Late September is an exciting time for the waterbird count! Lots of new migrants are returning as they head south to wintering grounds.
Highlights from the week include the first Red-throated Loons and Gadwall flocks of the season! White-winged Scoter sightings are slowly becoming more consistent.
Over 10,300 Canada Geese were recorded during impressive flights this week. A strong east wind on September 19th resulted in a single day total of 7,482. A pair of Cackling Geese was also recorded during this flight. These compact, miniature Canada Geese are easily identifiable when flying alongside their much larger counterparts.
Shorebirds migration is starting to taper off. This week’s count recorded some later migrants including Greater Yellowlegs (1) and Semipalmated Plover (4).
The upcoming week should bring continued excitement as winds pick up and waterbirds are on the move. Diversity and abundance will continue to increase as we draw closer to peak fall migration in early October.