Waterbird migration in the last week has still been fairly slow. There have been several days with good grebe flights, with 199 on 9/19 and 254 on 9/21. The season total for Red-necked Grebes remains just over 4,000. American Wigeons have started moving in decent numbers, with 63 on 9/19 and 130 on 9/22. Other dabbler numbers remain low, with just about every species being seen in the last week. A lone Wood Duck on 9/21 is the third for the season. Aythya numbers are starting to increase, with small flocks seen most days in the last week. There haven’t been any noticeable tern or gull movements as of late, and only two Jaegers (one dark juvenile Parasitic and one unidentified) have been seen in the last week. Common and Red-throated Loons are being seen daily but haven’t moved in any significant numbers since 9/13.
Like previous weeks, the rarities seen have been non-waterbirds. Already mentioned in Fall Field Ornithologist Chris Neri’s blog, a dark morph immature Swainson’s Hawk seen on 9/17 and again on 9/19 represents the second or third time this species has been recorded in the fall at Whitefish Point. On 9/19, the second Say’s Phoebe of the fall was seen from the waterbird shack. Here’s to hoping the upcoming north winds will bring some cool air and lots of birds.
~ Alec Olivier
2022 Fall Waterbird Counter
Featured Photo: Swainson’s Hawk. Photo by Alec Olivier
