Sightings Update 10/17/22

Well, I have often been fortunate enough to see many of the vagrants that have been seen at the waterbird count during my falls here. However, this week I missed one of the rarest birds ever to be documented at WPBO. Therefore, I’m not posting it here, but I will leave it to Waterbird Counter Alec Olivier to share that news in his next blog post.

The passerine migration continued to be productive this past week. Occasionally, a few other warbler species mix in with the Yellow-rumped Warblers, with recent sightings of Tennessee Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Northern Parula, Blackpoll Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, and American Redstart. Dark-eyed Juncos have regularly been the most numerous birds, being seen coming in off the lake and forming nice flocks throughout the woods. Fox Sparrow and American Tree Sparrow numbers have been increasing as they mix in with the White-crowned, White-throated, Swamp, and Lincoln’s Sparrows. Golden-crowned Kinglets continued in good numbers this week, with a few Ruby-crowned Kinglets regularly mixing in. The winter finches have started to pick up a bit. Purple Finch numbers, in particular, increased this week. Common Redpoll and Pine Siskin numbers picked up a bit, and a few Evening Grosbeaks have started showing up. We continue to hear small numbers of White-winged Crossbills regularly, and we had the first little push of Red Crossbills. Lapland Longspur numbers have started to increase on the beach as they mix in with the Horned Larks and American Pipits, and Snow Buntings are starting to mix in occasionally. The first Northern Shrike of the season made a brief appearance this week.

Northern Shrike. Photo by Chris Neri

American Tree Sparrow. Photo by Chris Neri

Lapland Longspur. Photo by Chris Neri

Aside from the birds, the weather has been crazy recently, and the forecast calls for it to continue. The forecast tonight and tomorrow calls for north winds gusting to 50 mph. The owl banders are going stir-crazy as they maintain their nocturnal schedule without being able to open. As Tori went out to check on the nets this evening, she called me to ask if I thought she needed to take the nets down due to the high winds. Waterbird Counter Alec Olivier texted asking if this period of high winds is typical for the fall. Even by Whitefish Point standards, it is not. I don’t know that I have ever experienced such an extended period of winds this high. This recent weather pattern has also included regular periods of rain and some graupel. We will all be relieved when this system blows out of here, particularly the owl banders.

~ Chris Neri
2022 Fall Field Ornithologist

Featured photo: A Black Scoter flies at the front of a flock of White-winged Scoters. Photo by Chris Neri