Swallows took a break this morning and gave other passerines a chance to shine. Twenty-one Blue-gray Gnatcatchers almost certainly underrepresents the true number of these tiny passerines lost high in the wide blue sky. A good waterthrush flight including two Louisiana, one Northern, and nine unidentified waterthrushes out to the east were nice to see, and further documented the notable presence of Louisiana on the Shore this time of year. American Redstarts also had their best day so far, with 21 counted.
Today also featured a number of new species for the count, all non-passerines. Wood Duck, Mallard, Sandwich Tern, Broad-winged Hawk, and American Kestrel were all firsts. Notably early for Broad-winged Hawk, a juvenile showed very nicely as it cruised low to the north over the parking lot. This species tends to be rather hesitant to depart across the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, and many seen at Kiptopeke Hawkwatch in the fall soar around the peninsula for long periods while trying to muster the courage for a crossing. Perhaps this northbound juvenile had just gotten its first look at the considerable obstacle lying in its path, and decided today was not the day.
Juvenile Broad-winged Hawk
Seldom seen from Sunset Beach, a high flock of eight Mallards over the bay was an interesting sighting.
Mallard flock
Perhaps the most surprising and out-of-place sighting of the day took place at the edge of the pool, when an interesting sparrow popped out of the grass and dashed off across the pool deck. This juvenile Seaside Sparrow definitely has a little work to do when it comes to identifying suitable saltmarsh habitat, but hopefully its poolside visit was relaxing once it found another patch of grass to hide in.
Juvenile Seaside Sparrow making a run for it
Tomorrow features a lighter wind shifting around to the east, and our Morning Flight Coordinator Andrew Rapp will be filling in for his weekly count day. We'll watch for his updates tomorrow with much anticipation!
Andrew's Eastern Shore Migration Update will be up tomorrow right here on the CVWO Blog. Follow along with his sightings tomorrow in real-time on Trektellen here: https://trektellen.nl/site/info/3748
