The first three days of the 2022 fall waterbird count started with excellent weather. By 8 a.m. on Aug. 17, I was counting in my t-shirt — a first for me! Even though this was great weather to be out in, waterbird migration was almost non-existent. Waterbird highlights these first three days was a lone Whimbrel on Aug. 16. The total Red-necked Grebe count for the first three days was a grand total of eight. Fortunately, there were good numbers of other birds to keep me occupied. On the morning of Aug. 17, hundreds of warblers left the treetops at sunrise and headed out over the bay. This was an incredible event to witness, and I counted 100 Cape May Warblers alone.
August 18 was the first day when waterbirds were moving in significant numbers. Red-necked Grebes were by far the most numerous, with 533 being counted for the day. Common Terns also put in a good showing, with 249 being counted. One of my personal favorites, Bonaparte’s Gulls, put in a nice showing with 20 for the day. The season’s first Short-billed Dowitcher and Solitary Sandpipers also made brief appearances. Small numbers of dabblers have been seen daily, but no significant numbers have been counted yet. Great Blue Herons are also being seen daily in small numbers. There’s some interesting weather forecast for this upcoming week, so I’m looking forward to what happens.
~ Alec Olivier
2022 Fall Waterbird Counter
Featured Photo: Great Blue Herons. Photo by Alec Olivier
