Sightings Update 11/7/2022

It’s hard to believe that only eight days are left in the fall field season. It’s been unseasonably mild through much of the late season, but we’ve had some extreme weather again this week. High winds had high waves breaking on the lake today under a classic dark November sky (featured image). Although the waterbird count has continued to be productive, the songbird migration has admittedly been a bit disappointing this past week. At this time of year, the winter finch flight makes or breaks November in the woods. We did have a nice push of Purple Finches earlier in the season. There are still some American Goldfinch around, but the large numbers we experienced recently have moved on. Just as their numbers started to build, Common Redpoll numbers have lately been extremely low. Likewise, just as we hoped for the Pine Grosbeak numbers to begin building, they have all but disappeared. The Evening Grosbeaks that were visiting the feeders have also moved on. This could all be directly related to the specific weather patterns we have experienced over the last few days, and we hope the winter finches will pick up as the season concludes.

Conversely, more southern species that have been becoming more regular at Whitefish Point in recent years have been a constant presence in recent days. Multiple Northern Cardinals, White-breasted Nuthatches, and Red-bellied Woodpeckers have been present daily. An Eastern Towhee was present yesterday and today. Wilson’s Snipe are still present as the wetlands have yet to freeze. Other recent sightings in the woods include Northern Goshawk, Bohemian Waxwing, Brown Creeper, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Ruffed Grouse.

Red-bellied Woodpecker. Photo by Chris Neri

Another bird still being seen daily is Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. These guys should be long gone by now, but I’ve come to learn that they are an expected species at the Point in November. Why I don’t know. It doesn’t seem as crazy this year due to the unusually warm temperatures, but they are often still here in freezing temperatures. It makes no sense to me, but I have learned to expect it. Below is the eBird map of their reports from this November.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Photo by Chris Neri

~ Chris Neri
2022 Fall Field Ornithologist