The southward migration begins in July and continues all the way into January. But it is not the same birds migrating the whole time. Rather, different types of birds migrate at different times. August is the peak of shorebird migration and September is the peak migration period for warblers and vireos. But even though the migration of these birds peaks early, some of them are still present in October. And some of the species arriving now may stay through the winter.
Sparrows and other finches are peaking now. They can often be seen at feeders as they are seed-eaters, and also frequent shrubby and grassy areas. Our winter resident sparrows — white-throated, field, American tree — have yet to make an appearance, but they will show up in the next few weeks.
Waterfowl will also become more abundant. Both species of teal are already here, but other puddle ducks like pintails, shovellers and American wigeon will appear, as will diving ducks like scaup and ring-necked ducks, and sea ducks such as common eiders and all three species of scoters. The appearance of many of these waterfowl species may depend on how cold it is further north, as many ducks will stay as far north as they can, until cold temperatures and ice forces them south.
At any time we can also get strays from the western half of the country. When you identify such a stray, it is important to document your sighting with a photograph or a detailed description to support your identification. Because of the likelihood of such strays, there is never a dull moment when it comes to fall birding on Martha’s Vineyard!
Bird Sightings
Chris Rimmer was visiting over the weekend of Oct. 3 and reports finding a mixed flock of gulls on the ocean beach at Long Point. He made careful observations, comparing the unknown birds to the herring, great black-backed and ring-billed gulls, observing the yellow legs and an intermediate size. In an unusual occurrence, there were more lesser black-backed gulls than there were great black-backed gulls.
Soo Whiting’s last hummingbird was observed on Oct. 4. She also observed both pine and blackpoll warblers around her bird bath that day, and observed a northern parula at Big Sandy on Tisbury Great Pond. On Oct. 6, Ms. Whiting had a blue-headed vireo at her bird bath. On Oct. 8, she added two palm warblers, two eastern towhees, two eastern phoebes, six chipping sparrows and one gray catbird.
David Stanwood found an adult northern gannet swimming in the water near the jetties at the entrance of West Falmouth Harbor on Oct. 6. And Francie Shaw was kayaking and got extremely close-up views of a foraging common loon in Chilmark Pond. On Oct. 10, Annette Hall and Page Rogers found four harlequin ducks feeding in the surf at Lobsterville. These species will be much more common between November to April.
Charlie Kernick photographed a leucistic house sparrow on Oct. 7. This continues a trend of a lot of leucistic birds around in recent years, but this is the first time it has been a house sparrow. I can recall leucistic robins and mourning doves. I am wondering: has anyone seen either of the two leucistic song sparrows that were at the southern end of Crystal Lake in Oak Bluffs last winter and spring?
The tree swallows are still congregating in flocks on their southward migration. Susan Straight reports hundreds of them at Squibnocket Pond on Oct. 10. Multiple observers have reported smaller numbers in various locations around the island.
Also on Oct. 10, Luanne Johnson found a juvenile cattle egret in the marsh adjacent to Major’s Cove in Sengekontacket Pond. It was with two great egrets, so its smaller size was readily apparent. Its dark bill had yellow at its base, and its dark legs and feet were sufficient to identify it. This is an unusual locale for this species, as they are more typically found in upland meadows, especially with livestock.
October 11 was a busy day. I went to Metcalf Drive in Edgartown and walked to the western end of the Vineyard Golf Club. It was 7:30 a.m. on a chilly morning and the fog had not completely burned off. In the sunny shrubs along the edge of the woods were about a dozen chipping sparrows. Then I heard a great crested flycatcher calling and it popped out of the trees with its bright yellow belly shining in the sun. These field marks were sufficient to eliminate the possibility of unusual western look-a-like flycatchers. Then I heard a strange harsh rolling squawk. Tracking down the source of an unrecognized call, I found a juvenile red-headed woodpecker on a dead branch. This is an unusual pair of sightings for mid-October.
The highlights of an Oct. 11 trip to Aquinnah are palm warbler, orange-crowned warbler and five Baltimore orioles. There were plenty of birders up there searching, as Lanny McDowell, Kelly Spenser, Ken Magnuson, Pete Gilmore, Bob Shriber and Matt Pelikan were all there. Orioles must be on the move now, as I had a few passing through my yard on Oct. 9.
Also on the Oct. 11, John Nelson visited Eel Pond and found seven black skimmers, four American oystercatchers and one willet. These are all shorebirds that are lingering into the fall. How much longer will they stay? They also visited the Farm Institute, where they found two turkey vultures, a kestrel and two sharp-shinned hawks flying at a very high elevation, suggesting that they were actively migrating southward rather than hanging out on the Vineyard.
Speaking of late sightings, this column will close with Catherine Deese’s sighting of an osprey at Lobsterville in the middle of the day on Oct. 13. I have not heard of an osprey sighting in at least two weeks.
There are lots of birds around, so please get out looking for them, and be sure to report your bird sightings to birds@mvgazette.com.
Robert Culbert leads Saturday morning guided birding tours and is an ecological consultant living in Vineyard Haven.
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