September 13, 2008 [LINK / comment]
More fall migrants arrive
September is well underway, and right on schedule, many of the birds that spent the summer in Canada and the northern U.S.A. are passing through Virginia. I haven't spent as much time outside as usual for this time of year, but I did put in several bird-watching hours during the latter part of last week. What follows are brief summaries (highlights only) from recent reports I have submitted to the eBird system (http://ebird.org/VA).
Bell's Lane, Sept. 1
- Osprey -- 1
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird -- 5
- Empid (Acadian ?) Flycatcher -- 1
- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher -- 1
- Cedar Waxwing -- 2
- Common Yellowthroat -- 1
- Indigo Bunting -- 1
- Baltimore Oriole -- 1
In addition, good numbers of Catbirds, Mockingbirds, Brown Thrashers, Bluebirds, and Goldfinches are regularly seen around Bell's Lane. There are no Red-wing blackbirds left, however, and any remaining Meadowlarks have gone silent.
Barren Ridge, Sept. 1
- Common Nighthawk -- 4
- Eastern Wood-Pewee -- 1
Bell's Lane, Sept. 2
- Double-crested Cormorant -- 1
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird -- 4
- American Kestrel -- 1
- Empid (Acadian ?) Flycatcher -- 1
- Magnolia Warbler -- 1
- Wilson's Warbler -- 1
- Indigo Bunting -- 2
- House Finch -- 2
Bell's Lane, Sept. 3
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird -- 4
- Belted Kingfisher -- 1
- Empid (Acadian ?) Flycatcher -- 1
Bell's Lane, Sept. 5
- Great Blue Heron -- 1
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird -- 3
- Empid (Acadian ?) Flycatcher -- 1
- Eastern Phoebe -- 2
- Baltimore Oriole -- 1
Sherando Lake, Sept. 5
- Red-bellied Woodpecker -- 1
- Red-eyed Vireo -- 1
- White-breasted Nuthatch -- 2
- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher -- 1
- Magnolia Warbler -- 1
- Black-throated Green Warbler -- 1
- Pine Warbler -- 2
- Black-and-white Warbler -- 2
Coyner Springs Park, Sept. 5
- Great Blue Heron -- 2
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird -- 3
- Downy Woodpecker -- 1
- White-breasted Nuthatch -- 1
- Orange-crowned (or Tennessee?) Warbler -- 1
- Magnolia Warbler -- 1
- American Goldfinch -- 4
If the weather cooperates, I may get a chance to find another significant cluster of warblers and other neotropical migrants in coming days. Only two or three more weeks before they're gone for the year...