Birds can be blown off course by strong winds of 25 to 30 miles per hour and with stronger gusts of 40 mph. We experienced such winds on Jan. 23 to 24, but there were only small disruptions to bird life; especially to all the seabirds that live in the Atlantic Ocean to the east.
On Wednesday Jan. 25, Gus Ben David had a first-year Iceland gull visit his yard along with the more usual herring gulls. It was the 109th species that he has observed in his yard, a remarkable total for any one location.
Ken Magnuson observed a lesser black-backed gull at Ocean Park on the morning of Jan. 24. This counts as a storm-blown bird because they are most frequently found along the south shore of the Island.
The only report of a storm-driven dovekie was of a dead bird found on Nantucket on Jan. 24. This diminutive seabird can not take off from land, and if you find one alive and away from the water please transport it immediately to a large salt water pond.
Bird Sightings
Sammi Chaves reports that the heavily streaked snowy owl is still present on Norton Point Beach. She spotted it about a mile from the Katama end on Jan. 30.
The continued presence of tree swallows intrigues me. Sure they can eat berries and sure we have had a warmer than normal January, but it is February as you read this. Simon Hickman reports four tree swallows at Black Point Pond on Jan. 25, and I observed eight of them at nearby Chilmark Pond on Jan. 29. I do not know of any February records for this species; maybe this will be the year.
Dorothy Packer was kayaking on Lake Tashmoo on Jan. 29 and reports great blue heron, American wigeon, red-breasted merganser, bufflehead, mallard, black duck and Canada geese. She has also observed two flickers as they eat bayberries outside her kitchen window, and has been enjoying the activities of a flock of robins.
I observed 14 species of ducks on Chilmark Pond on the morning of Jan. 29. Highlights were five pintail (four males and one female) and seven redhead (two males and five females), both uncommon sightings for the Vineyard. A flock of 340 greater scaup is also pretty large. There also were the much more common gadwall, mallard, black duck, American wigeon, common goldeneye, bufflehead, red merganser, hooded merganser, mute swan, Canada goose and white-winged scoter. The best views were from the Land Bank’s Chilmark Pond Preserve. I suspect that the strong winds discussed above likely closed the breach, which was still open on Jan. 22. Will the number and diversity of ducks diminish once the pond returns to its more common higher water levels?
Ken Magnuson found the four male pintails the next day. He also reports that the yellow-breasted chat is still hanging out at the Edgartown Golf Club. This normally secretive large warbler has been there for almost three months.
Judy Hathaway reports a flock of almost 50 American wigeon in Sengekontacket Pond at Ocean Heights on Jan. 27.
Matt Pelikan observed two immature bald eagles — likely first year birds — fly over Cottle’s lumber yard on Lambert’s Cove Road on Jan. 27. These may be the same two eagles that were observed on the Dec. 30 Christmas Bird Count. Look for them anywhere on the Island.
Also on Jan. 27, Tom Hodgson reports a large nocturnal roost of close to 60 turkeys in a big red oak near the Tiasquam River. I started to write wild turkey, that is their name, but they are certainly anything but wild (feral would be a better description).
Dan Bradley reports a flock of cedar waxwings and robins eating holly berries on Jan. 24. The lack of reports of waxwings is somewhat surprising since we have had so many reports of robins. These two species often flock together as they both are prolific berry eaters.
Bea Phear reports two common mergansers visited her pond on Jan. 24. It is nice to see this species venturing out from its more frequent haunts of larger ponds along the south shore.
Southbound migration is pretty much over but there are plenty of birds to find. Please look for them and report your sightings to birds@mvgazette.com.
Robert Culbert leads Guided Birding Tours and is an ecological consultant living in Vineyard Haven.
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