Sharp-shinned Hawk

Sharp-shinned Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk, by Steve Thornhill

Friday, August 8, 2025

Eastern Shore Migration Update: August 8, 2025

Today's weather at Sunset Beach featured a more northerly component to the continuing northeast flow, as well as a little more sunshine today. The flight ended up being a good bit more active than yesterday, with 35 species and 634 individuals counted. Things warmed up quickly with a nice southbound Barn Swallow flight with 281 counted throughout the morning, as well as 15 Purple Martins and 5 Bank Swallows. Chimney Swifts were also moving with the swallows, with 37 counted. The early morning was busy enough that a clicker was needed to count swallows for the second time so far this season, but the flight soon trailed off after the initial swallow push.

Bank Swallow

Though swallows once again made up a significant portion of the flight, there was a good spread of taxonomic diversity. Notable sightings included two high southbound Killdeer, a northbound Whimbrel, four Great Egrets departing out over the bay, two southbound and two northbound Belted Kingfishers, first-of-season Worm-eating Warbler and Summer Tanager. Five Eastern Kingbirds moved north in a flock, hinting at the much larger movements of this species to come over the next several weeks. A juvenile Cooper's Hawk also dove into the bushes next to the parking lot but emerged without prey. 

Eastern Kingbird

Tomorrow should have very similar conditions to today, and we're hopeful that the flight will be similarly busy! It may be the last day in the immediate future with northeast winds forecast, so we will enjoy them while they last. More easterly and then southerly winds appear to be in store after tomorrow, and it will be interesting to see how migration changes with the upcoming pattern shift. 

Stay tuned for tomorrow's daily Eastern Shore Migration Update here on the CVWO Blog, and be sure to catch us live every morning on Trektellen to follow real-time updates to the count: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/3157/20250808