Fall warbler migration is getting underway
Columnist Bruce Glick summarizes happenings in the local birding world. This week Bruce reports on the shorebird migration and the start of the fall warbler migration. Read more in the "Gone Birding" column.
If you checked any of the bird hotline reports recently, you will have noticed that most of the birds being mentioned have been shorebirds. That makes sense since August is dominated by shorebird migration. However, it is also the month when the first southward bound warblers begin trickling through our area.
Looking over fall records in recent years, the earliest arrival for a number of warbler species is in August, especially during the second half of the month. It will be interesting to see if the cool weather will bring warblers south a bit earlier. If you have back issues of The Bobolink, you might want to take a look at the dates for the different warblers since they vary a great deal and there isn't space here to discuss them all.
Yellow Warblers are among the early arrivals in the spring and they are among the first to leave after their nesting season is over. August is time to leave for them, although small numbers of late Yellows are usually noted through part or all of September. Tennessee, Chestnut-sided, and Blackburnian Warblers often show up early. A number of other warblers are likely to be found by the end of August and the beginning of September. If you want to look for fall warblers, September is the month when you will find the highest numbers for most species. Some continue into October, but not too many are still being seen in our area after October 15-20, although Yellow-rumped Warbler is the exception, since a few of them are hardy enough (or foolish enough) to withstand the northern winters.
It's sometimes difficult to know if warblers are migrants or not. The species that nest in our area can easily be confused with migrants coming in from the north. This includes species such as Blue-winged, Pine, Kentucky, Prairie, Worm-eating, Cerulean, Hooded, Prothonotary, and Louisiana Waterthrush.
Now is a good time to begin watching for fall warblers. Don't be discouraged by the fact that the warblers aren't singing, and by the fact that some of the plumages are confusing. Like any other aspect of birding, the best way to learn is to do as much birding as often as possible, getting used to the birds as they are in the fall. There are actually more birds to see in the fall because there are lots of young birds as well as the adults.
Now for a quick update on birds that have been seen recently, as reported on the various hotlines and internet sites. As expected, shorebirds dominate the list, including a Marbled Godwit at Pipe Creek on August 13, and a nice flight of Willets at a number of locations. A White-faced Ibis was located at Ottawa but I'm not sure how long it stayed. Two Black-bellied Whistling Ducks were seen by many birders at Grand River Wildlife Area in Trumbull County.
At Conneaut on August 12th, 2 Baird's Sandpipers and an American Avocet were reported. A day later on the 13th, 11 Black Terns flew by heading southwest, plus there were 4 Sanderlings among the shorebirds. In addition there were 26 Bald Eagles and 66 Bonaparte's Gulls at the spit in Conneaut.
Quite unusual was the Little Gull which was found at Buck Creek State Park on August 13-14. Closer to home, a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was seen at Mohican. At Funk there have been a dozen or more species of shorebirds, highlighted by a Ruddy Turnstone two White-rumped Sandpipers.
Good birding!
Bruce Glick
birderbruce@yahoo.com
330-317-7798
