Supermoon

We finally got a spectacular glimpse of Supermoon last night as it rose above Dune Road on a clear evening. We've had gray skies the rest of the time since we came out on April 30. Supermoon has also been producing Supertides -- both high and low.

Yellow Warbler was singing away this morning at the head of the marsh but no sign or sound of Common Yellowthroat. Are they just not in yet? Or are they in but skulking and not yet singing (many birds arrive exhausted from migration and take a few days before they start sing and claim territory and a mate)?

Great Crested Flycatcher is here and singing -- if that's the word for its repeated 'wheep' sound and comic croaks. One reason I'm very fond of this big 'Myiarchus' flycatcher is that it is really an out-of-place tropical bird, the northernmost of its kind. There are a couple of other species in the southwest (a literally misguided Ash-throated Flycatcher occasionally turns up here) but most of the almost two dozen species are found only south of the border. In Colombia, where we were in March, there are no less than 10 species and, as is typical for Myiarchus, they all look quite a bit alike. Some of these birds, like our Great Crested, have a wide range. Others, like the Apical Flycatcher which we finally found after a long search, are restricted to a few valleys in the Colombia Andes.

May started out as a great month for the birds but migration has now seemingly ground to a halt. In contrast, I can't remember a better May for butterflies with a variety of species dominated by an extraordinary number of Vanessas -- mostly Red Admirals but also Painted Lady and/or American Painted Lady. Are these arriving migrants from the south? Vanessas are known to be major migrants (along with the Monarchs) but this was a mild winter and spring. Could they be starting to overwinter?

I'm doing a Maple Swamp walk tomorrow morning for ELIAS (Eastern Long Island Audubon Society). We meet at 8 am on Pleasure Drive c. 1/4 mile south (or southwest) of Route 24 on a pullout that leads to on old pasture on the east or southeast side of the road. Look for my Toyota Corolla which is covered with bumper stickers. All welcome (but take anti-tick precautions).

Eric Salzman