Eastern Shore Migration Uodate: October 17, 2025

Eastern Shore Migration Update: October 14, 2025

North winds continued last night and allowed for ideal migratory conditions. Unlike last night, nocturnal migration was more moderate following the massive push the night before, but there were still lots of birds moving around today. The Sunset Beach Morning Flight Count totaled 54 species and 1834 individuals.

Highlights at Sunset Beach included more flocks of Fish Crows totaling 160, 28 Ring-necked Ducks, the season’s first three Pine Siskins, and a solid diversity of winter passerine movement. Birds today were a little more disorganized with notably southbound and northbound movements. A Chimney Swift on the late side hung around for most of the morning, readily recognizable as the same individual due to a distinctive bent primary on its right wing.

Chimney Swift

Cooper’s Hawk

The Kiptopeke Hawkwatch also had a diverse overall flight with 4500 individuals and 56 species. A nice total of 24 Northern Harriers continue a good streak for that species lately as our counters steadily approach 1000 harriers for the season. Other highlights included a nice blackbird flight, a couple Purple Finches, and a Dickcissel.

The biggest surprise of the day came when an adult Swainson’s Hawk was spotted circling low over the town of Cheriton in the early afternoon! Already a significant rarity, it is especially unusual that multiple Swainson’s are detected on the Eastern Shore in a given fall, and an adult bird is even more exceptional! Hopefully this bird will stick around the area and be detected on one of our counts in the coming days.

Swainson’s Hawk

Keep up with both of CVWO’s counts with our daily migration update on Facebook, Instagram, and the CVWO Blog: 

https://vawildliferesearch.org/cvwo-blog-1

Follow along with our counts live every morning on our Trektellen pages:

Sunset Beach Morning Flight: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/3748/20251017

Kiptopeke Hawkwatch: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/4022/20251017

Eastern Shore Migration Update: October 16, 2025

The arrival of an overnight cold front allowed for high overnight migration across the northeast and mid Atlantic. There was a noticeable chill to the air and a brisk north wind this morning at the Sunset Beach Morning Flight Count. After a very busy morning of counting for a full five hours of nonstop morning flight, totals of 65 species and 35843 individuals counted. 

Yellow-rumped Warblers dominated the flight as expected with 1639 northbound birds counted. A further 1011 warbler sp. were mostly far out to the east and unidentifiable, despite the high probability nearly all of these were Yellow-rumped. Enough other warblers were moving to leave room for uncertainty that every single warbler was Yellow-rumped. Totals of other late-season warblers including 32 Nashville, 6 Black-throated Green, and 5 Nashville warblers were nice to see. 

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Nashville Warbler

A good array of other winter songbirds were on the move including both kinglets, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Eastern Phoebes, Brown Creepers, and the season's first Hermit Thrush and Purple Finch. Fish Crows also seem to be moving in flocks, with 18 counted. Good diversity of other migrants including raptors were migrating throughout the morning, and a surprise Cackling Goose was seen flying over in a flock of 19 Canada Goose. 

Eastern Meadowlark

Cackling Goose (second from left) 

The Kiptopeke Hawkwatch had a slower flight today with 145 raptors counted. A few accipitrine hawks were moving early in the day, and a nice push of Northern Harriers took place in the evening. Like Sunset Beach, a number of winter passerines appear to be in in force, as well as two Lincoln's Sparrows.

Northerly winds should allow more migrants to move through the area tonight, though it will likely not be as busy a day as this morning. Winds will briefly shift around to the west and southwest before northly winds return early next week.

Keep up with both of CVWO’s counts with our daily migration update on Facebook, Instagram, and the CVWO Blog: 

https://vawildliferesearch.org/cvwo-blog-1

Follow along with our counts live every morning on our Trektellen pages:

Sunset Beach Morning Flight: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/3748/20251016

Kiptopeke Hawkwatch: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/4022/20251016

Eastern Shore Migration Update: October 15, 2025

Skies were clearer this morning during the Sunset Beach Morning Flight Count with scattered clouds and no rain in the area. North winds overnight allowed for more migratory movement than the past few days during the passing nor’easter. A nice diversity was moving throughout the day ahead of tonight’s arriving cold front. Totals of 46 species and 998 individuals were counted.

Morning flight today was moderate in volume be and fairly diverse. Songbirds had a better morning including 87 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 17 Northern Parulas, and 32 Gray Catbirds. An Eastern Meadowlark and two American Pipits were also nice to see as they moved north. The season’s first Northern Gannet southbound over the bay, and six Black Scoters were moving north close in. Great Blue Herons were moving south in small flocks all morning tallying 64. 

In the fourth hour a pink imposter was spotted in a flock of eight very distant Great Blue Herons— a Roseate Spoonbill! This is the third Northampton County record of Roseate Spoonbill, with the last record being a flyover bird at the Kiptopeke Hawkwatch two years ago to the day, also in with eight Great Blue Herons! Sometimes birds really do seem to appear like clockwork, though these were almost certainly different individuals.

Roseate Spoonbill with Great Blue Herons

The Kiptopeke Hawkwatch was much busier today with clearer skies and north winds. A total of 329 raptors were counted, mostly Accipitrine hawks with a few more falcons moving in the afternoon. A juvenile Peregrine Falcon made some especially nice passes in the afternoon, and a couple Nashville Warblers kept counters company throughout the day.

Peregrine Falcon

Red-tailed Hawk

Nashville Warbler

The cold front arriving tonight seems primed to bring a significant arrival of migrants overnight along with chilly temperatures tomorrow. The following night will also have favorable migrations. Winds shift around to the southwest through the weekend before another shot of north winds arrives next week.

Keep up with both of CVWO’s counts with our daily migration update on Facebook, Instagram, and the CVWO Blog: 

https://vawildliferesearch.org/cvwo-blog-1

Follow along with our counts live every morning on our Trektellen pages:

Sunset Beach Morning Flight: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/3748/20251015

Kiptopeke Hawkwatch: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/4022/20251015

Eastern Shore Migration Update: October 14, 2025

Conditions this morning on the lower Eastern Shore were very similar to yesterday morning, still windy and damp with strong 20-25 mph north winds and persistent mist. Overnight migration was again minimal, though slightly more reorienting migrants were counted this morning during the Sunset Beach Morning Flight Count. Though bay watching was slow, there were a few nice surprises and conditions eventually cleared allowing for a few birds to start flying. Totals of 29 species and 278 individuals were counted.

A couple of warblers were moving, highlighted by eight Northern Parulas and a Blackpoll Warbler. Very few waterfowl were migrating with only three distant Surf/Black Scoters, but a surprise northbound Snow Goose low over the bay and two Common Loons were nice to see. There was a nice later morning liftoff of raptors including 39 Sharp-shinned Hawks and a Red-shouldered Hawk missing many primary feathers on one wing.

Snow Goose

The Kiptopeke Hawkwatch had a slower day, with few raptors counted even after the mist stopped and skies cleared. Nine Osprey, 16 Sharp-shinned and eight Cooper’s were the most numerous species counted. A Lincoln’s Sparrow was hanging around again, typically a fairly rare migrant on the Eastern Shore. 

Late fall is well-known for vagrants and rarities on the Eastern Shore, and a Western Tanager at the Edward S. Brinkley Nature Preserve was a nice surprise in with a mixed flock. We will be keeping a close eye out for other strays with more favorable conditions in the coming days for more western migrants.

Western Tanager

Clear conditions tonight with a steady north wind provided ideal conditions for a big liftoff to our north, and tomorrow should be a much busier day than the last few days! Northerly winds continue for the rest of the week, and it should be a great time to see active migration and lots of late season migrants arriving wintering species like waterfowl and sparrows. As always, there’s the chance for something totally unexpected in the mix!

Keep up with both of CVWO’s counts with our daily migration update on Facebook, Instagram, and the CVWO Blog: 

https://vawildliferesearch.org/cvwo-blog-1

Follow along with our counts live every morning on our Trektellen pages:

Sunset Beach Morning Flight: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/3748/20251014

Kiptopeke Hawkwatch: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/4022/20251014

Eastern Shore Migration Update: October 13, 2025

Eastern Shore Migration Update: October 12-13, 2025

Yesterday’s conditions were not conducive to counting due to the passing nor’easter bringing heavy wind and steady rain to the Eastern Shore. Rain and winds cut the Sunset Beach Morning Flight Count short yesterday with just two birds counted in an hour, a Peregrine Falcon and a Black Skimmer moving south out over the bay. The Kiptopeke Hawkwatch did not fare much better in the countable windows throughout the day with only a few migratory raptors passing through. The most numerous species were Peregrine Falcons with seven counted.

Conditions at Sunset Beach were much better this morning, though still windy and damp with strong 23 mph north winds and steady drizzle. Overnight migration was negligible, and barely and land birds were moving. Rough conditions on the bay combined with the wind made for a nice morning of bay watching. Totals of 27 species and 206 individuals were counted.

Passerines were incredibly slow, highlighted by a small northbound group of three Golden-crowned Kinglets and a Red-eyed Vireo. Drizzle, low light and haze made for subpar viewing conditions on the water initially, though conditions gradually improved throughout the morning. Scoters were on the move with four Surf, 34 Black, and 66 unidentified Surf/Black Scoters counted. A first cycle Bonaparte’s Gull was a nice first of season, and a light morph adult Parasitic Jaeger was an exciting bird later in the morning.

Gray Catbird

Parasitic Jaeger

Despite the better counting conditions, the Kiptopeke Hawkwatch had an even slower day today. Raptor totals were singles of Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, American Kestrel, four Osprey, and three Merlin. Many more Yellow-rumped Warblers were hanging around the hawkwatch, with 73 southbound and 77 northbound.

Keep up with both of CVWO’s counts with our daily migration update on Facebook, Instagram, and the CVWO Blog: 

https://vawildliferesearch.org/cvwo-blog-1

Follow along with our counts live every morning on our Trektellen pages:

Sunset Beach Morning Flight: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/3748/20251013

Kiptopeke Hawkwatch: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/4022/20251013

Eastern Shore Migration Update: October 11, 2025

Eastern Shore Migration Update: October 11, 2025

Today’s Sunset Beach Morning Flight Count had east-northeast winds and cloudy skies. Not a ton was on the move compared to yesterday aside from Tree Swallows and Yellow-rumped Warblers. Totals of 29 species and 3060 individuals were counted. 

Fewer birds were on the move today, though Tree Swallows were moving all over the place again with 1185 southbound and 1413 northbound birds counted. Yellow-rumped Warblers had a considerably slower day than yesterday with 137 southbound and 31 northbound. A late Northern Waterthrush was good to see, as was an Eurasian Collared-Dove that hung out in the parking lot and sang a bit.

Eurasian Collared-Dove

The Kiptopeke Hawkwatch had a slower day with just over a hundred raptors counted. The top raptor was 55 Sharp-shinned Hawks. Tree Swallows were also on the move with 694 southbound and 467 northbound. There were a couple passerines around including a southbound Nashville Warbler and a northbound Scarlet Tanager.

A strong nor’easter passes offshore tonight bringing strong northeast winds and rain tomorrow. It will be a borderline day for counting, though the Sunset Beach Morning Flight Count will be attempted despite the conditions, and the Kiptopeke Hawkwatch will follow suite conditions pending. North and northwest winds will follow next week. 

Keep up with both of CVWO’s counts with our daily migration update on Facebook, Instagram, and the CVWO Blog: 

https://vawildliferesearch.org/cvwo-blog-1

Follow along with our counts live every morning on our Trektellen pages:

Sunset Beach Morning Flight: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/3748/20251011

Kiptopeke Hawkwatch: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/4022/20251011

Eastern Shore Migration Update: October 10, 2025

Winds switched around to the east overnight allowing for a strong liftoff of migrants that had arrived with the front the previous day. Without strongly favorable migratory conditions to the north, nocturnal migration was low by the time the sun came up. While numbers and diversity of reorienting migrants was low, forward migrants carried the morning, and 40 species and 5223 individuals were counted. 

With the low overnight migration and strong east winds, a more leisurely flight with adequate time to scrutinize the bay was anticipated, though this was not the case thanks to two abundant forward migrants. A steady stream of Tree Swallows and Yellow-rumped Warblers started up after sunrise and continued throughout the duration of the count. Totals of 2804 Tree Swallows and 1689 Yellow-rumped Warblers were clicked moving south, making for a very busy morning of counting. The season's first Dark-eyed Junco was nice to see too. 

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Though migration was fairly slow outside of the swallow and Yellow-rumped onslaught, there were still some nice highlights including the season's first (and location's first) American Golden-Plover, which flew fairly low overhead calling early on. Singles of Eastern Wood-Pewee, Baltimore Oriole, Northern Waterthrush, and Scarlet Tanager were nice reminders that winter hasn't truly set in yet. 

The Kiptopeke Hawkwatch had a somewhat slower day for raptors, though a trickle of low Accipitrines and falcons kept things lively. A low circling Common Loon was a highlight, a species we look forward to seeing many more of soon. The two aforementioned forward migrants likewise were moving south in high numbers as well, with totals of 3922 Tree Swallows and 711 Yellow-rumped Warblers southbound.

Merlin

More mention of insect migration is quite warranted, as Kiptopeke State Park is positively aflutter with Monarchs following the cold front. Dozens of these showy butterflies have descended on the goldenrod patches around the hawkwatch alongside clouds of Common Buckeyes, a couple Painted Ladies, and one Gulf Fritillary. Over 100 Monarchs were tagged today, with the highest concentrations occurring along the beach. 

Monarch with tag

A strong nor'easter is poised to affect the coast starting tomorrow night with steady to heavy rain anticipated Sunday, likely making for rain days for both of our counts. Winds switch around to the north and northwest for the duration of next week, which should resume migration in force and continue bringing in arrivals as well as accelerating departures of lingering migrants.

Keep up with both of CVWO’s counts with our daily migration update on Facebook, Instagram, and the CVWO Blog: 

https://vawildliferesearch.org/cvwo-blog-1

Follow along with our counts live every morning on our Trektellen pages:

Sunset Beach Morning Flight: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/3748/20251010

Kiptopeke Hawkwatch: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/4022/20251010

 

Eastern Shore Migration Update: October 9, 2025

An overnight cold front provided exceptional migratory conditions across the eastern half of the continent last night. From the Gulf Coast to Maine, vast numbers of birds lifted off and moved south en masse. Estimates from BirdCast this to be a record setting night of migration since their forecasting has begun, with over 1.2 billion birds taking to the wing last night across the country. With steady north-northeast winds and clear skies, a number of these birds made it to the Eastern Shore last night. The Sunset Beach Morning Flight Count had an excellent day, with 71 species and 2589 individuals counted in active migration. 

The diversity of the flight this morning was excellent, with no single taxonomic group standing out significantly. Warblers are now solidly dominated by Yellow-rumped with 279 counted. Northern Parulas are hanging on with 84. Winter was in the air with the northbound movements of 6 Brown Creepers, 27 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, a Rusty Blackbird, and several Eastern Towhees, White-throated and Swamp Sparrows hanging around the count site. Gray Catbirds had another good flight with 267 counted. 

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

There was no trace of yesterday's Blue-winged Teal movement, with only nine Green-winged Teal and 40 very distant ducks counted. White Ibis were moving out in strong numbers with 427 counted. There were a couple of nice rare migrants that were also first-of-seasons including a Connecticut Warbler with documentation photos cinching the identification after the count, and a sneaky Black-billed Cuckoo offering fleeting glimpses as it shot into the trees. 

Many mornings at Sunset Beach come with surprises, though today's might take the cake for one of the most unexpected yet. What our counters thought was a dark duck appeared moving north out over the bay passing the pylons, but continued study soon revealed the white wing stripe and red bill of a Common Gallinule! We're not sure which one of us was more confused, but the gallinule seemed to be working hard to find better habitat than the wide expanse of open Chesapeake Bay.

The Kiptopeke Hawkwatch also had a very diverse day of passerines and other species along with over 300 individual raptors. A total of 7,666 birds were counted, with 5,147 of which were Tree Swallows. A Lincoln's Sparrow and a first-of-season Orange-crowned Warbler were other notable songbird sightings. 

Further highlighting the incredible diversity out here on the Eastern Shore right now, a vocal Bicknell's Thrush was found at Eastern Shore of Virginia NWR. Bicknell's Thrushes are a rare species that only nests in stunted spruce/balsam forest on high peaks in the Northeast and the maritime provinces. It is likely that the Eastern Shore represents an important flyway for this cryptic species on its way to wintering grounds on Hispaniola. 

Bicknell's Thrush

East winds return tomorrow which will likely allow a number of birds to depart tonight as they continue their way past the Eastern Shore. By late Saturday and through Sunday, a significant nor'easter is forecasted to arrive in the region. Migration will likely have to take another break during this period. We will upload the blog if it seems likely this weather system will have noticeable impact on birds and birding here. 

Keep up with both of CVWO’s counts with our daily migration update on Facebook, Instagram, and the CVWO Blog: 

https://vawildliferesearch.org/cvwo-blog-1

Follow along with our counts live every morning on our Trektellen pages:

Sunset Beach Morning Flight: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/3748/20251009

Kiptopeke Hawkwatch: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/4022/20251009

Eastern Shore Migration Update: October 7-8, 2025

It has been a slow two days on the shore. Winds on October 7 were a light 6mph from the south. The sky and bay were both incredibly slow. A total of 33 species and 209 individuals were counted.

Warblers were almost nonexistent with 10 total individuals of five species. The notable bird of the morning were two American Pipits flying high heading north. This is a first of the season for Sunset Beach.

Red Saddlebags

An impressive flight of Saddlebags picked up in the last hour of the count. Forty total saddlebags moved overhead with 36 Carolina, two Black, and two Red Saddlebags. Red Saddlebags have been putting on a show in Cape May with incredibly high numbers being found. This species can be tricky to identify, so it has likely been overlooked for the most part on the shore the past week. Red Saddlebags is a far southern species that often surges north in the fall. In years past on the Eastern Shore, I have noticed Red Saddlebags numbers increase after days of hot sunny south/southwest winds. It makes sense that with the conditions today some were active.

If October 7 was bad, October 8 was on another level of slow. There was not a single reverse migrant bird recorded this morning. Winds were strong 18 mph from the southwest throughout the count which made the bay pretty rough in the early morning hours. A total of 7 species and 896 individuals were counted.

The big star of the morning was 878 Blue-winged Teal moving south in the Chesapeake Bay. The southwest winds and overcast skies kept the teal moving throughout the morning along the eastern edge of the bay. Most of the flocks were in the range of 25-30 with two over a hundred and one group of 55. My hypothesis is that this more early migrant sensed the incoming strong cold front and decided today was the day to move south. It was interesting that no other species were mixed into the Blue-winged Teal flocks.

Tomorrow is forecasted to be an incredible flight along the mid-Atlantic coast. A strong cold front will likely bring many of our winter birds down as well as large waterfowl numbers in the bay. After today it will be really fascinating if there are any Blue-winged Teals tomorrow or if other waterfowl species will replace.

Keep up with both of CVWO’s counts with our daily migration update on Facebook, Instagram, and the CVWO Blog: 

https://vawildliferesearch.org/cvwo-blog-1

Follow along with our counts live every morning on our Trektellen pages:

Sunset Beach Morning Flight: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/3748/20251005

Kiptopeke Hawkwatch: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/4022/20251005