraging opportunities for seabirds. Steady southwest winds will continue tomorrow, and it could be another interesting day!

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s daily migration update on CVWO blog and social media, and follow along with the count live every morning on Trektellen: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/3748/20260806

Eastern Shore Migration Update: August 5, 2026

There was little in the way of reorientation flight of nocturnal migrants at this morning’s Sunset Beach Morning Flight Count, though there were still a fair number of forward migrants moving into southerly winds. Totals of 29 species and 513 individuals were counted.

Purple Martins continue to be one of the most numerous migrants with 319 counted, and 72 Barn Swallows also constituted a significant portion of the flight. Eleven Northern Rough-winged Swallows were also counted, and interestingly the 2026 season total of this species is now significantly ahead of the entire 2025 total (51 vs 35).

Other highlights included a tight flock of 10 southbound Common Terns over land early on, three Great Egrets, 16 Brown Pelicans in apparent active migration, and an Eastern Willet crossing over to the Chesapeake Bay. There were also a handful of Common, Sandwich, and Royal terns hitting schools of fish close off the beach for the first time so far this year. And on slow days, the friendly local Northern Mockingbirds are a reliable source of entertainment.

Great Egret

Brown Pelican

Northern Mockingbird

The current pattern of southerly flow will continue for close to a week, though occasional shifts to the southwest may drift a few migrants over to the Eastern Shore even without a strong migration movement with more favorable conditions.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s daily migration update on CVWO social media and the CVWO blog: https://vawildliferesearch.org/cvwo-blog

And follow along with the count live every morning on Trektellen: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/3748/20260802

Eastern Shore Migration Update: August 4, 2026

 

Yesterday’s prediction of a slow day for reorienting migrants was not born out this morning at Sunset Beach; by contrast it was a great diverse morning for both forward and reverse migrants alike! The cold front to our north clearly encouraged a number of migrants to initiate migration last night, and light north-northwest winds just barely reaching the region predawn was enough to drift a number of early migrants to the Eastern Shore. Totals of 48 species and1083 individuals were counted this morning.

Today’s flight was variable as were the conditions throughout the morning, though the count period was influenced by fairly heavy cloud cover with the sun only occasionally breaking through. Brighter periods of sunshine seemed to correlate with more movement early in the day, though forward migrants picked up later on under heavier clouds. Migrants were dominated by 270 Red-winged Blackbirds, 201 White Ibis, and a significant southbound flight of 151 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, likely a new high count for the state! Warblers had their best morning of the year so far with a good count of 36 American Redstarts along with three Northern Yellow Warblers, two Pine Warblers, two Louisiana Waterthrushes, and one each of Northern Waterthrush and Black-and-white Warbler, both first-of-seasons.

Northern Waterthrush

White Ibis

Louisiana Waterthrush

Other highlights of this diverse morning included three Hudsonian Whimbrel, 24 Chimney Swifts, three American Kestrels, and a flock of six Gull-billed Terns dropping out of the low clouds as they moved down south to the Chesapeake Bay. Swallows also had a good day led by 157 Barn Swallows and 94 Purple Martins, as well as two first-of-season Bank Swallows.

Gull-billed Tern

Chimney Swift

American Redstart

Southerly winds are forecasted overnight and into tomorrow morning which will likely stall most overnight migration. It seems plausible some birds will still be moving around following today’s heavier movement, especially forward migrants like swallows that may continue into lighter headwinds.  

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s daily migration update on the CVWO blog, and follow along with the count live every morning on Trektellen: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/3748/20260802

Eastern Shore Migration Update: August 3, 2026

Conditions stayed essentially dry this morning at Sunset Beach, though rain in the area and strong south-southwesterly winds put a damper on the volume of migrants. Despite the slower day, there were still a couple uncommon surprises this morning. Totals of 19 species and 157 individuals were counted.

Land bird activity was clearly suppressed by the wind and the at times gloomy and low overcast cloud cover, though a few birds were still moving. Purple Martins (69) were much diminished compared with the numbers over the weekend, and Barn Swallows (7) were the only other swallow species detected. A couple waders including the season’s first three Glossy Ibis and two northbound Yellow-crowned Night Herons were nice to see, the latter of which was not detected all of last season and only has one prior record from this site. A juvenile Peregrine Falcon provided some excitement as it drifted in overhead before shooting off to harass an Osprey. Like yesterday's bird, this Peregrine sported green leg bands and could well be the same individual hanging around the area. Two Gull-billed Terns also made a pass out over the highway before drifting back to the northeast.

Peregrine Falcon

Bald Eagle

With not much happening over the peninsula, it was a good morning to pay close attention to movement over the Chesapeake Bay. Another distant Wilson’s Storm-Petrel was spotted fluttering south, and terns were steadily trickling south into the wind, The full roster of expected tern species was nearly reached with 17 Common, 17 Sandwich, 15 Royal, two Least, and one each Forster’s and Black Tern counted, leaving only Caspian or a rare surprise unseen. Black Terns in particular often appear with unsettled conditions and frontal boundaries, and the coming week may well yield more of this locally uncommon migrant.

Forster's Tern

Tomorrow’s weather is predicted to shift to light winds from the northeast by the morning, though overnight southerlies and rain to our north will likely limit overnight migration. Depending on if any precipitation occurs, it could be a good morning for forward migrants like swallows.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s daily migration update on the CVWO blog, and follow along live every morning on Trektellen: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/3748/20260802

Eastern Shore Migration Update: August 2, 2026

Today’s Sunset Beach Morning Flight count featured an enjoyably busy and diverse flight of 1086 individuals and 38 species. While steady southeast winds were not conducive to a significant flight of reorienting nocturnal migrants, forward migrants were on the move today dominated heavily by Purple Martins (800) which flowed south in a steady overhead stream throughout the morning. Blue-gray Gnatcatchers also put in a strong early showing with 40 southbound individuals, and these tiny birds’ pale plumage and high flight path put our counters’ “gnat vision” to the test.

Cliff Swallow

Orchard Oriole

A handful of other swallows embedded in the Purple Martin flight provided some nice diversity and great views throughout the morning as they hugged the bay shore, including 32 Tree, 15 Barn, 12 Northern Rough-winged, and one Cliff Swallow, a fairly rare and sporadic migrant on the Eastern Shore. There was a taste of shorebird diversity as well with two Solitary Sandpipers, three Lesser Yellowlegs and one Stilt Sandpiper, a first record for Sunset Beach! Other highlights included a juvenile Peregrine Falcon blasting south overhead, Orchard Orioles (6) moving in both directions, a trickle of southbound Common Terns (34), and a definitively local Yellow-billed Cuckoo carrying nesting material for the second morning in a row, a stark reminder that some species are very much still in the thick of their breeding season.

Summer Tanager

Pileated Woodpecker

Purple Martin

The forecast for tomorrow shows south winds with steady rain throughout the morning. Precipitation events have the potential to bring down migratory waterbirds including shorebirds and terns, though heavy rainfall will likely halt most migration and potentially delay or cancel the count. Barring truly unworkable conditions, we will still be out to see what’s flying at Sunset Beach!

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s daily migration update here on the CVWO blog, and follow along live every morning on Trektellen: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/3748/20260802

Eastern Shore Migration Update: August 1, 2026

Today marked the first day of the second season of the Sunset Beach Morning Flight Count! It was a diverse morning for the start of the season on steady southwest winds, with a total of 638 individuals and 38 species counted. Fittingly, the first bird counted for the official start of the season was one of the day’s three Louisiana Waterthrushes, a scarce and iconic and early season migrant on the Eastern Shore! 

Other highlights of the morning included three Northern Yellow Warblers, a noticeable southbound push of Brown Pelicans (51), a strong swallow flight heavily dominated by Purple Martins (375) with a smattering of Northern Rough-winged Swallows (25), a high count for a locally uncommon migrant. The morning was capped by a nice Wilson’s Storm-Petrel southbound over the bay spotted by count coordinator Andrew Rapp, a fairly rare sight at Sunset with only a handful of detections last season.

Purple Martin

Brown Pelican

Monarch

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Conditions shift tomorrow with a stronger southeast wind, which likely will stall out all but the most persistent early season migrants. Still, there’s no telling what a morning at Sunset could hold, and it’s possible some diurnal forward migrants like swallows will still attempt movement.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s daily migration update here on the CVWO blog!

And follow along live every morning on Trektellen: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/3748/20260801

CVWO Sunset Beach Morning Flight Count returning August 1st!

Though it may still feel like we are deep in the heat of summer, birds are showing that fall is just around the corner! On Virginia's Eastern Shore, the skies are already beginning to fill with early season migratory birds.

CVWO is hot on the heels of these early migrants with Baxter Beamer returning for the second season of the Sunset Beach Morning Flight Count on August 1st, accompanied by daily Eastern Shore Migration Updates on the CVWO Blog and social media! The Kiptopeke Hawkwatch will also be back in action in a few short weeks with Sage Church and Audrey Anderson returning at the end of August!

In just the last week, sightings on the Eastern Shore include shorebirds like Hudsonian Whimbrel and Pectoral Sandpiper pouring through en masse from arctic breeding grounds, Black Terns dropping in with a stalled cold front, and Mississippi Kites staging for their imminent migration. As always on the Shore, surprises are in store like this second year Arctic Tern at the Chincoteague NWR Beach!

Hudsonian Whimbrel, Wachapreague Marshes, 24 July

Pectoral Sandpiper, Chincoteague NWR, 25 July

Mississippi Kite, Frogstool Road, 24 July

Black Tern, Chincoteague NWR, 22 July

Arctic Tern, Chincoteague NWR, 23 July

Stay tuned for more in just a few days, and come visit our counters once the season is underway!

And get ready for live migration updates on Trektellen: https://trektellen.nl/site/info/3748