Sorry for the delay in responding, I haven't quite had the time to sit down and write a long post.


Sean wrote:
"I also
find it interesting that the number of Yellow-bellied reports increase in the fall. Of course it could
be as simple as a different route in fall migration compared to spring migration,
and because of nesting there is just more birds. I wonder, does anyone else ask the
same question as this? Is there an answer for this. Did you notice a difference in banding in
the spring compared to the fall?"


A different migration pattern is exactly the case here.  It is quite common for birds to use the central flyway in the spring and use a more easterly route in the fall.  This is case for many circum-gulf migrants.  Personally, I have never worked at a banding station in the spring, but from the information that I know, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher is a more predominant migrant in the fall.  This is the case for several other migrants, Tennessee Warbler, Lincoln's Sparrow, Baird's Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, and many others.  Spring birding in Texas is enjoyable to me because I get to see a ton of birds in the spring that I would never have had the opportunity to see in MD.

Just a quick side note, though we see more Connecticut Warblers in the fall, they do not the migration pattern mentioned above, but rather come north across Florida from the Caribbean and migrate west of the Appalachians, Cape May Warbler uses this same pattern.

With a group such as empids, the birds are so similar that some should not be identified without good looks.  However, other than Willow/Alder and Pac-slope/Cordilleran, I have never heard anyone say that silent empids are unidentifiable. I've spent a long time studying calling migrants and singers on the breeding grounds and feel that many of the differences are consistent enough to use on non-calling birds in the fall.  I will also reiterate that banding birds is a fabulous way increase your experience.

About Turkey Point, it is one of my favorite birding spots in the state, but I have never gotten before October.  Recently, I've spent so much time on Assateague that I haven't birded much else in the fall.  I'd love to get up there soon.

This has been a fun discussion.

Matt Hafner
Bel Air, MD