12 - 18 November

Well that’s all folks! LPBO’s 46th season is complete. The fall season officially ended at Old Cut on November 15th leaving our season to date banding total for the fall at 16,484 birds, making it one of our busiest falls ever!
  The Common Loons flying overhead in the past few months have unfortunately been replaced by those which have washed up along the Long Point beaches in the past few weeks. Hundreds of dead Common Loons, all three scoter species and Red-breasted Mergansers were recorded and 20 specimens have been sent to the University of Guelph to confirm the cause of death. It is suspected that botulism is responsible for most of them.
  On a lighter note, a Cattle Egret flew over Old Cut on the 8th and a near record late Great Egret flew past the BSC office on the 16th. Tundra Swans have also been arriving in fair numbers with 500 along Bluff Bar on the 11th and a few hundred daily in Big Creek Marsh. Other waterfowl have been extremely numerous in the Long Point region in the past week. The 11th and 12th were particularly busy with 15 to 20,000 ducks (dabblers and divers) flying out to the lake from the Inner Bay. Mallards and Green-winged Teal have been the most numerous ducks observed from Old Cut, but most species can be found at Big Creek or on the Inner Bay with enough effort.
  Raptor migration has been slow with the strong south-west winds halting most movement. Red-tailed Hawks trickled through in small numbers along with Northern Harriers and Sharp-shinned Hawks. Northern Goshawks have been observed almost every day this week. A number of Ospreys, Peregrine Falcons, and Red-shouldered and Rough-legged hawks have also pushed their way through while an immature Golden Eagle flew over Old Cut on the 7th. Northern Saw-whet Owl migration has been slow but steady with more hatch-year birds migrating. We banded 9 on the 14th before howling winds picked up from the south-east. A number of Eastern Screech Owls can also be found in the Old Cut area.
  Sandhill Cranes are back in force at Big Creek Marsh and the surrounding farm fields. Up to 200 individuals have been counted in the Ducks Unlimited fields on the corner of Hwy # 59 and Regional Rd. # 42. Shorebirds have been pretty much absent although the odd flock of Sanderlings and Dunlins have been seen flying past the Old Cut dyke. A Greater Yellowlegs, a late bird, flew over Old Cut calling on the 11th while another was heard at BSC HQ on the 17th.
  Good numbers of Bonaparte’s Gulls are still around and have been especially prevalent on the Inner Bay when strong southwest winds chop up the lake. These windy, miserable days also create the perfect conditions to get some great, close-up looks at Little Gulls. Three were observed from Old Cut this past week, two along the causeway and one fly-by at the BSC office. There have not been any records of Arctic ‘type’ gulls in the area but, as things get colder, there are sure to be a few.
  The birds of the week have once again been Cave Swallows. Five were observed at Old Cut around 15:00 on the 9th, one more on the 10th around 16:30, and two on the 13th around 17:00. A couple of LPBO volunteers were caught off guard when, early in the evening on November 12th, a hummingbird of unknown species zipped through the Old Cut woods and headed east. No field marks were discerned, but at this time of year and with all the south-west storms in the days previous a rarity of southwestern origin is as likely as a late Ruby-throated.. The late date for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in the Long Point region is about October 15th. Woodpeckers have been reduced to a few Downys in the Old Cut woodlot and a Hairy was observed on the 12th.
  The odd Eastern Phoebe is all that remains of the flycatchers, and the occasional Yellow-rumped is all that’s left of the warblers. Golden-crowned Kinglets have pretty much all moved on. There have still been a few Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Brown Creepers kicking about. A very late and cold House Wren was at Old Cut on the 12th and 13th. Winter Wrens have been scurrying around daily.
  American Robins and Eastern Bluebirds made a good push this past week with 900 and 186 Robins on the 8th and 11th respectively. Bluebirds have been moving through in more of a trickle with 13 over Old Cut on the 14th. The unseasonable mild fall allowed one species in particular to shatter its previous late date record. On November 13th and 14th a Gray-cheeked Thrush was observed in the Old Cut woodlot. The latest previous record in the Long Point region was the 25th of October.
  A few American Pipits are still heard and observed flying over Old Cut as are Horned Larks and Snow Buntings. Northern Shrikes have also been around in low numbers.
  Sparrow movements were relatively slow this past week with Slate-coloured Juncos, American Tree and White-throated sparrows showing the only signs of migration. We banded 96 birds on the 14th, 36 of which  were American Trees, 20 Juncos and 16 White-throateds. Winter finches have been slow as well with only a few Pine Siskins and Purple Finches moving. American Goldfinch numbers have even been incredibly low compared to previous years but this could just be a reflection of the mild fall.
  The massive blackbird swarms have reduced themselves to evening flybys of 25,000 to 100,000 birds with a fairly equal mix of Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles, followed by about 15 to 20% European Starlings and up to 131 Rusty Blackbirds on the 13th.
  This will be the final LPBO Sightings Board post until spring 2006. I hope you’ve enjoyed the postings and if anything super unusual turns up in the Long Point area we’ll be sure to post it on the OntBirds listserve. Good winter birding and thanks for joining us for the season.  See you in April.

5 - 11 November

The operations at LPBO are beginning to wind down; the Tip field station was closed for the season 5 November. Old Cut is now wrapping-up migration monitoring for the fall. Typical November weather has been sporadic this past period, with temperatures over 15C, mixed with heavy winds and rain. This has scaled the banding operation back slightly, but the observations have been rolling in. Cave Swallows have certainly been the highlight of the period. The remarkable number of individuals reported across Ontario is being reflected in the Long Point area. This week saw 47 reported, 8 of these were found around Old Cut, over the marsh overlooking the inner bay.
  Loons have been few and far between this period. Many individuals have been found dead along the south beach of Long Point, leading to speculation of  a botulism outbreak. Old Cut had 4 individuals fly over on the 10th. Two Red-throated Loons were seen on the morning of the 4th at Old Cut.
  Sandhill Cranes are abundant. There have been reports of over 100 individuals at Big Creek NWA, as well as in the fields west of Hwy 59 north of the causeway. Fifty-four were reported from Old Cut on the 10th. A small invasion of Cattle Egrets was noted this week. Old Cut had one on the 8th; one was near Unger's Corners the same day and two flew by Bird Studies Canada Headquarters on the 10th.
  Tundra Swans have increased in number over the period, but are nowhere near the abundance expected later this month. Big Creek NWA seems to be the stronghold for the majority of individuals in the area with over 300 there. Duck diversity and abundance is consistent with last period. Northern Shovelers, Canvasbacks and Ring-necked Ducks have shown some increase in number. There were a good number of ducks moving off the bay on the 8th, with roughly 15,000 individuals observed from the parking lot at Old Cut. Of these, 400 shovelers were spotted, but the predominant species were scaup.
  There has been little movement of raptors this period, except for the 10th; among them Rough-legged (3), Red-shouldered (3), Red-tailed (25), and Sharp-shinned (4) hawks and an Osprey. A first-year Golden Eagle was seen low over Old Cut on the 7th, along with a Bald Eagle.
  There have been few shorebirds observed this period. Wilson’s Snipe and American Woodcock are the most abundant. Old Cut had a flock of 18 Dunlin on the 10th. The Tip reported 2 Black-bellied Plovers and 40 Sanderling on their last day of operation.
  Gull numbers remain consistent. Bonaparte’s Gulls are regularly observed over Old Cut and along the causeway (Hwy 59). Old Cut had a Little Gull on the 8th - a first winter individual. An adult was spotted from Old Cut on the 10th. One Common Tern was seen at Old Cut on the 10th.
  Owl numbers were lower than last period, influenced by the weather conditions we experienced. A lowly 15 Northern Saw-whet Owls were trapped at Old Cut. However, of those 15, 4 were foreign recoveries. The Tip reported a first-year Red-headed Woodpecker on the 4th. The only flycatcher of the period was an Eastern Phoebe reported at Old Cut on the 8th and 10th.
  As mentioned above, Cave Swallows have been the highlight of the period. Individuals were seen at Old Cut on the 6th (2), the 9th (5), and the 10th (1). On the 8th, 18 were seen west of the Coves Rd., 7 were observed at the Hahn Marsh, another 12 were off the BSC HQ overlook, and two more were found in Long Pt P.P. on the 9th. Tree Swallows and 1 Barn have been seen as well.
  American Robins are the migrant thrush at this point. 900 individuals were estimated at Old Cut on 8th. Hermit Thrushes are still regular; 19 were estimated on the 8th. The Grey-cheeked Thrush was processed for the last time on the 7th and was certainly fat enough to make his way down to warmer climes. Eastern Bluebirds have increased daily and are generally seen flying overhead.
  A Northern Shrike escaped the grasp of the crew at Old Cut on the 10th, when it bounced out of one of the nets in the woodlot. With any luck, it may hang around. Warblers are scarce these days. Yellow-rumpeds are the most common, but other species were found as well. A Pine Warbler on the 4th was a treat, as was a late first-year male Black-throated Blue Warbler trapped on the 8th.
  Sparrows have been a constant at Old Cut. American Tree Sparrows have decided that things are nice enough to move down into the area; the 7th and 8th saw over 50 individuals each day. Dark-eyed Juncos are also on the rise. Old Cut reported over 200 individuals on the 8th and another good movement occurred on the 10th. Fox Sparrows are observed daily, and occasionally are heard singing in the woodlot behind Old Cut and in the Provincial Park.
  The Blackbird flocks continue to amaze. Hundreds of thousands are seen at dawn and dusk each day. The flocks are predominantly made up of Common Grackles and European Starlings. Red-winged Blackbirds have shown a slight increase in abundance at Old Cut, and continue their abundance on the corn fields of the Long Point area. Rusty Blackbirds are also observed daily, mixed in with the rest.
  Winter finch numbers are increasing daily as well. American Goldfinches have decided to get a move-on, as have Purple Finches. An Evening Grosbeak was observed on the 5th at Old Cut. Interestingly, Pine Siskin have shown no real movement of late with less than 20 individuals observed in a day. Looking back to last year at this time, estimated numbers ranged from the mid-thirties to the well over 100 a day. A few Snow Buntings have been reported with 3 at Old Cut on the 8th.
  With only a few days left of the fall season at LPBO, the crew is eagerly awaiting what is left to come: a late surprise; one good last push; we’ll have to wait and see.

29 October - 4 November

  The past week saw a change in wind direction that essentially put a stop to any big numbers banded, at least at Old Cut. However, the crews at both stations persevered. The Tip was able to band over 600 individuals this period, while Old Cut lagged behind with less than 300 newly banded birds.
   Loons and grebes are still being observed regularly at the Tip. A Red-throated Loon was spotted on 29 October, while 34 Horned Grebes were spotted on 2 November. Duck diversity is still at a high. Red-breasted Mergansers are the regular high count at the Tip, while Old Cut’s scaup counts top the ET list. The Tip observed all three scoter species daily. Canvasbacks and Redheads remain in abundance, as do the phenomenal number of Ruddy Ducks. No major movement of Tundra Swans has been observed as yet. Soon they will cover the Inner Bay of the area. Old Cut observed 3 Snow Geese on 29 October, all white-phase.
  Raptors showed no major movement this past period. The odd Rough-legged was spotted. The Tip was lucky enough to band 2 Merlins on back-to-back days - 27 and 28 October.  Lingering Peregrine Falcons passed by with one seen at the Tip 30 October and one at Old Cut 1 November.
  Shorebirds are still filtering through. The Tip observed a fair diversity this period: 1 November saw 20 Dunlin, Sanderlings, a Black-bellied Plover, Wilson’s Snipe and American Woodcock. A Purple Sandpiper was observed at the Tip 2 November, delighting the crew with great views. Old Cut had a flock of 12 Lesser Yellowlegs 1 November; woodcocks are also seen periodically.
  Gulls have shown no new trends or high numbers this period. An adult Glaucous Gull was seen at Old Cut 1 November. Bonaparte’s Gulls are observed in small numbers daily; Old Cut had the high count for the period, surprisingly, with 240 on 1 November.
  Owls have continued their movement through the area. Northern Saw-whets show similar numbers to last period’s; however, the Tip’s best night was set 29 October with over 90 individuals banded, including 1 Long-eared.
   Tree Swallows are observed nearly daily, as Old Cut reported the high count for the period of 22 on 31 October.
  LPBO has likely seen the last of the chickadee invasion, although numbers are being observed that are higher than expected at both stations. The Eastern Tufted Titmouse observed last period at Old Cut hung around until 30 October and has not been seen since.
  Brown Creepers and kinglets once again were predominant in the banding lab. Golden-crowneds pushed through the area in good numbers, although their numbers tapered off by the end of the period.
  Old Cut’s Grey-cheeked Thrush was seen sporadically in the woodlot-28 and 31 October, and 3 November. The Swainson’s Thrush was also seen skulking around the woodlot at Old Cut on 30 October. Hermit Thrush numbers have diminished over the past period, but they are still present in the area. American Robins have been moving through in numbers over 100 a day at both stations.
  Northern Shrikes pleased the Tip’s crew this period; one was banded 28 October, while individuals have been observed daily.
  The odd non-Yellow-rumped Warbler is observed here and there. Old Cut reported a Cape May 28 October, a Pine observed and a hatch-year male Nashville banded 29 October. Another Nashville was seen 1 November; an Orange-crowned was seen 2 November, while a Pine was observed 2 and 3 November in the woodlot at Old Cut. The Tip banded a Pine Warbler 2 November as their only highlight warbler.
  One of the most abundant songbird groups this period, the sparrows, showed some movement. American Tree Sparrows arrived in low numbers but have not yet shown a dominant presence in the area; Old Cut banded 14 on 2 November. Dark-eyed Juncos persist as the abundant sparrow at the Tip. Old Cut has seen a small push of Swamp Sparrows recently, while White-throateds have shown a significant decline in abundance in the area.
  Certainly one of the most spectacular sights of this time of year are the blackbird flocks heading out to the marshes in the evening and back to the corn fields in the morning. Numbers are estimated at over 900,000 individuals at this stage of the game. The predominant species are Common Grackle and European Starling.
  Winter finches have been present in small numbers. Pine Siskins and Purple Finches have been regular though not yet in numbers equal to recent years. Always a pleasure to see, Evening Grosbeaks are being observed sporadically at Old Cut - 29 October and 3 November.
  With closing scheduled for the Tip this week and Old Cut 15 November, the season is winding down. A banner year for LPBO should not be missed. Come down and check out the LPBO Shoppe while enjoying the morning blackbird flock. Owling occurs on nights with good weather; call 519.586.2885 to see if the nets are set for the evening. We look forward to seeing you.          

22 - 28 October

Even with the majority of the passerine migration under our belt, we’re still averaging over 100 banded each day at both stations.  A Black-capped Chickadee eruption observed throughout most of southern Ontario was very evident at the Tip where over 500 were banded this past week.  This movement was observed at the Tip but seemed to skip over Old Cut with just 100 in total banded there.
  Common Loons continue to move high over the Point in small numbers, accompanied by the odd Red-throated Loon observed at the Tip on the 21^st, 22^nd and 27^th.  Horned Grebes speckle the lake to the south of the Point with 160 ET’d on the 23^rd at the Tip.  On the 23^rd and 24^th, Red-necked Grebes were found amongst them.  Also found off the south shore is the annually amazing congregation of Ruddy Ducks. More than 5000 were observed on the 27^th.  In other duck news, Red-breasted Mergansers have been the dominant diver followed by Greater and Lesser scaup and Long-tailed Ducks.  Thousands of ducks, including many more Redheads and Canvasbacks than previously recorded, are occupying the vast Long Point marshes and the Inner Bay. Tundra Swans are still trickling in. A Brant was spotted at the Tip on the 23^rd.
   Raptors have been pushing through of late, although generally not in large numbers. Red-shouldered and Rough-legged hawks have been observed with fair regularity at both stations. Golden Eagles were observed at Old Cut 27 October with one first-year and one adult. The 26^th saw perhaps the most abundant and diverse push of the period with 9 species observed including Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned, Cooper’s, Red-tailed, Red-shouldered and Rough-legged hawks, Peregrine Falcon, and Merlin.
  Shorebirds have been few and far between, with yellowlegs and Killdeers observed sporadically. The Tip reported 7 Dunlin on the 25^th.
  The Tip is still reporting Bonaparte’s Gulls, with 678 on the 22^nd and 1416 on the 25^th. Other gull observations sent in from the Tip include Little Gull: 2 on the 22^nd, 10 on the 23^rd, 13 on the 24^th, 15 on the 25^th, and one on the 26^th; a first-winter Thayer’s Gull observed on the 20^th was seen again on the 21^st; and an adult Glaucous Gull was spotted on the 22^nd. Jaegers have been seen out over the lake with 2 on the 22^nd and one on the 24^th. The odd push of terns has been observed at the Tip as well, with 12 Caspian Terns on the 22^nd and 112 Common Terns on the 23^rd.
  Owl banding has been productive at both stations. The Tip has banded a good number of Long-eared Owls thus far. This period 2 were banded on the 23^rd, 3 banded on both the 26^th and 27^th. Northern Saw-whets have increased in abundance; Old Cut is averaging 20 a night, when the weather is good, while the Tip is averaging slightly more. However, their best night thus far was on the 27^th with over 75 individuals banded. A Short-eared Owl was observed on the 23^rd at the Tip and Old Cut banded an Eastern Screech-owl on the 27th.
  Tree Swallows are still being seen fairly regularly at both stations. Old Cut had a large movement of American Crows on the 26^th, with 230 individuals observed. As mentioned, the Black-capped Chickadee eruption has brought a large number of individuals to southern Ontario. They have also brought with them several Tufted Titmice. The Tip banded one on the 20^th and Old Cut banded 1 on the 26^th, after observing it at the feeder for the two days prior. White-breasted Nuthatches continue to move in good numbers. Interestingly, Red-breasted Nuthatches have not shown any increased abundance, despite increased numbers reported elsewhere.
  Kinglets are still predominant; Golden-crowned is the most abundant and certainly one of the most abundant species processed through both labs.
  Late Swainson’s and Grey-cheeked thrushes were recaptured at Old Cut; the Swainson’s on both the 21^st and 26^th, the Grey-cheeked on the 26^th. American Robins have been migrating in large numbers, with over 150 individuals observed daily at Old Cut. Eastern Bluebirds were observed at the Tip on the 21^st and 23^rd and at Old Cut on the 22^nd and 23^rd.
  Northern Mockingbirds have been spotted out at the Tip on the 23^rd, 24^th and 26^th. American Pipits have been increasing daily and Horned Larks are beginning to be observed in the area: 24 individuals at the Tip on the 24^th and 1 at Old Cut on the 27^th.
  Northern Shrikes have appeared out at the Tip. One individual was observed on the 23^rd, after an impaled nuthatch signalled its presence to the crew. Another one was seen on the 26^th and 2 individuals were observed on the 27^th.
  Yellow-rumped Warblers are certainly the predominant warbler in the area, as expected. The odd Orange-crowned Warbler has been observed during the period; the Tip had one individual on the 21^st and Old Cut had one on the 24^th. Pine Warblers have also been spotted: on the 20^th at the Tip and on the 23^rd at Old Cut. A late Wilson’s Warbler was observed at Old Cut on the 21^st. That individual was banded and is likely the young male banded there earlier in the month.
  Old Cut banded its first American Tree Sparrow of the fall on the 27^th, signalling, sadly , that the end is near. However, large numbers have yet to be observed, lending hope to the thought that there is more to come from other species before we’re done here for the fall. Otherwise, sparrow numbers and diversity have remained consistent with last week’s. Snow Buntings are moving, with scattered flocks observed in and around the area. The Tip had 80 on the 24^th, 15 on the 25^th, and 2 on the 26^th.
  Blackbird flocks have increased in number to over 70,000 individuals, consisting mainly of Common Grackles and European Starlings. Rusty Blackbirds are mixed in, squeaking their way along with the group. A Brewer’s Blackbird was observed in a corn field along the Front Rd. on the 25^th, mixed in with a large flock of Red-winged Blackbirds .  
  Winter finches are becoming more abundant. Purple Finches have been observed daily, numbering more that 10 individuals.  Evening Grosbeaks have been spotted at Old Cut with one on the 26^th and 4 on the 27^th.  This winter visitor has become increasingly rare at Long Point in the last few years.
  LPBO’s Old Cut field station is open daily until 15 November. Visitors are encouraged to come down and check out the birding, banding and, of course, the LPBO Shoppe. Those who are interested in watching the owl banding should call Old Cut at 519-586-2885, to see whether the crew will be operating and it’s worth staying up late.

15 - 21 October

7 - 14 October

The fall migration continues to amaze us! Just as the week before it, this past one has been absolutely outstanding. LPBO banded 3932 birds (2411 at Old Cut and 1521 at the Tip) this past week bringing our season to date for the fall to 12,126! 
  Common Loons have begun to migrate through Long Point in small numbers with 23 at the Tip on the 11th. Red-throated Loons have been observed almost daily at the Tip as well, with 3 observed on the 9th and 2 on the 10th. Horned Grebes have also arrived with daily observations at the Tip, including 21 on the 11th. The season's first Red-necked Grebe was observed on the 6th and Pied-billed Grebes have been accumulating off the headquarter's overlook along with American Coot where 500 were foraging on the 14th. Great Blue Herons have also been on the move, particularly on the 8th, when 51 were observed at Old Cut and 23 at the Tip. During the Long Point Waterfowl and Research Fund's aerial waterfowl survey last week, 4 Great Egrets and 3 Cattle Egrets were observed in the Long Point and Turkey Point marshes. 
  Tundra Swans were also observed for the first time on the 12th and have been around in small numbers ever since. Twelve Brant were observed at the Tip on the 7th and 6 on the 8th and 16 on the 9th. On the 8th, 3 Snow Geese flew by the Tip and a few individuals have been observed in and around the Big Creek area. Waterfowl numbers have continued to increase with American Wigeon, Mallard and Green-winged Teal being the dominant species. Canvasbacks and Redheads have slowly begun to accumulate in the Long Point marshes. Diving ducks have also begun to increase on the Bay though still in small numbers. All three scoter species were observed at the Tip during the period; White-winged Scoters have been flying by daily, Surf Scoters have been seen in fair numbers and Black Scoters were observed on the 9th and 11th. Long-tailed Ducks have also begun moving in low numbers. 
  Raptor migration has been phenomenal with large numbers of Red-tailed, Sharp-shinned and Northern Harriers. On Oct 8th, 342 Sharp-shinned Hawks moved through Old Cut and 57 Northern Harriers flew off the Tip. Rough-legged Hawks and Northern Goshawks have started to move in small numbers. We’ve been banding a fair number of Sharp-shinned Hawks and 3 Cooper's in the past week. No doubt the highlight of the banding period, for the Tip at least, was a beautiful young female Peregrine Falcon banded at the Tip on the 15th. The first immature Golden Eagle of the season was observed on Oct 8th and 33 Red-shouldered Hawks flew over Old Cut on the 14th. 
  Shorebirds have been scarce with only a few Dunlins and Sanderlings at the Tip. American Woodcock and Wilson’s Snipe have been observed in good numbers early in the morning and with some flying over during the day. On the 7th, a White-rumped Sandpiper was at the Tip accompanied by a late Pectoral Sandpiper while 10 Black-bellied Plover passed by on the 10th. Also at the Tip on the 7th, were an impressive 21 Little Gulls, which have since been observed daily though in smaller numbers. 
  Northern Saw-whet Owl migration has been slowly picking up with 10 banded at the Tip on the 14th. Numbers at Old Cut have been slow and steady with 3-4 being banded nightly. We are eagerly awaiting the rush. On the 7th, the season's first Short-eared Owl flew off the Tip and the season's first Long-eared was at Old Cut on the 14th. What will probably be the season's last Yellow-billed Cuckoo was banded at the Tip on the 12th. Some other late migrants include a smattering of Chimney Swifts on the 6th and 7th and a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at the Tip on the 7th and the 9th. One or two Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have been shooting off the Tip daily and a few are lingering at the Old Cut feeder. Tree Swallows have also shown good movements in the past week. The Tip had 165 on the 9th and 360 on the 11th complimenting the 318 at Old Cut on the 9th and the 1096 on the 11th. A few Cliff Swallows have been in the mix as well. 
  Northern Flickers have continued to move in fair numbers as have Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. One of the only Red-headed Woodpeckers of the season was observed at the Tip on the 10th and a Red-bellied Woodpecker was at Old Cut on the 14th. This week’s high banding total can be attributed to a number temperate migrant species that have been pushing through the area. Brown Creepers have been moving through in steady numbers. Sixty-eight were banded at the Tip on the 10th and 110 were estimated for the day. Daily estimated totals for Old Cut have averaged around 100 birds. Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned kinglets have also been very numerous. It has continued to be an interesting battle between the two species as to which will be the dominant species. On the 9th, 565 GCKI’s were ET’d compared to 800 RCKI’s and on the 10th, 968 GCKI’s were ET’d compared to 373 RCKI’s. Similar numbers have been observed at the Tip. 
  The last of the Gray-cheeked Thrushes have moved through quickly replaced by Hermit Thrushes. One of our re-trapped Gray-cheeked Thrushes doubled its weight in a two-week stay in the Long Point area. When it was banded around the end of September it weighed 26.4 g. It was re-trapped 15 days later and weighed 51.4g ! American Robins have also been picking up with flocks in the hundreds flying over both stations daily. A few Gray Catbirds have been trickling through and Brown Thrashers have become a regular. 
  Yellow-rumped Warblers were another dominant force this past week. Old Cut in particular got smacked banding 224 on the 8th with 2386 ET’d and 306 on the 16th with 1412 ET’d. Warbler diversity has also been surprisingly high including Nashville, Tennessee, Orange-crowned, Bay-breasted, Magnolia, Cape May, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Black and White, Western and Yellow Palm, Prairie (8th), Pine, Connecticut, American Redstart, Ovenbird and Common Yellowthroat all being recorded through the period. 
  Sparrows have also begun to pick up with masses of Slate-coloured Juncos and Chipping Sparrows at the Tip. We’ve had fair numbers of White-throated and White-crowned sparrows but have yet to see a big push. Lincoln’s and Swamp sparrows have been moving through in decent numbers and the first American Tree and Fox sparrows were observed and banded this past week. 
  Blackbirds and grackles have started moving in flocks of typically less than 10,000 out onto the Long Point proper. On the 14th, 5700 Red-winged Blackbirds flew over Old Cut along with 9625 Common Grackles. Rusty Blackbirds have also been numerous. The Tip counted 727 on the 9th , 112 on the 10th and 272 on the 11th. Among the Rustys, the Tip crew found a female Brewer’s Blackbird on the 8th. The following day at Old Cut three Brewer’s Blackbird were observed just around the J-Trap along with about 150 Rustys. Eastern Meadowlarks have also started to move through. Ones and twos have been observed at Old Cut but numbers at the Tip have been as high as 36 individuals on the 12th. 
  Winter finches have arrived with daily observations of Pine Siskins and Purple Finches at both stations. Numbers of American Goldfinches have also begun to slowly increase. 
  The fall is far from over and it is anyone’s guess as to how the rest of the season will fair. We still have a month left and if things continue how they have been, it would definitely be worth planning a trip to LPBO.

30 September - 6 October

The last high pressure system which blanketed southern Ontario with heat, humidity and south winds stunted migration. Common Loons have continued to move through sporadically and Double-crested Cormorants are still amassing by the tens of thousands on the Inner Bay. The season’s first movement of Horned Grebes was observed on Oct 1st with eight flying by the Tip. Waterfowl migration was also halted but there are still large numbers of dabblers around. With hunting season underway, hundreds of Wood Ducks are utilizing the BSC ponds as safe refuge during the day. American Wigeon have also begun to speckle the skyline with their white wing flashes. Diving duck numbers have continued to slowly increase and Surf Scoters continue to fly past the Tip in small numbers. 
  Shorebirds have been equally absent with just a smattering of Sanderling and Black-bellied Plover around every day. On Oct 1st two American Golden Plover were at the Tip accompanied by a Dunlin and a late Semipalmated Sandpiper as well as a Pectoral Sandpiper. That same day a Lesser Black-backed Gull was at the Tip and the next day a 1st winter Laughing Gull flew in for a short visit. Bonaparte’s Gulls have been accumulating and on the 6th showed their first real strength with 7650 flying by the Tip in the morning. Five Little Gulls were at the Tip on Oct 1st with one each on the 4th and 5th. Even with the incredible movement of Common Terns last week, flocks greater than 5000 are regularly found on Bluff Bar in the middle of Long Point Bay. Also on the 1st , 11,000 Common Terns flew past the Tip. 
  Raptors also slowed right down this past week. Sharp-shinned Hawks and Northern Harriers made up the bulk of the movement near Long Point although there was a Peregrine Falcon at the Tip on the 3rd and two on the 4th and 5th. Some buteos have also been seen including 7 Broad-winged Hawks at Old Cut on Sept 29. The warm weather and south winds hindered the opening of the Northern Saw-Whet Owl banding season. Three birds have been banded to date and we’re eagerly awaiting their southward push. 
  Northern Flickers and Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers dominated the woodpecker stream this past week with 11 sapsuckers banded at the Tip on the 1st. On the 3rd, a Red-headed Woodpecker greeted the Tip and a Red-bellied did so at Old Cut on the 6th. There have been a few late flycatchers including a Yellow-bellied at the Tip on the 30th and a Least on the 3rd. Swallows made a comeback appearance this week with Tree Swallows observed almost daily with 91 at Old Cut on the 3rd. Also at Old Cut on the 3rd was an extremely late Purple Martin. An very late Chimney Swift was observed at Old Cut on the 6th. A few Cliff Swallows have been in the swallow mix and one Bank Swallow at Big Creek NWA on Oct 3rd. 
  Red-breasted Nuthatches, Brown Creepers, Winter and House wrens and the kinglets have been the dominant species next to Yellow-rumped Warblers this past week. Both Golden and Ruby-crowned kinglets have been numerous and on any given day it’s hard to judge which one will be more dominant. The last of the Gray-cheeked and Swainson’s thrushes are slowly moving through and Hermits should shortly take their place. American Robins have continued to migrate in small flocks. 150 were observed at Old Cut on the 2nd. American Pipits have also been more regular as have Brown Thrashers and the Old Cut specialty, Gray Catbirds which have been particularly abundant. 
  Warbler diversity has maintained itself well with the warm weather. On Oct 5th , 10 warbler species were at Old Cut dominated by Yellow-rumpeds. An adult female Connecticut Warbler was banded at Old Cut on the 6th. The warbler surprise of the week was two Yellow-breasted Chats, both young males. The first bird was banded at Old Cut on the 2nd and the other at the Tip on the 4th. The sparrows, dominated by White-throateds, Songs and Chippings, have started to pick up but we have yet to see any big pushes. The Tip had a Clay-coloured Sparrow on the 2nd while Old Cut had one on the 3rd and 4th. 
  Red-winged Blackbird and Common Grackle numbers are growing in the fields and marshes surrounding Long Point. Over 500,000 Red-winged Blackbirds were in the Big Creek Marsh and surrounding areas on the 5th. 
  The next cold fronts promise to bring masses of temperate migrants south. The Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Yellow-rumped Warblers and White-throated Sparrows are patiently waiting to invade. We hope that the owls are coming as well.

24 - 29 September

The birds certainly changed faces over the past week. Most of the warblers have been replaced with flitting kinglets and the dripping morning calls of thrushes are slowly becoming a mix of high pitched sparrow chips. 
  Large, roaming flocks of Double-crested Cormorants continue to accumulate mostly on the Inner Bay of Long Point where on the 28th approximately 25,000 Cormorants were flocking around Bluff Bar. Great Blue Heron numbers have started to pick up and there are just a few individual Green Herons left in the area. One Black-crowned Night Heron flew over Old Cut on the 28th. Canada Geese have started moving as well with moderate numbers (less than 500) at Old Cut daily. Hunting season started on the 24th and the ducks are right on schedule. Dabbling ducks particularly Mallard, Black, Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail and small numbers of American Wigeon are dominating most flocks. Diving ducks are starting to pick up as well with Greater Scaup numbers slowly increasing and the first 12 Lesser Scaup were observed at the Tip on the 27th. Also on the 27th, a White-winged Scoter was seen over the Inner Bay. On the 24th, the first 3 Surf Scoter were found off the south beach at Old Cut and one flew by the Tip five days later. 
  Raptor movements have been much more substantial in the past week with large numbers of Sharp-shinned Hawks, American Kestrels and Merlins continuing. We are also starting to see more Red-tailed Hawks, Bald Eagles and Peregrine Falcons. Eighty Sharp-shinned Hawks, 31 Merlins, 24 American Kestrels and a smattering of other raptors including 12 Bald Eagles and 5 Peregrine Falcons made the trek to the Tip on the 26th. Amazingly enough eight of the eagles were in a single kettle which then continued south over the lake only to return one by one over the next 20 minutes. Northern Saw-whet Owl migration monitoring kicked off on the 26th at Old Cut and the Tip with both stations catching their first owl of the season. What will probably be the last two Common Nighthawks flew over the Old Cut dyke on the 25th. 
  Shorebirds, mostly Sanderlings, have still been trickling through. A number of Black-bellied Plovers have been around the Tip all week along with a Ruddy Turnstone and Semipalmated Plover on the 26th. The bird of the week was a Piping Plover at the Tip on the 23rd. The odd pair of Lesser Yellowlegs are occasionally in the small Tip ponds and American Woodcocks and Wilson’s Snipe are recorded daily at Old Cut. A 2nd winter Lesser Black-backed Gull was the first of the rare larger gulls to make an appearance at the Tip on the 29th. There was another observation of a Black-legged Kittiwake on the 28th, this time a first-winter bird just off the Long Point Provincial Park. Little Gulls were a nice treat at the Tip this past week  with 5 flying past on the 26th. The 26th was also spectacular for tern migration as 28,145 Common Terns made there way south-west across the Tip. Between 0700 and 0800 that morning they were streaming by the Tip at rate of 100 every 10 seconds. Twenty Forster’s Terns and one Black were observed among the masses of Commons. 
  Woodpecker numbers have increased dramatically this past week, especially Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, as eleven were banded at the Tip on the 27th. They’ve certainly been the most abundant woodpecker next to Northern Flickers which have maintained decent numbers throughout the period. Old Cut had its first Hairy Woodpecker of the season on the 27th. Flycatchers have dwindled with Eastern Wood Pewees and Eastern Phoebe being the dominant species. An extremely late Yellow-bellied Flycatcher was banded at the Tip on the 25th. Tree Swallows have been making daily appearances at one or both of our field stations but always in small numbers while two Northern Rough-winged Swallows were observed at the Tip on the 26th. Also on the 26th, a late Chimney Swift struggled against the wind and headed off the Tip. Red-breasted Nuthatches and Brown Creepers continued to increase. Brown Creepers were even the most abundant bird at the Tip before the Golden-crowned Kinglets showed up. House Wrens are quite an abundant bird throughout August at which point most of the local birds move south. There is often a short lull until the House Wrens from further north move in as was the case this past week. Winter Wrens have also continued to trickle with no large concentrations yet. Kinglets made there first real appearance this past week. Surprisingly Golden-crowneds have outnumbered Ruby-crowneds two to one on most days. 
  Gray-cheeked Thrushes are the dominant thrush now with a few Swainson’s and Hermits fighting for second place. A late Wood Thrush was banded at the Tip on the 28th. American Robins have just started to fly over in loose flocks as well as the odd Eastern Bluebird. Gray Catbirds have been following a similar pattern to the House Wrens with migrants now being fairly abundant. Forty-five were ET’d at Old Cut on the 27th. Brown Thrashers have also been appearing at the Tip daily and we’ve had the odd Northern Mockingbird observation at both stations. Blue-headed Vireos have yet to show any real movement while Red-eyeds continue to move through slowly. A White-eyed Vireo was found at Old Cut on the 26th and banded on the 27th. 
  Warbler diversity is slowing quickly although 15 to 20 species can still be found as was the case on the 27th and 28th. Yellow-rumpeds are definitely the dominant warbler with Common Yellowthroats, Black-throated Blues, Cape Mays and Nashvilles far behind. We’ve had a few late Northern Waterthrushes (27th and 29th at the Tip). On the 22nd, the Tip and Old Cut both had a Northern Parula and the Tip banded another Yellow Palm Warbler. There was a Orange-crowned Warbler at the Tip on the 28th. The warbler of the week was probably the season's fourth Prairie Warbler at Old Cut on the 29th. Pine Warblers continue to be a regular in the Old Cut woodlot but take a little effort to find amongst the Yellow-rumpeds. The bright chip of White-throated Sparrows is becoming much more apparent in the morning.  White-crowned Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos continue to move through in small numbers as are Lincoln’s, Song and Swamp sparrows. Chipping Sparrows are abundant and on the 27th two Clay-coloured Sparrows were found on the Tip census. Also on this day, two Vesper Sparrows and a Savannah were at the Tip. Some high flying Bobolinks have continued to fly over both stations and American Pipits are now a daily observation. 
  Blackbird flocks have not been that impressive numbering less than 2000 daily. Common Grackles are a little more abundant and sightings of about half a dozen Rusty Blackbirds have become regular. 
  As the first fall days truly arrived this past week, we were all awaiting the first winter finches which appeared right on cue. On the 27th, the first 5 Pine Siskins were at the Tip as were 4 Purple Finches, one of which, an adult female, was banded. American Goldfinches haven’t shown any major movements but the flocks are slowly growing so it’s only a matter of time before they swamp the nets for a day or two.

17 - 23 September

Migration this past week at Long Point has been nothing short of phenomenal. The gentle fronts, clear skies and occasional northerly breezes set the scene for an amazing movement. 
  Double-crested Cormorants have continued to accumulate on the lake with numbers approaching 10,000 in some feeding frenzies off the Tip. The windier days have also produced some duck movements of Mallard, Black, Northern Pintail, Blue and Green-winged Teal while a few Greater Scaup continue to fly by on the lake. 
  Raptor movements have been steady though large numbers have not been recorded. Peregrine Falcons have begun to increase with daily observations at the Tip including 3 observed on the 18th. Merlins have also been abundant with 30 individuals recorded at the Tip on the 19th. American Kestrels have been the next dominant raptor followed by Sharp-shinned Hawks, which all three stations had the luck of banding this past week. 
  Shorebirds have dwindled to a mix of Sanderling, Killdeer and Spotted Sandpiper. The largest movement was a flock of 70 Sanderling at the Tip on the 19th while the next afternoon the Tip was graced by two American Golden Plovers. Two very exciting gulls were found off the south shore of Long Point this past week accompanying small flocks of Bonaparte’s. On the 17th, three observers were delighted to see an adult Black-legged Kittiwake as it flew right over the boat on a trip in from the Tip. Three days later, while on census at the Tip, an adult Black-headed Gull was observed flying west with four Bonaparte’s. Caspian Terns have pretty much disappeared from the lake but up to 6500 (19th) Common Terns have been observed flying west off the Tip during the past four days. 
  Northern Flickers have lead the woodpeckers south with an incredible barrage on the 18th when 181 were estimated to be at the Tip. Decent numbers continued over the next few days and a Red-shafted Flicker was observed on the 20th. A few Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers have also been on the move. Winter Wrens have just started to show up while Red-breasted Nuthatches have been increasing steadily along with Brown Creepers and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. The first Golden-crowned Kinglets of the season were banded at the Tip on the 21st. 
  The 20th and 21st of September brought a huge passerine movement to the Point. Swainson’s and Gray-cheeked were the dominant thrushes with 44 and 30 respectively, banded at the Tip on the 21st. Though there have been no major movements of vireos, Red-eyed have been the dominant species with smatterings of Warbling, Philadelphia and Blue-headed. 
  Warblers, on the other hand, are in full force both in numbers and diversity. The period started off slow with a few mixed flocks dominated by Blackpolls and Yellow-rumpeds. On the 18th, the Tip had a major push of Vermivora warblers (Nashville, Tennessee and one Orange-crowned) and some Dendroica species dominated by Blackpoll, Yellow-rumpeds, Magnolia and Black-throated Green. Three Northern Parulas were also banded. 323 birds were banded at the Tip, 112 at Breakwater and 89 at Old Cut. The 19th was also busy at the Tip with 196 birds banded dominated by Blackpolls, Yellow-rumpeds, Magnolia and Western Palms. An absolutely astounding movement of warblers occurred at Long Point on the 20th. At about 0800, small flocks of warblers, mostly Blackpoll and Yellow-rumped, started streaming on to the Tip heading west. On the morning census, between 0815 and 0930, 460 Blackpoll Warblers were counted along with 340 Yellow-rumped Warblers and more than 10 of each dominant warbler species. The Tip banded 197 Blackpolls, released 275 and estimated 1160 for the day. Old Cut was slow and steady that morning until about 1100 when they got hit with a similar mixed warbler flock dominated by Blackpolls, Cape Mays and Yellow-rumpeds, banding 99, 19 and 10 respectively. 313 birds were banded at the Tip and 226 at Old Cut. 
  In the days prior to the big Blackpoll push, adult birds made up between 5 and 30% of the catch. On the morning of the 20th the ratio was almost equal with 100 hatch-year and 97 after-hatch year birds banded. Most of the birds that day were also very low on fat with scores of 1 and 2 on a scale of 0 to 7. A small front moved through on the night of the 19th with south-west winds veering north-west then west. The large ratio of experienced and hearty adult birds combined with low fat scores could suggest a scenario where a large movement was stimulated that evening and a lot of birds were caught over the lake when dawn broke and west winds made the south bound trek difficult. The birds were then forced to head to the closest land they could see: Long Point. 
  The 21st was also busy with 223 banded at the Tip and 133 banded at Old Cut but this movement was dominated by thrushes. Blackpolls and Yellow-rumpeds were still the dominant warbler species and there were also very large numbers of Western Palm Warblers at the Tip with 51 ET’d and an incredible 3 Yellow Palm Warblers amongst them. Connecticut Warblers continue to be caught almost daily with two banded at the Tip on the 21st. Hooded Warblers were also around Old Cut on the 17th, 18th, 20th and 21st. A Golden-winged Warbler was also at Old Cut on the 17th and Pine Warblers have been observed daily since the 18th. 
  The 20th also produced a Le Conte’s Sparrow Tip which was almost tripped over on the morning census at the Tip and the season's first Rusty Blackbird was seen on the Tip lawn. White-throated Sparrows have begun to trickle through but numbers have not yet reached 100/day. A few young White-crowned Sparrows have been found along with a few Dark-eyed Juncos. 
  As fall finally officially begins, we can expect the last of the warblers to move through with the exception of Yellow-rumpeds which will no doubt hang on into October. Northern Saw-whet Owl monitoring will commence around the 25th and, as always, Old Cut banding demonstrations will run throughout the night when the keenest of visitors arrive wanting to see some owls in the hand.

9  - 16 September

Even though summer has been holding on for dear life, the birds continue on schedule. Double-crested Cormorants have begun to accumulate on the lake with over 3000 individuals off Breakwater between the 10th and 11th of September. Green Herons have pretty much moved out and Black-crowned Night Herons have been observed migrating in the evenings. Breakwater had an individual on the 8th and two flew over Old Cut on the 11th and 15th. Least Bitterns have also been observed at the Tip throughout the period. 
  Waterfowl have also begun to accumulate in the area including some diving ducks. On the 8th of September, 11 Black Scoters flew by Breakwater. Also at Breakwater daily counts of over 1000 Mallards have not been uncommon and Blue-winged Teal have also been numerous with 152 observed on the 13th. Greater Scaup were first observed on the 10th at Breakwater and the team had another 48 over the lake on the 11th. 
  Raptors have been trickling through since late August but we still haven’t had a real good push. Bald Eagles have been numerous with every south shore boat trip counting over 12 from Breakwater to the Tip. Old Cut has also had an average of two eagles a day. Accompanying two of them on the 10th was the season’s first Rough-legged Hawk. Red-taileds and Broad-wingeds have also been moving through in small numbers. American Kestrels have started to pick up with 10 observed at Old Cut on the 15th and Merlins continue to be the resident raptor at Breakwater, even sometimes chasing eagles away when necessary. 
  Shorebirds have been trickling through but there haven’t been any major concentrations. Ruddy Turnstones have been more abundant on the beaches and a late Whimbrel was found at the Tip on the 15th. Two American Golden Plover were on the beach at Breakwater on the 10th and 4 flew by the Tip on 13th. 
  Little Gulls have been the only exciting gull on the lake and there was a large movement of Common Terns early last week. Breakwater observed 1750 on the 9th, 4500 on the 10th, and 1900 on the 11th. Although Red-bellied Woodpecker numbers have been high the past two springs, fall records have been scarce. Breakwater has observed a few residents but the Tip had their first of the season on the 11th. Also the first Red-headed Woodpecker of the season was found at Breakwater on the 13th. 
  The bird of the period was no doubt a hatch-year male Scissor-tailed Flycatcher that was found at Breakwater on the 14th. This is the first fall record for Long Point. The last record was July 5 1995 during the Young Ornithologist Workshop. It hung around for the afternoon and was not observed again. Other flycatchers have pretty much all moved on with straggling observations of Yellow-bellieds, Traill’s and Leasts up to the 12th of September. 
  Vireos have picked up in the past few days. Red-eyeds, Warblings and Philadelphias have been trickling through since late August but have become much more regular and numerous. The season's first two Blue-headed Vireos were observed then banded at Old Cut on the 15th. Yellow-throated Vireos have also been surprisingly abundant. One was banded at the Tip on the 8th, Breakwater on the 9th and 10th and there were also two separate birds at Old Cut on the 9th. 
  Red-breasted Nuthatches continue to move through in small numbers and the season's first Brown Creepers arrived this week. Also, the first Winter Wren was banded at Breakwater on the 15th. It’s always great to see the first kinglets of the season, although it reminds us that the season's end is just around the corner. Old Cut banded two Ruby-crowned Kinglets on the 15th. Other firsts include White-throated Sparrow which arrived on the 8th. The season’s first White-crowned Sparrows were observed at the Tip on the 13th and banded on the 13th at Old Cut. The first Slate-coloured Junco was found at the Tip on the 15th and at the same time 12 American Pipits flew over making their first Tip appearance. Pipits first showed up at Breakwater on the 13th. 
  Blackpoll and Yellow-rumped warblers are no doubt going to be the warbler of the season at Long Point. Yellow-rumpeds started to appear extremely early this year and Blackpolls have been all over the place for the past week. The Tip had a bit of a fall-out on the 13th with 74 Blackpoll’s, 27 Redstarts, 12 Western Palms, 9 Cape Mays and 2 Connecticuts banded. Connecticuts have also been observed at the Tip and Breakwater on the 8th, Old Cut had two on the 9th, 2 were banded at the Tip on the 12th and another at Old Cut, and the final bird was at Breakwater on the 14th. There have record breaking numbers of Nashville and Tennessee warblers at Thunder Cape Bird Observatory, near Thunder Bay but Long Point has not seen the same trend. The numbers of Cape Mays appear to be higher that usual with over 40 individuals banded this fall compared to 32 banded in all of 2004. Another great find was second  young male Prairie Warbler at the Tip on the 10th. 
  In this next week we will no doubt see a major push of warblers with a good potential for large concentrations of Blackpolls and Yellow-rumpeds. There should also be a good hawk day or two in the works just as soon as the first sunny day with northerly breezes hits.

26 August - 8 September

The remnants of Hurricane Katrina passed Long Point on August 31st and we were on the beach first thing in the morning to document her passage. At 0700 that morning an adult Sooty Tern flew past a group of three LPBO observers about 500m offshore. If accepted by the Ontario Bird Records Committee, it will constitute the first record for the Long Point region. 
  The hurricane also produced a number of jaegers on Lake Erie. On the morning of the 31st as many as 8 Long-tailed Jaegers were observed from the south beach. One jaeger sp., probably Parasitic, was also found flying far out over the lake that morning. The Tip had jaeger (probably Parasitic) observations on the 1st and 5th of September. 
  Bonaparte’s Gull numbers have slowly begun to increase on the lake and with them Little Gulls are regular visitors to all three stations. Over 600 Common Terns were counted at the Tip on the 1st and 2nd of September and 711 were observed at Breakwater on the 6th. Forster’s Terns and Black Terns have both become scarcer. 
  Hawk migration has started slowly with a good diversity of around 12 species in the first few days of September. Old Cut banded a hatch-year female Cooper’s Hawk on the 4th and the Tip banded a hatch-year female Sharp-shinned Hawk on the 5th. Bald Eagle numbers have also remained high on the Point. A boat-trip from Breakwater to the Tip on September 7th tallied 16 immatures along the south shore. 
  Flycatchers have been slowly wrapping up with Leasts giving a good push in the final days of August as well as a few lingering Traill’s and Yellow-bellieds. An Acadian Flycatcher was observed and heard making vocalizations in the Old Cut woodlot on the 28th. Olive-sided Flycatchers were observed on the 31st at the Tip and on the 2nd and 3rd at Old Cut. Kingbirds have pretty much disappeared and only lingering swallows remain, mostly Barn. A very large swallow movement was associated with the strong northeast winds that accompanied Hurricane Katrina. Breakwater recorded over 3000 Barn Swallows and more than a hundred each of Bank, Cliff, and Tree. 
  The season's first Brown Creeper was banded at Breakwater on the 6th and Red-breasted Nuthatches have begun to increase in number. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher numbers have dropped off with only a few recorded at the stations. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds can still be found in fair numbers with estimated totals ranging from 20 to 40 birds per day. 
  Thrushes have certainly started to move and have been dominated by Swainson’s and Veerys. Hermits, Gray-cheekeds and Woods have all been banded also but not in great numbers. Vireos have also started with immature Red-eyed numbers increasing and the odd Philadelphia has been around. Yellow-throated Vireos were banded at the Tip on both the 2nd and 8th. 
  Warblers have continued to show good diversity but the numbers really haven’t started to move through. though Breakwater did band 139 birds involving 18 species on the 5th. American Redstarts, Black-throated Blues, Blackpolls and Magnolias have been the dominant warblers. A surprisingly high number of Yellow-rumpeds have also been appeared. Most of these were hatch-years with some retained juvenile plumage. Ten were banded at Breakwater on the 5th! Warbler goodies included Hooded Warblers at Old Cut and Breakwater on the 29th and Connecticut Warblers on the 29th at Old Cut and the Tip on the 29th and Sept 1st and 2nd. A young male Prairie Warbler also graced the Tip on the 2nd. Pine Warblers arrived at Breakwater and the Tip on the 4th. The first Northern Parulas of the season were found at Old Cut on the 1st. 
  Sparrows have not quite begun although the odd Lincolns has been banded and the occasional Eastern Towhee has been observed. Red-winged Blackbirds have begun to accumulate with 11,745 counted at Old Cut on the 28th. Bobolinks were also on the move this past week with over 100 recorded at Old Cut on the 29th and 30th. 
  The migration has been slow and steady so far but the dam always breaks for a few days in mid and late September when a lot of the warblers really push through if the conditions are right. Things should really start to pick up at Long Point with the next few cold fronts that push through the region.

1 - 25 August