I stayed down at OC last night and was able to bird Assateague again this
am.  The winds were still slightly out of the NW early and there was another
very good migrant flight at Bayside/Point (0628 - 1000).  Numbers were
slightly below yesterday but species diversity was better.

 

Warblers:  Blue-wing (2), N. Parula (12), Yellow (9), Magnolia (8),
Black-throated Blue (13), Black-throated Green (1), Palm (w) (2),
Black-and-white (2), Am. Redstart (55), Prothonatary (1), Northern
Waterthrush (3), Cm. Yellowthroat (4), Wilson's (2) and warbler (sp.) 40.
More sp. and fewer redstarts today.

 

Other migrants at the point included Ruby-thr. Hummingbird (2), Eastern Wood
Pewee (1), E. Kingbird (7), Red-eyed Vireo (14, one flock of 4-5), Bobolink
(17), and Baltimore Oriole (20).  Of interest was a single Downy Woodpecker,
flying "migrant style" for a brief period over the point area.  I once saw a
Brown-headed Nuthatch (which is rare here) do the same thing. 

 

Non-warbler highlight was a single imm. Lark Sparrow, first spotted in top
of the trees around the canoe rental shed, then fed in the grass just to the
west, between the parking lot and bay (within the big sit circle at times!).
Very tame, I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.  About my 15th on
Assateague, first since '03.

 

http://www.pbase.com/wcbirding/lasp_20060908

 

Also did the ORV zone (to Fox Hill Levels).  Very nice tern flocks, but
couldn't match Jim's Sandwich count from a couple weeks ago, I had eight.
Also 500 Royals, 60 Caspian, 80 Common and 50 Forster's.  Quite a tern show.
Also a single female Surf Scoter out in the ocean.  Photos of one of the
Sandwich Terns (thought taken when I was down there last weekend at
http://www.pbase.com/wcbirding/sate_20060903).

 

Also posted pics of yesterday's very accommodative Philly Vireo on my
website.  Doesn't get much better than this!!

 

http://www.pbase.com/wcbirding/phvi_20060907

 

 

Mark L Hoffman

Sykesville, MD