Hello,
Tuesday I ran my first marshbird callback survey for this year at
Back Bay NWR. Of the target species I recorded 6 King Rails and 2
Virginia Rails and no Least Bitterns. My experience of the last two
years indicates that the King Rail numbers will increase, the Virginia
Rails will disappear, and Least Bitterns will become more obvious into
June. There was a nice sprinkling of shorebirds, but no large numbers.
Evidence of migration was a flock of a dozen Eastern Kingbirds, a flock
of Glossy Ibis moving north, and a large flock of Double-crested
Cormorants moving along offshore. Most of the gulls seen were in
extremely tattered plumage. On the way north from the refuge there were
three Lesser Black-backed Gulls in the parking lot at Little Island Park.
Thursday found me in the Dismal Swamp taking a walk in the light
rain with Phil and Walt. Migrating birds of interest were Tennessee
Warblers, Black-throated Blue Warblers, Magnolia Warblers, and
Yellow-rumped Warblers. Acadian Flycatchers were calling, and some
American Redstarts were singing, the latter being a bird I don't often
record along Jericho Ditch. The Swainson's Warbler numbers were up from
two weeks ago. I recorded 7 from Five-Points down Jericho to the dogleg.
In my yard the thrushes started hitting the mulberry on Tuesday with
Swainson's and Veery doing a little singing between berries. On
Thursday they were joined by a hoard of a dozen or more Catbirds in that
single tree. This morning two singing Magnolia's got me out into the
yard nice and early. A singing Scarlet Tanager, high in the red oak in
full sun was very nice indeed. This morning appeared to be the best
migratory movement of this spring.
Cheers,
Bob
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