Field Notes

Winter has yet to arrive. Unseasonably warm temperatures were the theme of the week with consistent south winds blowing warmer air northward. Thankfully, winds with a southern component are excellent for winter finch movement at Whitefish Point. These late fall finch flights continue to be a spectacle from the Raptor Deck. Sunrise at [...]

What an incredible week for fall migration! Vagrant season has finally arrived. A slew of new species were recorded from 10/24-10/25 alongside a strong cold front. As temperatures finally start to drop, finch flights have picked up dramatically. Pine Siskin. Photo by Isaac Polanski Red Crossbill are moving along the shorelines of [...]

Winter finch activity was a major highlight during morning flights. Pine Siskin remains the most numerous migrant. Over 2.5k were tallied in a two hour push on 10/15. Strong movements of Purple Finch have also continued. Purple Finches are finally visiting the feeders and water feature! A recent uptick in Red Crossbill activity has [...]

The birding was tough going this week! Strong, gusty winds of late fall have officially arrived. Windspeeds did not drop below 15mph for the entire week, often exceeding 25mph. Thankfully, it is difficult to have a bad day at Whitefish Point during migration. Waterbird Station. Photo by John Droskopf Pine Siskin regularly [...]

This week was incredible for both songbird and waterbird movement! Winds finally shifted from calm southerlies to a prolonged west/northwest, alongside a strong cold front. Favorable conditions have a dramatic effect on productivity during migratory counts. View from Waterbird Station. Photo by Oliver Kew The pinnacle event for passerines took place during [...]

An entire week of calm southeast winds and sunshine has passed. Although the waterbird count grinded to a halt, passerine activity was still productive. Waterbird Station at sunrise. Photo by Oliver Kew Sadly, no Black-backed Woodpeckers were recorded this week. The Red Crossbill invasion has also been subdued. It is now replaced [...]

This week was fairly quiet for passerine migration, marred by a continuous stream of south and east winds. Calm westerly winds and clear skies on the 16th and 17th produced the vast majority of movement. Waterbird Station. Photo by Oliver Kew Sadly, the tail end of warbler migration has arrived. Diversity has [...]

This week offered consistent sunshine and calm south winds for morning flights. Songbird activity often spikes as cloud cover clears up following a cold front. A notable push of Pine Siskin started in the last few days, including over 330 tallied the morning of 9/11. Red Crossbill activity continues to impress as well. Although [...]

Consistent sunshine and calm southeast winds were the norm for this first week September. These conditions are suboptimal for major fall movements. Warm temperatures largely put a hold on migration, particularly waterbirds. In the fall, cool northwest winds are the driving force of impressive migration events. Waterbird Station pre-dawn. Photo by Oliver Kew [...]

By August, warblers lose their vibrant spring colors. Fall plumages are dull, helping blend into the environment, and songbirds are no longer required to attract a mate so they do not sing. Migrants stop at Whitefish Point to refuel, building vital fat reserves along a long journey south. Flocks move at lightning speed in [...]