With the calm conditions, the local "no-see-ums" or flying midges noted yesterday by Middle Management were out again, and the aerial insectivores seemed to be taking advantage of them. Barn Swallows continued to dominate, with a solid movement of 190 zipping past throughout the morning, the vast majority southbound. Sixty Chimney Swifts were also counted, and they proved much harder to keep track of than the swallows with lots of movement back and forth all over the sky.
Songbird migration was slow overall, with only four Pine Warblers, three American Redstarts, two Yellow Warblers, and one Prairie Warblers representing migrating warblers. Two Summer Tanagers were also counted, and this one offered a nice if backlit view as it flew over.
Summer Tanager
One of the earlier local breeders to depart the area, two Eastern Willets were nice to see. One was distant over the bay with two Westerns offering a nice comparison between the two, and the other was a bit closer in overhead. Eastern and Western Willet subspecies are very distinct in voice, structure, and plumage, and with an entirely allopatric breeding range, the two subspecies are likely candidates for full species status in the future.
Eastern Willet
Western Willets (left) trailing an Eastern Willet (right), note the slighter, more yellowlegs-like structure of the Eastern as well as the narrower white wing stripe and darker body plumage of Eastern
The slower flight allowed for appreciation of some of the local songbirds moving past the parking lot. The four local Brown-headed Nuthatches were out and about this morning, and this one stopped in the palm tree showing off its cuteness for a few moments longer than the regular daily flyby.
Brown-headed Nuthatch
After counting one southbound earlier, this Prairie Warbler was spotted moving with the mixed flock of nuthatches and chickadees in the shrubs bordering the parking lot.
Prairie Warbler
Three Gull-billed Terns passed south low over the bay just before the end of the count. Uncommon but fairly widespread in the barrier island lagoon system on the seaside of the Eastern Shore, a bayside sighting is a rare treat and the species is new for the season!
Distant Gull-billed Terns
A reversal in wind direction appears to be in store this week, starting tomorrow with light southwest winds that appear to build through Wednesday. Though it is difficult to predict what effect this will have on migration, it's possible a slightly different suite of species may begin to arrive on the southwesterlies such as Cliff Swallow. Only time will tell!
See what we find tomorrow right here on the CVWO Blog with our daily Eastern Shore Migration Update, and be sure to track the Sunset Beach Morning Flight Count live with real time updates on Trektellen: https://trektellen.nl/site/info/3748
