[NatureNS] Migrants, Eastern Shore, 23-24 Sept.

Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:03:44 -0300
From: iamclar@DAL.CA
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All:

I've had the pleasure of general birding yesterdat (23d Sept.) with Leon Peters
visiting from Netherlands, and today with Eric Mills (see his posting re the
Eur. Wigeon at W. Lawrencetown).

Like Clarence Stevens at Beaverbank yesterday, we were struck by the large
numbers of sparrows, especially around Hartlen Pt. (HP); mostly Savannahs,
numbers of Songs and Swamps, a few White-throated, a couple of Lincolns. There
were similar numbers of Savannahs along the E. Shore to 3-Fathom Hbr. Some of
the Savannahs were quite dark, suggesting Labarador/Ungava as a source. Three
or four first-autumn Ipswich Sparrows at HP were my first of this season.

At HP in earlier a.m. and also along the loop road just S. of the Rainbow Haven
PP entrance, and at the nearby childrens' camp there were also good number of
warblers, mostly  "Myrtles" with a few (E.) Palm Warblers, and a sprinkling of
other species, nothing unusal. As well, there were at least a half-dozen
Blue-headed Vireos at HP. The fruit crop is bountiful, and it was interesting
to see a number of Juvenal-plumaged (spotted) Am. Robins among the numbers
attacking the Am. Mt. Ash berries.

The day's single vagrant was a Blue GRAY GNATCATCHER at Back Cove, HP.

Today Eric Mills and I found a like swarm of Savannah Sparrows along the
Saltmarsh Trail on Cole Hbr.

Both yesterday and today, there were few shorebirds anywhere, mostly Bl.-
bellied Plover and Gr. Yellowlegs, compared with last week's flocks.

It appears the that the recent sustained northerlies have brought numbers of
birds from the E. Boreal and allowed many shorebirds to take advantage and head
down the E. Seaboard.

Cheers, Ian McLaren

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