A Western Kingbird frequented the tops of Sassafras trees with Eastern
Kingbirds at Sunset Beach this morning from about 0650 to about 0720 by Tom
Saunders, Zach Smith, and myself; it was observed flycatching and coughing up
pits of some berry. Other birds observed this morning were:
Red-eyed Vireo about 60
American Redstart 20+
Black-and-white Warbler 3
Black-throated Blue Warbler 2
Yellow Warbler 1
Northern Parula 1
Northern Waterthrush 1
Ovenbird 1
Baltimore Oriole 12
Bobolink 20
Eastern Kingbird 200+
Summer Tanager 1
Blue Grosbeak 2
House Finch 3
Northern Mockingbird 15 or so
Great Crested Flycatcher 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Empidonax flycatcher 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
warbler sp. 15
Compared to many morning flights here, this morning's was very light,
probably a result of the very light NNE winds of the night hours. We tend to
see a lot more numbers and diversity here on mornings that follow nights of
NNW or NW or even WNW winds, usually winds over 10 knots *but* not always.
Nonetheless, the birds were rather watchable this morning; on big flight
days, the birds are in almost constant motion here, and many more have to be
left unidentified. Yesterday's flight, observed by Todd Day, had a great
many more species of warbler (Blackburnian, Nashville, multiple Cape Mays),
as well as Black-billed Cuckoo and a probable Selasphorus hummingbird.
Banded yesterday at Kiptopeke were Yellow-bellied and Traill's Flycatchers (a
great fall for flycatchers so far), Mourning Warbler, and Blue-winged
Warbler. Quite a few Bobolinks and Baltimore Orioles were seen from the
hawkwatch, along with Northern Rough-winged Swallows migrating past. A nice
ad. male Cape May Warbler foraged in the Atlas Cedar near the hawk platform,
for good scope views. Yesterday, Tom Saunders found a Kentucky Warbler on
Bay Creek Golf Course, a shy and scarce migrant.
Ned Brinkley
Cape Charles, VA
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