Of course, that is an overstatement. But the only other passage migrants
around the Hike/Bike Trail were two "yellowstarts." I guess given the
weather this spring, it would not be surprising if migration ended early.
But what is with the lack of cuckoos? I looked at my records for the last
10 springs (during which there has been little variation in my birding: the
Hike/Bike Trail almost every weekend, about 5 mornings a White Oaks Park per
week, and only occasional visits elsewhere. Until the last three years, I
saw or heard between 10 and 25 YB cuckoos before May 21. In 2010, only 6;
in 2011, only 3; in 2012, only 1. Of course, this is based largely on two
properties, but I would be curious if someone who know how to mine ebird
better than I do can see if this is indicative of any kind of trend. One of
those years I believe that I hypothesized that a periodical cicada outbreak
elsewhere might have diverted or slowed their migration, but three years in
a row seems odd. (I have the impression that few cuckoos have been reported
on VA-bird this year.)
The butterflies are starting to pick up though. I saw swarms of little wood
satyrs (probably more than I have seen in my life to date previously, and a
number of very fresh great spangled fritillaries.
Ben Jesup
Alexandria
