There is a time during migration when we begin to transfer from summer residents to winter residents. That change is starting with the arrival of white-throated sparrows, dark-eyed juncos and yellow-rumped warblers.
There is a time during migration when we begin to transfer from summer residents to winter residents. That change is starting with the arrival of white-throated sparrows, dark-eyed juncos and yellow-rumped warblers.
Caspian Tern
Caspian Tern
Nancy Nordin was the first to spot a white-throated sparrow in Aquinnah on Sept. 21, and she found another in Aquinnah on Sept. 27. Stu Wilson and Kali B saw three white-throateds near the stone house on Lighthouse Road in Aquinnah on Sept. 23, the same day that Susan Whiting found two in Aquinnah. Kali B located one on Old Fields Path in Chilmark on Sept. 25, and Bob Shriber located one in Aquinnah on Sept. 28.
Another common winter resident is the dark-eyed junco. Charles Morano observed a junco off Moshup Trail on Sept. 24.
Other notable sparrows include Nancy Nordin’s finding a Lincoln’s sparrow at the Gay Head Cliffs on Sept. 22, and both a purple finch and a swamp sparrow in Aquinnah on Sept. 27.
Yellow-rumped warblers are another arriving winter resident species. Nancy Nordin spotted one in Aquinnah on Sept. 20, another on Sept. 21 and yet another on Sept. 27. Bob Shriber and Nancy Nordin found a flock of seven yellow-rumps in Aquinnah on Sept. 29.
So far in this column most of the birds have been in found in Aquinnah. There will be a lot more sightings from Aquinnah in the coming months. However, Monica Hulbert discovered a yellow-rumped in Makonikey on Sept. 27.
Philadelphia Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Northern house wrens are summer residents in increasing numbers, but at this time of the year they are most likely migrants from the west or the northwest. Bob Shriber saw one on Sept. 22, Nancy Weaver found one on Sept. 24 and Nancy Nordin and Bob Shriber observed one on Sept. 28 — all in Aquinnah. Five other sightings of this diminutive songbird were seen earlier in the month, all outside of Aquinnah.
There are a few other notable migrants. Matt Pelikan and Lori Schaller discovered an immature tricolored heron at Black Point Pond on Sept. 14, and Jeff Bernier spotted and photographed a Caspian tern on Norton Point on Sept. 19.
I heard call notes that differed slightly from the common red-bellied woodpecker’s call, so I looked upward and observed two adult red-headed woodpeckers (entirely red heads and a large white patch on their otherwise black backs) as they flew from one tree to another on Belleview avenue in Vineyard Haven on Sept. 22.
Val Freysinger reports a pied-billed grebe at Felix Neck on Sept. 28.
October is the month when our overwintering ducks start arriving, although winter numbers will not arrive until after northern waters freeze over in November and December. Of the winter resident seaducks, the first harlequin duck was reported last week, and Maureen and Bill Post watched a greater scaup as it drifted along in the shallow water near Fuller Street Beach on Sept. 26.
Tricolored Heron
Tricolored Heron
This week’s eider and scoter sightings are likely of birds that lingered over the summer. Kali B and Stu Wilson found three common eiders from the Gay Head Cliffs on Sept. 22, Janet Woodcock observed three eiders from Squibnocket Pond South on Sept. 23, Matt Born located one surf scoter and one white-winged scoter from Dogfish Bar on Sept. 25, and Henrietta Yelle saw six white-winged scoters in Vineyard Sound on Sept. 27.
Other duck sightings include Carolyn Anderson spotting six wood ducks at the Hoft Farm on Sept. 28, the same day that Val Freysinger observed four black ducks at Felix Neck on Sept. 28.
Some black-bellied plovers, sanderlings and dunlin will stay through the winter. Black-bellied plovers were seen by multiple observers. Ruth Richards spotted 17 on Norton Point on Sept. 22. The next day Charles Morano found nine on Sarson’s Island and Janet Woodcock had one at Squibnocket Pond South. Charles Morano found 26 on Norton Point on Sept. 25, and Lanny McDowell counted 120 on Norton Point on Sept. 28.
Northern House Wren
Northern House Wren
Of sanderlings, three were observed by Jennifer Sepanara at Long Point on Sept. 22. The next day Janet Woodcock found three at Squibnocket Pond South, and Charles Morano observed five on Sarson’s Island. On Norton Point, Ruth Richards spotted 36 on Sept. 22, and Charles Morano found 31 on Sept. 25. Lanny McDowell found the only two dunlins on Norton Point on Sept. 28. Their numbers should increase as the season progresses.
Other notable lingering shorebirds were found this week, including Greater yellowlegs. Charles Morano found four on Sarson’s Island on Sept. 23, Nancy Weaver 34 at Mud Creek Sept. 23, Richard Sirull seven at Felix Neck on Sept. 25, Dahlia Rudavsky and Bob Jampol saw 67 near the Ocean Heights boat ramp on Sept. 26, and Doug Rich spotted three at Hines Point on Sept. 27.
On Sept. 23 Charles Morano observed three ruddy turnstones on Sarson’s Island, Janet Woodcock had a spotted sandpiper at Squibnocket Pond South, and Kali B found three semipalmated plovers at Sheriff’s Meadow Sanctuary.
Sanderling
Sanderling
Charles Morano also saw seven semipalmated plovers, a red knot and one short-billed dowitcher on Norton Point on Sept. 25. Lanny McDowell added four whimbrels and one red knot on Norton Point on Sept. 28.
Vireos are lingering too, all in Aquinnah this week. Bob Shriber and Nancy Nordin found two red-eyed vireos on Sept. 22, Nancy Nordin located one blue-headed and two red-eyed vireos on Sept. 27, Lanny McDowell spotted a Philadelphia vireo on Sept. 27, and both Bob Shriber and Nancy Nordin watched four blue-headed and one red-eyed vireo on Sept. 28.
Liz Witham reports a lingering yellow-billed cuckoo at Pilots Landing on Sept. 27.
Eastern phoebes are the only flycatchers spotted this week. Bob Shriber and Nancy Nordin had one phoebe on Sept. 22 and two on Sept. 28 — all in Aquinnah. Monica Hulbert found one phoebe at Sepiessa Point on Sept. 22, Kali B had two at Old Fields Path on Sept. 25, Nancy Weaver located one at the pumping station on Sept. 26, and Carolyn Anderson watched two at the Hoft Farm on Sept. 28.
Please email your sightings to [email protected].
Robert Culbert is an ecological consultant living in Vineyard Haven.
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