[EMAS] Re: BRP: yesterday was the day - 10/1/14
- From: Marilyn Westphal <mjwestph@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: Steve Ritt <stevenmritt@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2014 14:52:45 -0400
It is unusual to have two big movement days in a row, but some of the
biggest movements I've seen have been ahead of a front coming through, like
Steve suggests, although sometimes it's a couple or three days behind it.
They don't generally seem to move through with a front, or at least not on
the ridges, because the weather is usually pretty wild up there at those
times.
As for the Merlins, we have seen small groups of Merlins migrating together
in past years, and when travelling together they always seem to spend more
time chasing after each other than making any forward movement. Doesn't
seem to be a very good use of their energy. I've always considered them a
very feisty bird, though. I've also often found Sharp-shins moving along
with warblers. I always figured they liked to migrate with their food
source, so I was surprised not to see any of them at Craggy Gardens
yesterday. They missed their chance.
Marilyn
On Thu, Oct 2, 2014 at 1:22 PM, Steve Ritt <stevenmritt@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Eh, sometimes you just make the wrong choice of where to go birding.
> Having just gotten back in town, and then having seen Marilyn's report, I
> decided to stay close to home and go to Craggy Gardens and Ridge Junction
> this morning. I was joined by Joe and Marianne Mooney for a bit. In
> contrast to what Marilyn had yesterday, there was very little left up there
> today, but, now that I notice her timing, perhaps we missed the good window
> of time at Craggy.
>
> The only "highlight" (eh) was a little surge of raptor activity above
> Craggy Pinnacle just before sunrise. At least five (possibly up to eight)
> Merlins, two Peregrines, eight Sharp-shinned, and two Cooper's Hawks were
> all fighting with each other there, and no one seemed to want to leave.
> Usually Merlins are on a one-way-mission during migration, and might only
> make one or two aggressive interactions before continuing their journey,
> but every time I looked up there, there were one or two fighting (hence the
> conservative "five"). A few more Peregrines and Sharp-shinneds were between
> Ridge Junction and Mt. Mitchell.
>
> Passerine flight was evident at Craggy, but I'd estimate only about 250
> birds passed by during my hour or so there (7:15-8:15ish). My ears are
> rusty from being out of the country for the past six weeks, and most
> warblers went unidentified. It was very difficult to see the birds. Species
> composition was similar to what Marilyn mentioned yesterday. Tennessee,
> Bay-breasted, Black-throated Green, and Black-throated Blue Warblers at
> Craggy. Added a few Palm and Common Yellowthroats near Mt. Mitchell. Tons
> of RB Grosbeaks, Swainson's Thrushes, and four or so Gray-cheeked Thrushes.
> Golden-crowned outnumbered the Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and a few Blue-headed
> Vireos, etc.
>
> Ridge Junction was close to dead.
>
> Perhaps the front that is on its way pushed the big numbers through
> yesterday. I'll try the lowlands tomorrow.
>
> Steve Ritt
> Asheville, NC
>
--
Marilyn Westphal
Hendersonville, NC
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