The southward migration winds down in November, as most, but not all, migrants have gone further south. The southbound migration continues into early January.
The southward migration winds down in November, as most, but not all, migrants have gone further south. The southbound migration continues into early January. We are now more likely to get birds that are out of their normal range. Four of the birds seen this week are in this category.
Western Catlle Egret
Western Catlle Egret
Ray Ewing found a western cattle-egret at Slough Farm on Oct. 24. The species originated in Africa but is well established in the Americas, especially in the warm southern states, preferring agricultural areas near wetlands. Numerous observers have seen it. Lisa Maxfield, Nancy Weaver and Ruth Richards found it among the cows at Slough Farm on Oct. 29. Sea Williams, Bridget Dunnigan and Charles Morano saw it the next day, and Susan Whiting observed it on Oct 31. Bob Shriber spotted two of them at Slough Farm on Oct. 31. Then the cattle-egrets moved to Katama Farm, where Nancy Weaver observed the cows chasing them. Lanny McDowell located them later that day. Lisa Maxfield, Shea Fee, Thaw Malin, Cynthia Bloomquist, Chris Scott and Luanne Johnson saw them at Katama Farm on Nov. 1.
On Oct. 30, Bob Shriber spotted a marbled godwit at Katama Farm — a shorebird with a large, long, upturned bill that wanders eastward from the northern Great Plains. Jeff Bernier and Nancy Nordin saw the bird later that day. Susan Whiting, Bob Shriber, Chris Scott, Cynthia Bloomquist and Thaw Malin each observed the godwit on Oct. 31.
Other shorebirds regularly seen at Katama Farm include short-billed dowitcher (John Nelson on Oct. 29 and Bob Shriber on Oct. 30), American golden plover (John Nelson two on Oct. 29, Bob Shriber 10 on Oct. 31, Thaw Malin and Cynthis Bloomquist three on Oct. 31), semipalmated plover (Bob Shriber one on Oct. 31), killdeer (Chris Scott 16 on Oct. 31).
Robert Provost observed two American oystercatchers at Sheriff’s Meadow Sanctuary on Nov. 1. Multiple sightings of black-bellied plovers, greater yellowlegs, sanderling and dunlin have also been observed.
Golden Winged Warbler
Golden Winged Warbler
Penny Uhlendorf reports a hummingbird visiting a pineapple sage plant on Nov. 2 at Pilot Hill Farm. Penny Uhlendorf suspects it is a black-chinned hummingbird, but the identification is yet to be confirmed. The next day, the hummer was visiting her hummingbird feeder.
The final unusual sighting this week is a rather late golden-winged warbler. Allan Keith found one at Squibnocket Point on Nov. 1, only the third one he has seen on the Island. The last time he saw one on the Island was on Sept. 19, 2005.
In a more expected sighting, Jennifer Slossberg found two common yellowthroats at Tea Lane Farm on Nov. 2. Lanny McDowell found and photographed a Nashville warbler at the Blackwater Preserve on Nov. 2. And there were multiple sightings of the now common winter resident yellow-rumped warblers.
Winter resident seaducks continue to arrive. Harlequin ducks are typically found near the rocky shorelines from Lucy Vincent to the Gay Head Cliffs, as well as being found at East and West Chops. Lanny McDowell spotted seven harlequins from Squibnocket Beach on Oct. 26, and Ruth Richards saw seven there the next day. I found seven harlequins a bit further west at Squibnocket Pond Reservation South on Oct. 29.
In other waterfowl highlights, Ruth Richards located one red-breasted merganser at Squibnocket Beach on Oct. 27, and Chris Scott spotted 38 American wigeon and two ring-necked ducks at the pumping station Oct. 27, and 18 red-breasted mergansers at the Cooke street beach on Oct. 31.
Red-breasted nuthatches are a regular southbound migrant at this time of the year, and they may stay through the winter. Chris Scott found two at Cove Meadow and Cynthia Bloomquist and Thaw Malin spotted one at the pumping station, both on Oct. 26. Bridget Dunnigan and Sea Williams observed one near Tea lane Farm on Oct. 30, Robert Provost watched three at Sheriff’s Meadow Sanctuary on Nov. 1, and Luanne Johnson observed three — one at Crackatuxet Cove and another along Dunes Road in Katama, both on Nov. 2.
Harlequin Ducks
Harlequin Ducks
Ruth Richards spotted seven red-winged blackbirds at Square Fields Preserve, and Thaw Malin and Cynthia Bloomquist observed one at the pumping station, both on Oct. 26.
Nancy Weaver located three red-winged blackbirds at the Gay Head Cliffs on Oct. 27, the same day I heard and watched two along Weaver Lane. Jennifer Slossberg discovered two at Tea Lane Farm on Nov. 2.
Ruth Richards found one American pipit at Square Fields Preserve on Oct. 27.
Luanne Johnson spotted a Baltimore oriole along Dunes Road in Katama on Nov. 2.
Woodpeckers can be tricky to find, especially when they are not calling. Northern flickers are the most conspicuous woodpecker, with five sightings. On Oct. 27, Nancy Weaver observed five at the Gay Head Cliffs, and I saw one at the northern end of Weaver Lane and another at the southern end of Weaver Lane. On Oct. 28, Nancy Weaver observed one flicker at Tashmoo Springs, and on Oct. 30 Bridgget Dunnigan and Sea Williams watched one near Tea Lane Farm.
Marbled Godwit
Marbled Godwit
Surprisingly, yellow-bellied sapsuckers are the second most conspicuous woodpecker this week. Charles Morano found a yellow-bellied sapsucker at the Pocha Pond Preserve on Oct. 25. Lisa Maxfield, Thaw Malin and Cynthia Bloomquist spotted one at the pumping station on Oct. 26, and Jennifer Slossberg observed one at Tea Lane Farm on Nov. 2.
Both red-bellied and downy woodpeckers were reported three times this week. For red-bellieds, I had one along Weaver Lane and two at my Vineyard Haven home on Oct. 27, and Nancy Weaver observed one at Tashmoo Springs on Oct. 28.
The three downy sightings were on Oct. 27. Chris Scott saw two downy at the pumping station Oct. 27, I found one near the north end of Weaver Lane and two at my Vineyard Haven home.
Red Breasted Nuthatch
Red Breasted Nuthatch
Rich Couse spotted one bald eagle over downtown Vineyard Haven on Oct. 28, and Charles Morano saw another one circling off West Chop on Oct. 31.
At Squibnocket Pond Reservation, two proud grandparents reported that they have a photograph of their eight- (or was it ten?) year-old grandson reading this Bird News column, and that he has a field guide. I started watching birds when I was about your age — you will have fun watching birds.
Please email your sightings to [email protected].
Robert Culbert is an ecological consultant living in Vineyard Haven.
Add new comment