another flight

Another big flight of Yellow-rumped Warblers took place this morning at dawn with hundeds -- perhaps thousands -- of birds flying in across the marsh and from Shinnecock Bay. This time, instead of flying up the marsh (as they did yesterday), the birds came across the pond moving up along the portion of the property that borders Weesuck Creek, heading north/northwest. My guess is that these birds were moving along the barrier beach or even out in the ocean and when dawn arrived causing them to veer inland across the bay (or following the bay shoreline) to find nourishment as well as r&r. In any case, it was quite a spectacle.

It was, in fact, a gorgeous morning with clear skies, a moon just a day or two past full, a vivid red sunrise, almost no wind and temperatures just enough on the cool side to induce any self-respecting migrant to head south.

Mixed in with the Yellow-rumps (or left over from previous arrivals) were a number of birds including five other warbler species: Black-throated Blue, Blackpoll, N. Parula, American Redstart and Common Yellowthroat. Also Golden-crowned (not noted yesterday) as well as Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Eastern Phoebe, a steady stream of Tree Swallows overhead, Brown Thrasher, a flock of c. 50 Cedar Waxwings, many Swamp and Song Sparrows. The alarm 'chink' of a White-throated Sparrow was heard confirming the presence of that bird.

Eileen Schwinn miraculously spotted a Screech Owl roosting in a densely foliated portion of maple tree (the Blue Jays actually spotted it first and set up a racket but even so it seemed impossible to locate until she found it!). Last night there was a Great Horned Owl hooting right in front of the house as I walked the dog. So both our 'common' local owls are about.

Eric Salzman