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I had a remarkable though brief encounter with a movement of warblers last week.  I apologize for the late report.
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Last Sunday, 27 August, was a day of unsettled weather; sun, cloud, and bursts of rain at several points.  I decided to chance it and arrived at the Sandy Cove Road (near Ketch Harbour) at about 4:45 p.m.  Just as I reached the forested height of land before the downhill slope to the cove, I heard a flock of chickadees with other small birds.  When I got out of the car I realized there were a great many other birds, all moving about.  Many of them were sallying forth out of the trees to catch insects - I even saw a Red-breasted Nuthatch do this, not its usual feeding behaviour. 
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I became aware of a cloud of tiny insects in the air - I continually wanted to brush them away from in front of my face.  They weren't biting, but they felt like mist in the air.  These were minute, the size of black flies or smaller, with long rather than round bodies, clear wings, and an amber head.
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Most of the birds were quiet, except for the Chickadees (both species) and the very abundant Common Yellowthroats.  Many of the birds were flycatching, and as I watched they gradually moved across the road, following the insects.  This lasted about half an hour, and in that time I saw and identified about 50 warblers of ten species.  I glimpsed  but did not identify at least as many more.  There were so many that I felt almost anxious that I couldn't identify them all, and I wished one of my birding companions were with me to share the experience. 
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Species seen included Common Yellowthroat (dozens), American Redstart, Cape May (at least 9), Northern Parula, Magnolia, Bay-breasted, Blackburnian, Yellow, Yellow-rumped (all rather fluffy youngsters), and Black-throated Green Warblers.   There were no vireos or flycatchers with them, which I thought odd.
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After a while the drift of insects was over, and all that remained were dozens of Common Yellowthroats in the alders.  They weren't part of the movement.
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Down at the cove I found two Solitary Sandpipers,and some peeps, but lacking a scope, missed the Baird's. 
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As I began my return I noticed another little drift of insects and a burst of activity while I was still on the flat, alder- lined part of the road.  Here were more Cape Mays, American Redstarts, the first Chestnut-sided I'd seen today, Yellow, Yellow-rumped, and Black-throated Green Warblers.  Again they gradually moved across the road and out of sight. 
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Other noteworthy birds seen included a flock of Blue Jays and 3 Grey Jays, which sounded the alarm when a Merlin appeared, and at least five Northern Flickers.  I will submit a full list to Ebird.
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Cheers,
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Patricia L. Chalmers
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Halifax
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