With Steve Kolbe and Susan Rice, I watched northbound (and a few
southbound) migrants at Sunset Beach on the past two mornings (Monday and
Tuesday). Numbers and diversity were both relatively good, considering the
northeasterly winds of Sunday night (there was a little bit of west to the
north winds last night). We are up to 29 species of warbler for the season
(no chat, Mourning, or Connecticut yet), but we have not come close to
breaking any high counts for Sunset Beach or the county this season; the
cold fronts have had mostly northeasterly winds, and some have had rain.
Highlights of the past few days have included respectable counts of
American Redstarts and Northern Parulas and Red-eyed Vireos, small numbers
of Blackpoll and Cape May Warblers, single digits of coastally scarce
species like Tennessee, Nashville, Bay-breasted, and Blackburnian Warbler,
and a few Philadelphia Vireos. A Hooded Warbler in Cape Charles was
unexpected, especially as it appeared to be an adult male. The night
flights of Veeries have turned to mostly Swainson's Thrushes, with a few
Gray-cheeked now mixed in. Most of the migrants expected through
mid-September have been detected, but Black-billed Cuckoo is still
unreported here. Yesterday produced the first Myrtle Warbler and first two
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers of the season - fall arrived on time.
Ned Brinkley
Cape Charles, Va.
