Light north-northeast winds allowed for a massive liftoff of migrants last night as many of yesterday’s arrivals departed. The easterly component of the winds allowed for most migrants to stay inland off the coast. There was a light flight of reorienting migrants at Sunset Beach, and another good raptor flight at the Kiptopeke Hawkwatch. Totals of 48 species and 562 individuals were counted.
Warblers were a bit more scattered today with a higher percentage southbound than yesterday, and while the flight peaked early, there were a handful of birds moving later in the morning as well. American Redstarts took the lead with 41, though Northern Waterthrushes accounted for a significant proportion as well with 20. Numbers of other passerine migrants were also modest, including 72 Eastern Kingbirds and 49 Bobolinks.
American Redstart
For a slower day, there was a fair bit of other diversity in morning flight. Three northbound Common Nighthawks were the first of season for the count. White Ibis had a good morning with several large southbound flocks totaling 214, one including a single Glossy Ibis. Two juvenile Red-headed Woodpeckers made a nice low northbound pass, and an Eastern Red Bat gave good views as it flew in off the bay. Two of the most notable sightings were not in morning flight: the season’s first Seaside Sparrow lurking in the grasses on the edge of the parking lot, and a Wood Thrush giving pit volley calls from the southern tree line, a surprisingly scarce migrant in the area with only one previous eBird record at Sunset Beach.
The Kiptopeke Hawkwatch had another good morning of raptors, though many birds were very high up. Highlights included strong numbers of Osprey totaling 149, followed by 58 American Kestrels, a and a good showing of 16 Northern Harriers.
Tomorrow will likely be fairly similar to today on light northeast winds and clear skies. More southerly winds return mid-week, shifting to southwest on Thursday ahead of the next front.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s daily migration update on CVWO social media and the CVWO blog: https://vawildliferesearch.org/cvwo-blog
And follow along with the count
live every morning on Trektellen: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/3748/20260906
