You may have noticed lately that many of our avian residents are beginning to look a bit disheveled. While some of us may be feeling a little haggard from the exceptional winter we just experienced, there is an entirely different reason for the birds’ state of disarray. Spring is a time of life and renewal and as the breeding season approaches, many birds are going through what is referred to as pre-alternate molt.
Many birds begin shedding worn feathers in late March or early April, replacing them with a fresher, often more vibrant set in preparation for the breeding season. This new plumage is especially important for males, helping them attract mates and play a key role in courtship displays. Molting, however, is a demanding process, and many species begin this transition even before embarking on their arduous migratory journeys. To conserve energy and maintain the ability to fly, the spring molt is typically partial, limited to the head and body while the wings and tail are retained. This strategy allows birds to arrive on their breeding grounds both flight-ready and looking their best. So if you notice a few awkward coiffures or bald patches remember, it’s all part of the process. With each passing day those backyard goldfinches are becoming a little more golden.
Birders across the Island have been noting a number of rather scruffy-looking yellow-rumped warblers in recent days. These birds are in the midst of molting into their steely gray and yellow breeding plumage as they prepare to head north to nest. Sightings have been widespread: Robert Culbert observed one at Sheriff’s Meadow Sanctuary on April 15, Nancy Weaver and Janet Woodcock reported nine along the Hoft Farm trails, and Charles Morano found two off Herring Creek Road.
Seasonal transitions are evident in other species as well. On April 16, Lisa Maxfield photographed a strikingly transformed common loon off the Oak Bluffs fishing pier, boasting its sharply contrasting black-and-white breeding plumage. That same day, Jeffrey Bernier reported a beautiful snowy egret showing off its plumes as it foraged at John Butler’s Mudhole.
The breeding season for some species starts earlier than for others. American oystercatchers have already started nesting along local beaches, likely taking advantage of last week’s unseasonably warm weather. Thaw Malin counted seven at Eel Pond on April 16.
Additionally, this week marked the highly anticipated return of our black skimmers. Silas Beers was the first to welcome them back at Little Beach on April 14 and two days later, Jeffery Bernier had eight at Norton Point. Additional early arrivals include a green heron spotted by James Walters at Trapps Pond on April 18, the first report of the species this year. I also spotted this season’s first tern (a Common Tern) on my trip from Nantucket aboard the inter-island ferry on April 20.
Among notable sightings, Robert Culbert observed a lesser black-backed gull at State Beach on April 16. Red-breasted nuthatches also continue to linger on the Island, with Lisa Maxfield recording one at Brush Pond on April 17 and 19. Others were reported at Tom’s Neck Farm on April 19 and in the State Forest by Charles Morano.
Wood ducks have also been noted, with Nancy Weaver reporting one at Hoft Farm on April 16 and Charles Moreno spotting another at the Vineyard Golf Club on April 20.
White-throated sparrows are making their presence known with their thin, almost anemic songs. Thaw Malin heard one from his porch on April 17, while additional birds were reported at the Trustees’ State Road office on April 16, in an Oak Bluffs yard on April 18, and in the State Forest on April 19. Sharon Simonini was also able to photograph one in her Oak Bluffs yard on April 18.
Raptors are active as well. I observed a large female sharp-shinned hawk hunting songbirds at Tashmoo Springs on April 17. Additionally, during a bird club walk at the same location, led by Nancy Weaver and Janet Woodcock, a red-tailed hawk showing unusually light plumage was photographed.
Other sightings of note include a northern rough-winged swallow reported by both Ruth Richards and Nancy Weaver along Moshup Trail on April 17 and an interesting mallard x American black duck hybrid observed by Robert Culbert at Ocean Park on April 16.
Finally, Sioux Eagle reported a male rose-breasted grosbeak visiting a West Tisbury yard, a welcome splash of color along with the blooming tulip trees and another sign of spring’s steady advance.