Post by Gord on Sept 21, 2008 20:55:40 GMT -8
Today while at Island 22 I was pleased to see that the overall lack of any large movements of migrants was over. Likely the result of the questionable weather.
In the old campsite there was a good sized flock of small birds which were mostly warblers, to be precise, Yellow-rumped Warblers. It was great as they were all down very low in the shrubs. Soon I spotted something I knew was different and soon after that I was enjoying the best looks Ive had at a Tennessee Warbler! At last no long prolonged analysis of something high in a tree only providing brief glimpses. This guy was at eye level and right out in the open. To make things even more exciting, I found a second one which was a juvenile!! I think the first one was a fall adult. They were both beautiful but the adult one was stunning.
I had my backup camera and was able to get photos of both one after the other. They are terrible photos though but enough to show fieldmarks including the all important white undertail coverts. The juvenile photo shows the nice short tail.
I did not have long, but finally saw a Yellow Warbler today which very well could be the last for 2008. A few Wilson's, Orange-crowned and fairly numerous Black-throated Grey rounded out the warblers.
Saw a very nice Red-eyed Vireo after seeing several Warbling Vireos. Two Swainson's Thrushes were nice later September finds. It was a little more quiet for sparrows today but there were still quite a few Lincoln's Sparrows around. There were also three Pacific-slope Flycatchers and at least a half-dozen Western Tanagers.
My last highlight was when I was heading out. Right in the boat launch over the river I saw two small gull-like birds. At first, naturally, I thought probably Boneparte's Gulls until their flight and body shape looked a little off to me and I couldnt spot the telltale wing patterens. Though my binoculars I could see that the long and pointy wings were pretty much a dull grey. Even though they were getting futher away, I could spot a little bit of a dark cap on the head. Conclusion was a pair of juvenile Common Terns! A first for Island 22 and for me for the checklist area! Interestingly enough, they headed upstream until I lost sight of them. I would have expected them to be going downstream to join up with all the ones that are on the coast.
One just never knows what is waiting out there to be seen!!
In the old campsite there was a good sized flock of small birds which were mostly warblers, to be precise, Yellow-rumped Warblers. It was great as they were all down very low in the shrubs. Soon I spotted something I knew was different and soon after that I was enjoying the best looks Ive had at a Tennessee Warbler! At last no long prolonged analysis of something high in a tree only providing brief glimpses. This guy was at eye level and right out in the open. To make things even more exciting, I found a second one which was a juvenile!! I think the first one was a fall adult. They were both beautiful but the adult one was stunning.
I had my backup camera and was able to get photos of both one after the other. They are terrible photos though but enough to show fieldmarks including the all important white undertail coverts. The juvenile photo shows the nice short tail.
I did not have long, but finally saw a Yellow Warbler today which very well could be the last for 2008. A few Wilson's, Orange-crowned and fairly numerous Black-throated Grey rounded out the warblers.
Saw a very nice Red-eyed Vireo after seeing several Warbling Vireos. Two Swainson's Thrushes were nice later September finds. It was a little more quiet for sparrows today but there were still quite a few Lincoln's Sparrows around. There were also three Pacific-slope Flycatchers and at least a half-dozen Western Tanagers.
My last highlight was when I was heading out. Right in the boat launch over the river I saw two small gull-like birds. At first, naturally, I thought probably Boneparte's Gulls until their flight and body shape looked a little off to me and I couldnt spot the telltale wing patterens. Though my binoculars I could see that the long and pointy wings were pretty much a dull grey. Even though they were getting futher away, I could spot a little bit of a dark cap on the head. Conclusion was a pair of juvenile Common Terns! A first for Island 22 and for me for the checklist area! Interestingly enough, they headed upstream until I lost sight of them. I would have expected them to be going downstream to join up with all the ones that are on the coast.
One just never knows what is waiting out there to be seen!!
