Northeaster storms can blow pelagic birds (ocean dwellers) in close to shore so we can see them if we are at the right place at the right time. Charles Morano found a parasitic jaeger from State Beach on Sept. 26.
Another result from a northeaster is that waterbirds tend to seek sheltered spots out of the wind. One of the favored spots is Eel Pond. This seems counterintuitive since much of Eel Pond is exposed to northeasterly winds, but the Eel Pond side of Little Beach is protected and easily viewed from the boat ramp at Braley’s Way. Note that the numbers and species observed changes over time.
On Sept. 26, Charles Morano visited there in the morning and spotted two American oystercatchers, one greater yellowlegs, nine ruddy turnstones, one Bonaparte’s gull, 10 laughing gulls, five ring-billed gull, 22 herring gulls, one great black-backed gull, one lesser black-backed gull and two common terns.
I visited in the afternoon and saw three oystercatchers, two ruddy turnstones, seven laughing gulls, 18 ring-billed gulls, 25 herring gulls, two great black-backed gulls and two black skimmers.
The next day the storm had abated somewhat. Nancy Weaver and Janet Woodcock added one Hudsonian whimbrel and three greater yellowlegs, while Bob Shriber added one black-bellied plover, one semipalmated plover and one spotted sandpiper. These last two reports also include the lone lesser black-backed gull.
Ocean Park and Waban Park are other places birds try to escape from the storm winds. Even though these parks are exposed to the strong northeasterly winds, there are low protected spots.
At Ocean Park on Sept. 26, I found one killdeer, 29 laughing gulls, 10 ring-billed gulls, 15 herring gulls and two great black-backed gulls, while in Waban Park I counted 39 laughing gulls, one ring-billed gull and 46 herring gulls.
In Aquinnah on Sept. 26, Bob Shriber observed one spotted sandpiper, 36 laughing gulls, two ring-billed gulls, seven herring gulls, 15 commons terns and one roseate tern.
At Katama Farm on Sept. 26, Charles Morano counted 110 black-bellied plovers, one American golden plover, one greater yellowlegs, one pectoral Sandpiper, six ring-billed gulls and 13 herring gulls. Later that day, Nancy Weaver saw 109 black-bellied plovers, one golden plover, one ruddy turnstone, 10 laughing guls, 10 ring-billed gulls and five herring gulls. The same day, Bob Shriber observed 120 black-bellied plovers, one golden plover, one ruddy turnstone and the following gulls: 30 ring-billed, 16 herring and one lesser black-backed gull.
On State Beach on Sept. 26, Charles Morano found three black-bellied plovers, eight semipalmated plovers, one greater yellowlegs, two sanderling and three dunlin on Sept. 26. He also added one Arctic tern and 24 common terns.
Helena Firlings observed one Bonaparte’s gull on Norton Point on Sept. 27.
Species hiding from the strong winds are far from the only sightings this week. Most unexpected is an Hudsonian godwit, which was first reported by Chris and Cathy S at Lilly Pond at Squibnocket Pond Reservation South on Sept. 19. This large shorebird with an up-curved beak hung around for a few days/ Nancy Weaver and Janet Woodcock spotted it there on Sept. 21 along with six semipalmated plovers, eight sanderling and six semipalmated sandpipers, and I spotted it again on Sept. 23 along with six semipalmated plovers, one Hudsonian whimbrel, one western willet and two pectoral sandpipers.
Other unexpected southbound migrants include a veery observed by Caroline Heald at the Hoft Farm on Sept. 24, and a male scarlet tanager that Thaw Malin and Cynthia Bloomquist found at their West Tisbury home on Sept. 26.
Two autumnal arrivals were also observed. Jennifer Slossberg found one American bittern in a marsh across Major’s Cove from Felix Neck on Sept. 21, and Charles Morano watched two American pipits from a beach along Moshup Trail on Sept. 26.
Warbler migration continues to be rather slow in September — usually a peak month for warbler migration. The most notable sightings have been: Caroline Heald spotted the first palm warbler of the season at Chappaquonsett on both Sept. 20 and 21, Nancy Weaver and Janet Woodcock observed what may be the last northern yellow warbler of the season at the pumping station on Sept. 22, and Nancy Weaver located one magnolia and three pine warblers along Blue Barque Road on Sept. 23, the same day that Bob Shriber and Nancy Weaver found one blackpoll warbler near State Road in Aquinnah.
Pine warblers are still the most abundant warbler, with three other sightings. Caroline Heald counted nine at the Phillips Preserve on Sept. 20, Rich Couse observed one near Katama Bay on Sept. 24, and the early birders saw three at Felix Neck on Sept. 24.
Charles and Jess Barbieri report what may be the last black-billed cuckoo sighting of the year; it was perched on the railing of their Makonikey deck on Sept. 20.
Ospreys are still widespread, although many of “our” nesting adults have already migrated south. This week they were seen at the following locations: Lucy Vincent Beach (Chris Schmandt, three, Sept. 20; Nancy Weaver and Janet Woodcock, one, Sept. 25), Squibnocket Beach (Janet Woodcock and Nancy Weaver, two, Sept. 21), Squibnocket Pond Reservation South (Nancy Weaver and Janet Woodcock, one Sept. 21), Aquinnah (Bob Shriber, one, Sept. 22 and one, Sept. 26), Gay Head Cliffs (Nancy Weaver, one, Sept. 23), Menemsha Harbor (Janet Woodcock and Nancy Weaver, one, Sept. 25), Seven Gates (David Hunter, one, Sept. 21), Chappaquonsett (Caroline Heald, one, Sept. 23 and two, Sept. 22), Crystal Lake (Cynthia Bloomquist and Thaw Malin, one, Sept. 24), west arm of Lagoon Pond (Nancy Weaver, one, Sept. 22), and pumping station (Nancy Weaver, three, Sept. 22).
Please email your sightings to birds@vineyardgazette.com.
Robert Culbert is an ecological consultant living in Vineyard Haven.