We say it every year. And almost every month. But, yeah, the beginning of October is an exciting time to find birds on Martha’s Vineyard.
We say it every year. And almost every month. But, yeah, the beginning of October is an exciting time to find birds on Martha’s Vineyard. A lot of our local breeders have moved on to warmer climes and we begin to see a nice variety of bird species migrating. Breeders from way up North and Canada, east and west of the continent are making their moves.
Besides the usual late fall migrants that we all should see and be looking for, there are some species that we should be paying special attention to. These species are uncommon and usually show up annually but are hard to find. However, if you can put them on your radar you might be rewarded.
Lark Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
The Western kingbird is one such bird. It gets found each year across the island. It has a nice light gray back, a yellow belly, whitish throat and breast. The dark black tail has white outer tail feathers. That is in contrast to the common eastern kingbird in the same genus Tyrannus, which has a white belly and throat, a dark back and a black tail with white tips of feathers on the end of the tail. Look for perches such as dead trees and fence posts on grasslands and fields. This makes it easy for them to pop out and grab a tasty dragon fly. Find a western in the same areas that you will find an eastern kingbird. Seek and you will find.
In addition to the kingbird, there are quite a few different species to look for as well. These show up annually and you will have a great shot at locating them. Besides unique field marks, listen for individual call notes. Purple finch calls “pink”, dickcissel “blurp”, and Indigo bunting a soft ‘zeep”. Look for distinctive behaviors, Blue Grosbeaks and Rusty Blackbirds will flash their tails.
And please check out the blackbird flocks. Always look for yellow headed and rusty blackbirds. Remember, the majority of the time these birds will be in fall or immature plumage. They are passing through the Island; we just have to find them.
Here are some bird sightings for the week.
Blue Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
The morning of Monday, Oct. 6 while waiting for the school bus in Aquinnah, eight-year-old Louie Ives and his dad Taylor heard and saw a common raven. Wow. What a great way to start the day.
On Sunday, Oct. 5 in Katama, Charlie Morano found the first orange crowned warbler of the season. Comb through the multiple yellow rumps and you have a good chance to find this late migrant.
Dave Padulo found a short billed Dowitcher on Norton Point. At Sheriff’s Meadow Pond in Edgartown, Dave also found a yellow bellied sapsucker, and two red breasted nuthatches. This is a good year for red breasted nuthatches so keep your eyes out.
On Oct. 5 there was a highlight of a winter wren along lighthouse road, calling and giving its characteristic “chick-chick”. You will begin to start hearing this more frequently as the fall season progresses. Also a brown thrasher will give its “smack “ call. Try to see if you can distinguish it from the eastern mockingbird “schmack” call. The same but different.
Saturday, Oct. 4 was a busy day with bird watchers. The MV bird club was out in full force around the Aquinnah Circle, homestead and parking lot. Terrific looks at peregrine falcons, northern harriers, three brown creepers, an eastern wood pee wee, eastern phoebe, two field sparrows, a lark sparrow in the parking lot and a clay-colored sparrow in the grass around the homestead. Watch for the clay colored sparrow. This time of year it looks very similar to a chipping sparrow but a clinching field mark is the chipping sparrow has a dark lore where the clay colored has a pale lore.
Lincoln Sparrow
Lincoln Sparrow
Rogers Williams and Bridget Dunnigan were birding in Chilmark with a highlight of two merlins.
There are still some oystercatchers around. Craig Felts saw two on Lighthouse Beach in Edgartown.
Also on Saturday, Charlie Morano at the Gay Head Moraine found a beautiful male hooded warbler, swanson’s thrush, blue headed and white eyed vireos.
Around the homestead at Aquinnah circle he found a Lincoln’s sparrow. Nancy Nordin also found a Lincoln ‘s sparrow there Friday as well as Saturday.
On Friday, Oct. 3 Soo Whiting was in Aquinnah and found some nice birds: a coopers hawk, two purple finch and a magnolia warbler.
Orange Crowned Warbler
Orange Crowned Warbler
Around Pocha pond, Charlie Morano found a nice group of birds. Highlights were a clay colored and Lincoln’s sparrow.
Doug Rich found nine American oystercatchers on south beach.
On Thursday, Oct. 2, Janet Woodcock and Nancy Weaver found a harlequin duck off the beach in Aquinnah. Very impressive.
Rusty Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird
Also on Thursday, Elaine Vanderhoop in Aquinnah was minding her own business when a red eyed vireo flew into her glass door. The vireo was groggy and her cat snatched it. Luckily, Elaine was able to rescue the bird and it reoriented itself and eventually flew off.
On Wednesday, Oct. 1, Mary Makepeace was on the Vineyard Sound and saw a wilson’s storm petrel.
There are still plenty of great egrets around. Off West basin in Lobsterville Thaw Malin and Cynthia Blomquist counted 16 individuals.
Finally, on Tuesday, Sept. 30 our esteemed Robert Culbert found many species in the Squibnocket Pond reservation south Aquinnah. Highlights were a blue gray gnatcatcher and five lesser black backed gulls.
The weather in October can be unpredictable which brings in unpredictable birds. You just have to be looking for them.
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