Birds were on the move this morning over Sunset Beach. A total of 2695 individual migrants were recorded this morning. The winds shifted from moderate west southwest the previous few days to a light north northeast and east northeast later in the morning. The shift was just what the migrants to the north were waiting for as large numbers of migrants passed over. The big highlight of the morning was the Eastern Kingbird flight. In three and a half hours 575 individuals streamed south and, even after the count ended, more individuals were passing overhead. The kingbird flight was strongly tied to bayside with not nearly as notable of a seaside movement. The bayside movement is due to the eastern winds later in the morning that pushed kingbirds to the western edge of the peninsula.
Warblers were also on the move with many new season high counts. Warbler numbers include three Louisiana Waterthrush, four Northern Waterthrush, 12 Louisiana/Northern Waterthrush, 10 Black-and-white Warblers, one Prothonotary Warbler, 79 American Redstarts, one Northern Parula, 19 Yellow Warbler, two Pine Warblers, one Yellow-throated Warbler, and one Prairie Warbler.
In terms of the aerial insectivores, we had 26 Chimney Swifts, one Bank Swallow, one Tree Swallow, 11 Purple Martins, and 371 Barn Swallows. The Barn Swallows were really moving south today with a trickle throughout the morning.
Icterids were also on full display with our first Bobolink flocks totalling 165. 402 Red-winged Blackbirds, 18 blackbird sp., and 19 Common Grackles cruised over. Because they certainly do not deserve their own paragraph and barely deserve inclusion at all, Starlings also flew over today as they occasionally do. The head morning flight counter, who was supposed to be kicking back and relaxing on his day off, twisted my arm into counting a total of 316 European Starlings flailing overhead.
Wading bird movement was also notable with impressive ibis numbers. A total of 47 Glossy Ibis and 119 White Ibis passed over the beach this morning. Shorebirds also followed suit with several sizable flocks totalling 228 dowitchers far to the east over the refuge moving south. One small group of five Short-billed Dowitchers flew low overhead being escorted by none other than a Rock Pigeon. Rock Pigeons are comically or maybe thankfully scarce flying over Sunset Beach in the previous years of counting.
A fun early morning flight of Odonata was recorded in the first thirty minutes of the count with 33 Common Green Darners heading south in the early morning light.
After the count, many migrant warbler flocks were conjured out of the hot woods. Flocks consisted predominantly of American Redstarts and Black-and-White Warblers, but small numbers of Northern Waterthrushes, Worm-eating, Prairie, Yellow, Chestnut-sided, and Blackburnian Warblers. The huge highlight of the day was an immature Cerulean Warbler at the Cape Charles Natural Area Preserve. Cerulean is a big ticket item anywhere along the coast of Virginia and only one of few records for the county.
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The Psychology of a Counter
In a fun new column for the blog, today we will take the first step in understanding the psychology of a counter. Where do we even begin in understanding the lost mind of the bird counter? Easy. Today was the morning flight counter’s requested day off. The normal human being would enjoy a restful and relaxing day away from work, typically sleeping in, catching up with friends, or whatever else a normal human being does. Not a counter. Counters spend six days a week counting and get one day off. What do they do on their day off? That’s right. They show up at their job and enjoy heckling the relief counters. Pretty much they just do their job for a seventh day in the week. But why? Well, they spend six days a week tediously counting every bird that flies over and the last thing they want to happen is to miss the big flight or rarity that grace the bright eyed relief counters. Counting is a job that takes over the birder's life and glues them to a singular spot for months on end.
Disclaimer - CVWO provides all necessary resources for counters and Monarch biologists to enjoy a day off, but, as discussed, counters rarely actually enjoy a day off to catch up on normal life. It’s not our fault! We tried.
-Andrew
