Moderate migration over the Northeast, and heavy migration over the mid-Atlantic. By looking at the velocity image from last night, you can see some evidence of a temperature inversion after sunset, and some west –> east flow across the radar’s view. Soon thereafter, though, the direction shifts from north –> south, as birds entered the radar and began migrating. Pretty cool! The radar is from sunset last night through sunrise this morning. Sorry for the late post.
Good Birding
The most interesting thing I could squeak up was a
red-headed Woodpecker who flew acrosss the bunker
pond, as seen from the Hawkwatch. It. kicked up a gain
a few minutes later, and was seen by several as it
headed towards the pavillion circle.
2 Worm-eating Warblers together at Higbee’s were
getting late. There was no lack of Nashville or
Tennessee warblers there either. Yellowthroats
increase daily, as do the number of Connecticuts, both
“reported”, and bona fide.
An Upland Sandpiper was seen and photographed
frequenting what may not be considered appropriate
habitat in the fields at Higbees. Though, I have
flushed them from similar tall dense grass with woody
patches on their wintering grounds.
A Yellow-throated Vireo was in some Black Walnuts at
Higbee’s, Palm Warblers were flushing from the pathe
to the hedge in a coupleof spots and a Butter-butt or
two were in the cedars at Lilly Lake.
There was a very nice small falcon flight today, and
for a time it was impossible to scan from the
hawkwatch and not see a horizon dotted with Merlins,
Kestrels, and occaisionally the odd accpiter, Harrier
or eagle.
And finally, in the “its hard out there for a bird”
category, Yesterday, while pulling out of the parking
lot at Hidden Valley, and turning left towards
Higbee’s, there, on the mown grass at the shoulder,
was an adult sora. Pretty odd place for one, though I
have seen Virgina Rails in the Rank grass at Hidden
in the past. The Sora was standing up, the way they
do, rather upright like a coot. I pulled off the road,
crossed the street, and reached down and picked him
up, he was so beat. Having no water to give the tired
, stunnning, and kind of hot and dehydrated bird, I
drove to the nearest bird bath with a mister that I
knew of. Driving even a mile or two with an adult sora
in my left hand, claret coloured eyes alternately,
drifting off into exhaustion, or looking at mine, was
something of a challenge. He didn’t really seem to
mind, though.
Although having gotten him to drink, he showed no
interest in food, and though placed near a pond,
apparently there was just a bit of sora feather in the
spot this morning, and I am sure somewhere, a Racoon
is happy….
Cheers
CJV
Cape May, NJ
By: David on September 11th, 2006
at 5:21 am
