Here we are in the birding doldrums of early summer and the southward migration just starting with the arrival of the early shorebirds.

How quickly the tides turn! In early June we were still talking about birds that were headed to their northern breeding grounds.

The longest daylight of the year was on June 21, which is relevant to this column because the volume and frequency of birds singing quiets considerably.

The species mentioned here are sporadic breeders that mostly pass through on their way north or back south: purple martin, bobolink, snowy egret and saw-whet owl. Only occasionally do they stay to nest.

Strong winds may cause birds to get blown off-course, ending up some place they did not intend to go. But most birds recover after the storm, with their internal GPS device getting them to where they intended to go.

May is rapidly coming to a close and with May’s disappearance the northward migration mostly ends.