Hi Everyone,
Jim Brighton and I led a Montgomery Bird Club trip to Assateague Island on Saturday, 9/12. It was a fun group, and the 16 sets of eyes paid off in great sightings throughout the day. We began the day with an unforgettable morning flight at Bayside, spent the rest of the morning working migrant flocks on Assateague, and then worked a scenic and productive route to Hurlock. Without targeting a high species tally we ended with about 122 species. Standing out among highlights were LARK SPARROW, the continuing MARBLED GODWIT, two BLACK TERNs, two SANDWICH TERNs, five migrant DICKCISSELs, 14 species of warbler including WILSON'S, NASHVILLE, and TENNESSEE; and impressive morning flights of MAGNOLIA WARBLER (27), AMERICAN REDSTART (166), and BALTIMORE ORIOLE (125). These latter totals are conservative and represent only the minimum Bayside counts before 9:00 a.m. New arrivals included RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, and NORTHERN SHOVELERs. We also
had COMMON NIGHTHAWKs in three Eastern Shore counties (two counties in the remaining daylight after ending the trip). Below are the customary full Assateague lists, followed by abridged lists for the rest of the day.
Before that, thanks to the trip participants, all of whom helped us find good birds: Jim Brighton (co-leader), Stan Arnold, Ed Carlson and Stacy, Diane Ford, John Hubbell, Frode Jacobsen (on fire yesterday!), Taylor McLean, Jim Moore, Evelyn Ralston, Lydia Schindler, Leslie Starr, Joe Turner, Anna Urciolo, Sally Wechsler. Thanks to Jim Brighton for helping design a great route despite a total of about 7 hours of sleep last week.
Assateague I. NS--Bayside
American Black Duck--13
Brown Pelican--8
Double-crested Cormorant--24
Great Blue Heron--1
Great Egret--19
Snowy Egret--22
Little Blue Heron--14
Tricolored Heron--14
white egret sp.--12
Glossy Ibis--9
Osprey--1
Bald Eagle--1
Merlin--1; A memorable scene. It made several dramatic attack runs on passerines in the morning flight, including several lyby Baltimore Orioles.
Peregrine Falcon--1; low flyby seen by all
American Golden-Plover--Frode only
Lesser Yellowlegs--69; two high-flying flocks (31, 39)
Semipalmated Sandpiper--8
Least Sandpiper--3
Laughing Gull--85
Ring-billed Gull--2
Herring Gull (American)--8
Great Black-backed Gull--3
Caspian Tern--3
Forster's Tern--6
Royal Tern--6
Rock Pigeon--1
Mourning Dove--2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird--2
Belted Kingfisher--1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)--2
Eastern Kingbird--1
Red-eyed Vireo--10
Fish Crow--23
Purple Martin--4
Tree Swallow--46
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH--1; first migrant of the season
Carolina Wren--6
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher--2
Veery--5; night migrants heard predawn
Swainson's Thrush--7; night migrants heard predawn
American Robin--1
Gray Catbird--4
Northern Mockingbird--2
Brown Thrasher--2
European Starling--5
Cedar Waxwing--28
NASHVILLE WARBLER--1; Bill and Jim B. only, I think
TENNESSEE WARBLER--1; Jim B. and Frode
Northern Parula--2
Yellow Warbler--2
MAGNOLIA WARBLER--27; impressive flight
Black-throated Blue Warbler--4
Black-throated Green Warbler--3
Prairie Warbler--3
Black-and-white Warbler--14
* AMERICAN REDSTART--count of 166 is conservative; impressive flight!
Common Yellowthroat--3
WILSON'S WARBLER--2; possibly up to 4
warbler sp.--28; many got away, some of them looking interesting for desirable species
LARK SPARROW--1; adult bird spotted by Jim Brighton and enjoyed by all via scope as it perched on the bike rack at Bayside
Northern Cardinal--2
Indigo Bunting--4
DICKCISSEL--3; flyovers seen, all calling diagnostic flight notes
Bobolink--14
Red-winged Blackbird--27
Boat-tailed Grackle--5
* BALTIMORE ORIOLE--125; very impressive flight! An effort was made to count each individual as it made the jump, often in groups of 12 to 25. Flight calls and chatter of this species were rarely out of earshot. 20 more between the campground and Life of the Marsh Trail.
Assateague Island NS--Bayside Campground
Double-crested Cormorant--6
Great Blue Heron--2
Great Egret--11
Snowy Egret--8
Little Blue Heron--2
Tricolored Heron--3
Black Vulture--2
Turkey Vulture--1
Osprey--1
Black-bellied Plover--2
Semipalmated Plover--1
Killdeer--1
Least Sandpiper--4
Laughing Gull--50
Herring Gull (American)--25
Caspian Tern--17
Forster's Tern--7
Royal Tern--11
Yellow-billed Cuckoo--1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)--1
Eastern Kingbird--1
Red-eyed Vireo--1
Vireo sp.--1; too-brief view of a Warbling/Philadelphia Vireo in Vireo Grove. Leaning toward Warbling, but couldn't call it.
Tree Swallow--800; conservative estimate; constantly 10-50 streaming by for duration of the walk
Bank Swallow--30
Carolina Wren--5
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher--1
Gray Catbird--12
Northern Mockingbird--4
European Starling--2
Cedar Waxwing--17
Yellow Warbler--2
Magnolia Warbler--1
Black-throated Green Warbler--1
Prairie Warbler--1
Black-and-white Warbler--1
American Redstart--2
Common Yellowthroat--1
Eastern Towhee--5
Northern Cardinal--2
Blue Grosbeak--4
DICKCISSEL--2; flybys, calling their diagnostic calls; also seen fairly well in flight.
Bobolink--2
Boat-tailed Grackle--2
BALTIMORE ORIOLE--19; add this to the 125 at Bayside proper!
Non-avian: Sachem (1), Common Wood-Nymph (2), American Lady (1), Cloudless Sulfur (1; spotted throughout the day), Red-banded Hairstreak (1).
Assateague I. NS--Life of the Marsh
Double-crested Cormorant--2
Great Egret--6
Snowy Egret--4
Little Blue Heron--3
Tricolored Heron--4
Cattle Egret--4; with ponies in the distance
Turkey Vulture--1
Osprey--1
Least Sandpiper--3
Laughing Gull--5
Herring Gull--20
Belted Kingfisher--1
Tree Swallow--30
Carolina Wren--1
Gray Catbird--1
Eastern Towhee--1
Red-winged Blackbird--6
Baltimore Oriole--1
American Goldfinch--1
Non-avian: American Lady, Seaside Dragonlet.
Castaways Campground (formerly Eagle's Nest Campground)
Black-bellied Plover--4
American Oystercatcher--1
Greater Yellowlegs--2
Willet (Western)--7
Lesser Yellowlegs--16
Caspian Tern--21
Forster's Tern--11
Royal Tern--2
SANDWICH TERN--2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird--4
Tree Swallow--50
Boat-tailed Grackle--1
Ocean City--Skimmer Island
Brown Pelican--146
Double-crested Cormorant--32
Snowy Egret--16
Little Blue Heron--1
Tricolored Heron--1
Cattle Egret--5
Semipalmated Plover--2
MARBLED GODWIT--1; continues; rich cinnamon color overall with huge, slightly upturned, bi-colored bill. Ruled out Bar-tailed by overall color and proportions.
Ruddy Turnstone--2
Sanderling--37
Laughing Gull--25
Herring Gull--35
Caspian Tern--9
Common Tern--6
Forster's Tern--1
Royal Tern--2
Berlin Area (private location)
SORA--1
Murray Sod Farm, Tull Road, Worcester Co.
Black-bellied Plover--13
Semipalmated Plover--1
Killdeer--21
Least Sandpiper--3
Forster's Tern--2
Horned Lark--20
Pocomoke Swamp--Sheppards Crossing, Worcester and Wicomico Co.
Eastern Wood-Pewee--1
Great Crested Flycatcher--1
Red-eyed Vireo--1
White-breasted Nuthatch--1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher--1
Northern Parula--2
Black-and-white Warbler--1
American Redstart--3
Prothonotary Warbler--1; getting late
Adkins Pond, Wicomico Co. - Encountered a nice flock almost immediately, before even making it to the boardwalk
Snow Goose--2; summered here
Ruby-throated Hummingbird--3
Eastern Wood-Pewee--1
Empidonax sp.--1
White-eyed Vireo--2
Red-eyed Vireo--1
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET--1; first of the season for all of us
YELLOW WARBLER--1; tricky in the county; my county closeout (#110)
Magnolia Warbler--1
Black-throated Green Warbler--1
Prairie Warbler--1
American Redstart--2
Northern Waterthrush--1
Summer Tanager--1
Rose-breasted Grosbeak--1
Baltimore Oriole--1; also tricky in Wicomico; my county closeout (#111)
Shiloh Church Turf Farm, Dorchester Co.
Canada Goose--95
American Kestrel--1 nearby
Peregrine Falcon--1; roosting on an irrigation machine
Killdeer--1; only shorebird to feed during the Peregrine's watch
Laughing Gull--140
COMMON NIGHTHAWK--3; very tough to locate on the Eastern Shore away from Assateague's tiny breeding population. Great spot by Frode! County bird for everyone except Jim Brighton, who grew up in Dorchester!
Yellow-breasted Chat--1; Bill only; spotted for a couple seconds in the corn field across the road
Blue Grosbeak--2
Bobolink--5
Hurlock WWTP, Dorchester Co.
Mallard--40
Blue-winged Teal--8
NORTHERN SHOVELER--6; flyover flock
Green-winged Teal (American)--5
Ruddy Duck--2; summered
Merlin--1
Spotted Sandpiper--1
Lesser Yellowlegs--20; flyby flock picked out by Frode; one bird stood out, appearing identical to the rest of the Lessers except with no legs visible (tucked, one must presume). I offered the name Least Yellowlegs.
Least Sandpiper--5
BLACK TERN--2; presumably continuing, still foraging over the same part of the WWTP as for the last couple weeks. Outstanding views for all, the birds even perching briefly on the white tubing
Purple Martin--15
Tree Swallow--150
Barn Swallow--8
Bobolink--1
After concluding the trip in Hurlock and parting ways, John Hubbell and I couldn't resist a run to try for more nighthawks. Hopelessly optimistic, we bomb down to Whitehaven Ferry in hopes of pulling out highly coveted county birds in both Wicomico and Somerset Counties.
Whitehaven Ferry, Wicomico and Somerset Co.
Laughing Gull--30
COMMON NIGHTHAWK--4; two on each side of the river
Within minutes we had two nighthawks feeding actively on each side of the river. Yeah! Grinning in disbelief, my county listing nemesis and I high-five and agree this calls for Plaza Tapatia. We are joined by Mike Walsh for Dos Equis and the day's recap. But more importantly, where will be at 4:30 a.m.? Where's the best place to listen for night migrants in Somerset?
Part II of the weekend, AKA Somerset Count, AKA "Hitting Hafner Where it Hurts" - later today.
County listers sleep during the week.
Good birding,
Bill
p.s. - It will be a couple days for the latest batch of photos, but there's a new update since the last time I posted: http://www.billhubick.com/new_set.html
Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland
http://www.billhubick.com |