Migration was in evidence at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel yesterday after
noon. On the three northern islands, 38 Common Yellowthroats, 2 Field
Sparrows, 6 White-throated Sparrows, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, one each Marsh
and House Wrens, and many swallows, mostly Barn. Also, a Question Mark,
several American Ladies, a Variegated Fritillary, Orange Sulphurs, and many
Black Saddlebags (dragonflies).
What's consistently interesting about the CBBT is that it seems to host these
presumably low-altitude migrants (sparrows, yellowthroats, wrens, often
mimids and rails) on a regular basis, whereas fallouts of presumably
higher-altitude migrants (and often foragers in or near the canopy) at the
CBBT occur largely during unusual weather events (as last 17-18 May). Foul
weather (with fog, rain, etc.) seems best.
Hundreds of Common and Royal Terns are still present along the entire span,
and it's a good time to look for migrant Roseate Terns: the CBBT makes a good
platform, but it's probably better to scan from Virginia Beach's coastline,
at 89th St., or Back Bay, or somewhere in between (the CBBT is a bit recessed
from the ocean shoreline), for this distinctive tern. Of Virginia's 40 or so
records since 1952, most (14) were made in May, with 6 in September, 11 in
August, 4 in July, 2 in June, and 2 in April. Many of the August reports are
from the beach at Chincoteague; some of the autumn records are of birds
entrained by storms. I expect there would be more May records, but very few
people (Bob Ake and Bob Anderson) scan the ocean with scopes in May (most of
us are consumed with warblers!). May is the time when birders see Roseate
Tern most regularly at Cape Point, Buxton, NC, so these birds probably do
pass along our shores every spring.
A few musings on the migration. Bob Ake, Calvin Brennan, and I were
discussing why this migration feels a bit "late" this year. It's not
necessarily that the "average" dates of arrival of particular species are in
fact late (single birds are showing up on schedule of the species' arrival
dates). Maybe it's the proportions of the migrants, still weighted a bit
toward April migrants (White-eyed Vireo, normally a bird that's "in place" by
end of April, is still coming through strongly as a migrant, for instance, at
least here on the coast). We found it difficult to describe the "gestalt" of
the "late season" -- the weather patterns still feel more like April than
May, and there are a good many straggling winter birds still around. This
happened to a certain extent last year as well. Reports from west of
Chesapeake Bay don't seem to reflect these observations, but of course mix of
migrants there is very different from on the coast.
Ned Brinkley
Cape Charles, VA
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