Local birding report

One of the things that I appreciate about birds is their ability to link themselves to my memory of places and seasons - so that the sudden appearance of a bird, a song or flicker of flashing bright yellow sets in motion a string of delightful reminiscences in my mind.

These are the types of things that remedy the frustrations of fall birding when so much of the action is restricted to the upper treetops. When trying to identify songbirds high up in trees it is important to get a good hold on several of the characteristic traits (movements and call notes) of the more common birds such as titmice, chickadees, House Finches and Goldfinches that also frequent the upper canopy and that can be easily confused with warblers and other songbirds.

A few late September mentionable observations include, on September 22 the first fall wave of White-throated Sparrows arrived on our property. That morning I helped free a tan-striped variety sparrow and a Swamp Sparrow that had become stuck in netting that I had put out to protect the garden from other predators. September 22 was the last day I saw a Ruby-throated Hummingbird on our property. Amazingly, just two days prior there were at least eight hummers circling our feeders. Interestingly, three out of the past five years our local hummingbirds have left on September 22. Even though fall is here there is always the slight chance that if you keep a feeder up that you may get a visit from a hummingbird from the western part of the country.

The following day I came across a female Black-and-white warbler taking a bath in a secluded little stream in Robinson Woods. The warbler flew up, landed on a nearby branch, gave herself a shake and was gone. Many American Redstarts and several Pine Warblers also were seen across Gull Crest and Cross Hill.

On the evening of September 24 the night sky was again filled with the cryptic whistles and buzzes of songbirds taking advantage of favorable tailwinds. The following morning wood warblers appeared to be in almost every Oak Tree across town. In particular there were many Blackpoll warblers and, to a lesser degree, Bay-breasted Warblers darting here and there in search of fall inchworms. Blackpoll and Bay-breasted Warbler identification in the autumn is particularly challenging because both species plumages looks very similar.

At this time of year, I am always reminded that the things easily learned are apt to be easily forgotten. And with these two fall migrants most often not anywhere near the ground, I had to refreshen up on characteristics and behaviors. Two things I’ve attempted to commit to memory are that Blackpoll’s in general have a more lemony-yellow tint to their breasts versus the buffy-yellow color tint of a Bay-breasted. Additionally, if any yellow can be seen on the legs or feet of the bird in question, it is a Blackpoll. Interestingly, compared to the Bay-breasted and most other warblers, the Blackpoll has visibly longer wings which are needed on the long nonstop flight over the ocean from Maine to Northern South America.

A few other notes for late fall include: a young male Barred Owl continues to call during the day in Robinson Woods I. Also, a Wilson’s Snipe in Kettle Cove and a Spotted Sandpiper on Dyer Point on September 25 and in Winnick Woods and Great Pond and Preserve on September 26 continuing Blackpoll Warblers and White-throated Sparrows and many first of season Yellow-Rumped Warblers, several Ruby crowned Kinglets and six Brown Creepers singing. On September 27 a sprightly Least Flycatcher with its wide white eyeing, wing-bars and slightly forked tail materialized in an old apple-tree along Shore Road.

Lastly, on the morning of September 28 I looked out my bedroom window to see a stunning male Black-throated Blue Warbler in a tall Lilac bush. Just beyond in a Crab apple tree a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, a Hairy and a Downy Woodpecker exchanged pleasantries.