Date: 10/16/26 9:09 pm From: Galveston Ornithological Society <galornsoc...> Subject: RE: [NFLbirds] October at SMNWR
A point of taxonomy is that while this book treats them “separately,” it still considers them the same species (note the first and second of the scientific names are the same). It is curious to me that the AOU has changed everything imaginable (including its own name) but has yet to split these (obviously) two species that breed light years apart.
Jim
From: <nflbirds...> <nflbirds...> On Behalf Of Don Morrow
Sent: Friday, October 16, 2026 3:36 PM
To: Anthony Lee <aleehomes...>
Cc: NFLbirds <nflbirds...>
Subject: Re: [NFLbirds] October at SMNWR
Here's a link to a good shorebird resource. It treats eastern (now saltmarsh) and western (now prairie) separately.
Willets are found at the refuge year-round, in numbers ranging from thirty to several hundred. The refuge sees an annual shift between its breeding population of Saltmarsh Willets that begin to leave the refuge in July to winter along the coast of South America and our wintering population of Prairie Willets that breed in the western US. These populations overlap at the refuge from mid-March through April during Spring migration and from late July into August in Fall migration.
The saltmarsh willet is more streaked, shorter-necked and has a shorter, thicker bill that is faintly two-toned. The western willet is a lankier, less marked bird with a slightly longer, thinner bill that is usually all black.
That's the quick-and-dirty version. I'm working on an essay that would go into more detail and include photos.
I watched the International Space Station in the night sky above St. Marks NWR on Thursday morning. It was closely followed by an unmanned Cargo Dragon capsule that was moving to link up with it. They passed soundlessly overhead as Black-crowned Night Herons were flying in to roost, barking in the dark, mindless of the technological marvel taking place 250 miles above them. Slowly, the light gathered and Gray Catbirds began to call, announcing another Fall day at the refuge.
These mornings at St. Marks are cool and colorful. Goldenrod is in bloom and Muhly grass is a pink haze along the edges of the levees. Butterflies are swarming; Cloudless Sulphurs, Gulf Fritillaries, Long-tailed Skippers and the first few Monarchs.
Outlying rain bands from Hurricane Isaias dropped a lot of rain on the refuge and the pools and ponds are full. Favorable winds gave a boost to migration and in two nights, fifteen million birds passed through the refuge. Most of these were thrushes, warblers and flycatchers, just passing through. Yellow Warblers are easy to find right now. Look for them on Goldenrod as they search for insects. Thrushes make use of fruit on migration and I’ve recently found Swainson’s Thrushes at the refuge feeding on Yaupon, Sweetbay and Viburnum. This migratory pulse also brought in wintering birds; Swamp Sparrows, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Eastern Phoebes and Northern Harriers.
Our winter duck population starts climbing in October and then jumps up in late November. Waterfowl populations are usually still low in mid-October, but generally show the first increase in diversity as a few pintails and wigeons begin to show up among the usual Blue-winged Teal. I found 56 Blue-winged Teal and a single Northern Shoveler on the refuge on Thursday. Most of the teal were skittish and easily spooked, a sign of active migrants.
The refuge’s Land Protection Plan calls for one area to be closed in order to provide an area for waterfowl to rest, unmolested. Signs have gone up closing the Gulf-side levee on the southeastern side of Mounds 3. This closure is for the winter season.
The refuge’s current high water levels have inundated shorebird flats and the refuge biologist is working to adjust water levels to accommodate both ducks and shorebirds. On Thursday, I had only a handful of shorebirds, but they included a Black-necked Stilt, a Red Knot and a Dunlin, all on Tower Pond. Dunlin normally begin to arrive in October and by November, they will be the most common shorebird on the refuge.
The American Ornithological Society has decided to split one of our most common shorebirds, the Willet, into two species. The new Saltmarsh Willet is our local breeder and the new Prairie Willet is our wintering bird, currently on the refuge. If you keep a bird list, your total just went up by one with no effort.
One other thing that you can do with almost no effort is come down to St. Marks. We have birds, butterflies and glorious Fall weather waiting for you.
Date: 10/16/26 8:33 pm From: Galveston Ornithological Society <galornsoc...> Subject: RE: [NFLbirds] October at SMNWR
All good information. I have been working very hard with the two Willets since Kevin Karlson introduced me to them in the 1990s. One observation I was able to give back to KK was that (at least on the Texas Coast), Easterns nest in the salt marsh (often eating fiddler crabs) [thus the name] while Westerns (Prairie) winter along the coastal surge zone (beach) often feeding on worms like polycheates and even fish (!).
The two are photographed together in the attached image, though frankly difficult due to different habitat preference. Salt Marsh Willets are chunkier with a shorter, perhaps thicker beak, while Westerns are more godwit-like. Identifications that are more “jizz” and less pure field marks are tougher at first, but we get used to separating them in our gut as time (and familiarity) moves along.
[Another interest of mine is right- vs. left-brained thinkers and the former (more artsy types) make IDs based on jizz* while left-brained folks tend to rely on bird ID (and many situations) more with the “safe” field marks. As a bird guide for over 30 years, I have seen this time and time again, often even with couples diverging in process.] And yes, some folks are varying combinations of the two processes.
*Jizz is a corruption of a similar WW II term for identifying Nazi planes (I believe), based on general information of size and shape).
Jim in Galveston
Willets are found at the refuge year-round, in numbers ranging from thirty to several hundred. The refuge sees an annual shift between its breeding population of Saltmarsh Willets that begin to leave the refuge in July to winter along the coast of South America and our wintering population of Prairie Willets that breed in the western US. These populations overlap at the refuge from mid-March through April during Spring migration and from late July into August in Fall migration.
The saltmarsh willet is more streaked, shorter-necked and has a shorter, thicker bill that is faintly two-toned. The western willet is a lankier, less marked bird with a slightly longer, thinner bill that is usually all black.
That's the quick-and-dirty version. I'm working on an essay that would go into more detail and include photos.
I watched the International Space Station in the night sky above St. Marks NWR on Thursday morning. It was closely followed by an unmanned Cargo Dragon capsule that was moving to link up with it. They passed soundlessly overhead as Black-crowned Night Herons were flying in to roost, barking in the dark, mindless of the technological marvel taking place 250 miles above them. Slowly, the light gathered and Gray Catbirds began to call, announcing another Fall day at the refuge.
These mornings at St. Marks are cool and colorful. Goldenrod is in bloom and Muhly grass is a pink haze along the edges of the levees. Butterflies are swarming; Cloudless Sulphurs, Gulf Fritillaries, Long-tailed Skippers and the first few Monarchs.
Outlying rain bands from Hurricane Isaias dropped a lot of rain on the refuge and the pools and ponds are full. Favorable winds gave a boost to migration and in two nights, fifteen million birds passed through the refuge. Most of these were thrushes, warblers and flycatchers, just passing through. Yellow Warblers are easy to find right now. Look for them on Goldenrod as they search for insects. Thrushes make use of fruit on migration and I’ve recently found Swainson’s Thrushes at the refuge feeding on Yaupon, Sweetbay and Viburnum. This migratory pulse also brought in wintering birds; Swamp Sparrows, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Eastern Phoebes and Northern Harriers.
Our winter duck population starts climbing in October and then jumps up in late November. Waterfowl populations are usually still low in mid-October, but generally show the first increase in diversity as a few pintails and wigeons begin to show up among the usual Blue-winged Teal. I found 56 Blue-winged Teal and a single Northern Shoveler on the refuge on Thursday. Most of the teal were skittish and easily spooked, a sign of active migrants.
The refuge’s Land Protection Plan calls for one area to be closed in order to provide an area for waterfowl to rest, unmolested. Signs have gone up closing the Gulf-side levee on the southeastern side of Mounds 3. This closure is for the winter season.
The refuge’s current high water levels have inundated shorebird flats and the refuge biologist is working to adjust water levels to accommodate both ducks and shorebirds. On Thursday, I had only a handful of shorebirds, but they included a Black-necked Stilt, a Red Knot and a Dunlin, all on Tower Pond. Dunlin normally begin to arrive in October and by November, they will be the most common shorebird on the refuge.
The American Ornithological Society has decided to split one of our most common shorebirds, the Willet, into two species. The new Saltmarsh Willet is our local breeder and the new Prairie Willet is our wintering bird, currently on the refuge. If you keep a bird list, your total just went up by one with no effort.
One other thing that you can do with almost no effort is come down to St. Marks. We have birds, butterflies and glorious Fall weather waiting for you.
Don Morrow
<donaldcmorrow...> <donaldcmorow...>
Tallahassee, FL
On Fri, Oct 16, 2026 at 4:31 PM Don Morrow <donaldcmorrow...> wrote:
> Willets are found at the refuge year-round, in numbers ranging from thirty
> to several hundred. The refuge sees an annual shift between its breeding
> population of Saltmarsh Willets that begin to leave the refuge in July to
> winter along the coast of South America and our wintering population of
> Prairie Willets that breed in the western US. These populations overlap
> at the refuge from mid-March through April during Spring migration and from
> late July into August in Fall migration.
>
>
> [image: image.png]
>
>
> The saltmarsh willet is more streaked, shorter-necked and has a shorter,
> thicker bill that is faintly two-toned. The western willet is a lankier,
> less marked bird with a slightly longer, thinner bill that is usually all
> black.
>
>
> That's the quick-and-dirty version. I'm working on an essay that would go
> into more detail and include photos.
>
>
>
>
> Don Morrow
> <donaldcmorrow...> <donaldcmorow...>
> Tallahassee, FL
>
>
> On Fri, Oct 16, 2026 at 4:10 PM Anthony Lee <aleehomes...> wrote:
>
>> Don what do you look for in order to identify the prairie or the
>> saltmarsh willet?
>>
>> On Fri, Oct 16, 2026, 3:28 PM Don Morrow <donaldcmorrow...> wrote:
>>
>>> I watched the International Space Station in the night sky above St.
>>> Marks NWR on Thursday morning. It was closely followed by an unmanned Cargo
>>> Dragon capsule that was moving to link up with it. They passed soundlessly
>>> overhead as Black-crowned Night Herons were flying in to roost, barking in
>>> the dark, mindless of the technological marvel taking place 250 miles above
>>> them. Slowly, the light gathered and Gray Catbirds began to call,
>>> announcing another Fall day at the refuge.
>>>
>>> These mornings at St. Marks are cool and colorful. Goldenrod is in bloom
>>> and Muhly grass is a pink haze along the edges of the levees. Butterflies
>>> are swarming; Cloudless Sulphurs, Gulf Fritillaries, Long-tailed Skippers
>>> and the first few Monarchs.
>>>
>>> Outlying rain bands from Hurricane Isaias dropped a lot of rain on the
>>> refuge and the pools and ponds are full. Favorable winds gave a boost to
>>> migration and in two nights, fifteen million birds passed through the
>>> refuge. Most of these were thrushes, warblers and flycatchers, just passing
>>> through. Yellow Warblers are easy to find right now. Look for them on
>>> Goldenrod as they search for insects. Thrushes make use of fruit on
>>> migration and I’ve recently found Swainson’s Thrushes at the refuge feeding
>>> on Yaupon, Sweetbay and Viburnum. This migratory pulse also brought in
>>> wintering birds; Swamp Sparrows, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Eastern Phoebes and
>>> Northern Harriers.
>>>
>>> Our winter duck population starts climbing in October and then jumps up
>>> in late November. Waterfowl populations are usually still low in
>>> mid-October, but generally show the first increase in diversity as a few
>>> pintails and wigeons begin to show up among the usual Blue-winged Teal. I
>>> found 56 Blue-winged Teal and a single Northern Shoveler on the refuge on
>>> Thursday. Most of the teal were skittish and easily spooked, a sign of
>>> active migrants.
>>>
>>> The refuge’s Land Protection Plan calls for one area to be closed in
>>> order to provide an area for waterfowl to rest, unmolested. Signs have
>>> gone up closing the Gulf-side levee on the southeastern side of Mounds 3.
>>> This closure is for the winter season.
>>>
>>> The refuge’s current high water levels have inundated shorebird flats
>>> and the refuge biologist is working to adjust water levels to accommodate
>>> both ducks and shorebirds. On Thursday, I had only a handful of shorebirds,
>>> but they included a Black-necked Stilt, a Red Knot and a Dunlin, all on
>>> Tower Pond. Dunlin normally begin to arrive in October and by November,
>>> they will be the most common shorebird on the refuge.
>>>
>>> The American Ornithological Society has decided to split one of our
>>> most common shorebirds, the Willet, into two species. The new Saltmarsh
>>> Willet is our local breeder and the new Prairie Willet is our wintering
>>> bird, currently on the refuge. If you keep a bird list, your total just
>>> went up by one with no effort.
>>>
>>> One other thing that you can do with almost no effort is come down to
>>> St. Marks. We have birds, butterflies and glorious Fall weather waiting for
>>> you.
>>>
>>> --
>>> To subscribe to this group, send email to
>>> nflbirds+<subscribe...>
>>> https://groups.google.com/g/nflbirds >>> ---
>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
>>> Groups "NFLbirds" group.
>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send
>>> an email to nflbirds+<unsubscribe...>
>>> To view this discussion visit
>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/nflbirds/<9cd62b8c-525d-4493-b124-240f6c829757n...> >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/nflbirds/<9cd62b8c-525d-4493-b124-240f6c829757n...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> .
>>>
>>
Date: 10/16/26 1:31 pm From: Don Morrow <donaldcmorrow...> Subject: Re: [NFLbirds] October at SMNWR
Willets are found at the refuge year-round, in numbers ranging from thirty
to several hundred. The refuge sees an annual shift between its breeding
population of Saltmarsh Willets that begin to leave the refuge in July to
winter along the coast of South America and our wintering population of
Prairie Willets that breed in the western US. These populations overlap at
the refuge from mid-March through April during Spring migration and from
late July into August in Fall migration.
[image: image.png]
The saltmarsh willet is more streaked, shorter-necked and has a shorter,
thicker bill that is faintly two-toned. The western willet is a lankier,
less marked bird with a slightly longer, thinner bill that is usually all
black.
That's the quick-and-dirty version. I'm working on an essay that would go
into more detail and include photos.
Don Morrow
<donaldcmorrow...> <donaldcmorow...>
Tallahassee, FL
On Fri, Oct 16, 2026 at 4:10 PM Anthony Lee <aleehomes...> wrote:
> Don what do you look for in order to identify the prairie or the saltmarsh
> willet?
>
> On Fri, Oct 16, 2026, 3:28 PM Don Morrow <donaldcmorrow...> wrote:
>
>> I watched the International Space Station in the night sky above St.
>> Marks NWR on Thursday morning. It was closely followed by an unmanned Cargo
>> Dragon capsule that was moving to link up with it. They passed soundlessly
>> overhead as Black-crowned Night Herons were flying in to roost, barking in
>> the dark, mindless of the technological marvel taking place 250 miles above
>> them. Slowly, the light gathered and Gray Catbirds began to call,
>> announcing another Fall day at the refuge.
>>
>> These mornings at St. Marks are cool and colorful. Goldenrod is in bloom
>> and Muhly grass is a pink haze along the edges of the levees. Butterflies
>> are swarming; Cloudless Sulphurs, Gulf Fritillaries, Long-tailed Skippers
>> and the first few Monarchs.
>>
>> Outlying rain bands from Hurricane Isaias dropped a lot of rain on the
>> refuge and the pools and ponds are full. Favorable winds gave a boost to
>> migration and in two nights, fifteen million birds passed through the
>> refuge. Most of these were thrushes, warblers and flycatchers, just passing
>> through. Yellow Warblers are easy to find right now. Look for them on
>> Goldenrod as they search for insects. Thrushes make use of fruit on
>> migration and I’ve recently found Swainson’s Thrushes at the refuge feeding
>> on Yaupon, Sweetbay and Viburnum. This migratory pulse also brought in
>> wintering birds; Swamp Sparrows, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Eastern Phoebes and
>> Northern Harriers.
>>
>> Our winter duck population starts climbing in October and then jumps up
>> in late November. Waterfowl populations are usually still low in
>> mid-October, but generally show the first increase in diversity as a few
>> pintails and wigeons begin to show up among the usual Blue-winged Teal. I
>> found 56 Blue-winged Teal and a single Northern Shoveler on the refuge on
>> Thursday. Most of the teal were skittish and easily spooked, a sign of
>> active migrants.
>>
>> The refuge’s Land Protection Plan calls for one area to be closed in
>> order to provide an area for waterfowl to rest, unmolested. Signs have
>> gone up closing the Gulf-side levee on the southeastern side of Mounds 3.
>> This closure is for the winter season.
>>
>> The refuge’s current high water levels have inundated shorebird flats
>> and the refuge biologist is working to adjust water levels to accommodate
>> both ducks and shorebirds. On Thursday, I had only a handful of shorebirds,
>> but they included a Black-necked Stilt, a Red Knot and a Dunlin, all on
>> Tower Pond. Dunlin normally begin to arrive in October and by November,
>> they will be the most common shorebird on the refuge.
>>
>> The American Ornithological Society has decided to split one of our most
>> common shorebirds, the Willet, into two species. The new Saltmarsh Willet
>> is our local breeder and the new Prairie Willet is our wintering bird,
>> currently on the refuge. If you keep a bird list, your total just went up
>> by one with no effort.
>>
>> One other thing that you can do with almost no effort is come down to
>> St. Marks. We have birds, butterflies and glorious Fall weather waiting for
>> you.
>>
>> --
>> To subscribe to this group, send email to
>> nflbirds+<subscribe...>
>> https://groups.google.com/g/nflbirds >> ---
>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
>> "NFLbirds" group.
>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
>> email to nflbirds+<unsubscribe...>
>> To view this discussion visit
>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/nflbirds/<9cd62b8c-525d-4493-b124-240f6c829757n...> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/nflbirds/<9cd62b8c-525d-4493-b124-240f6c829757n...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> .
>>
>
Date: 10/16/26 1:11 pm From: Anthony Lee <aleehomes...> Subject: Re: [NFLbirds] October at SMNWR
Don what do you look for in order to identify the prairie or the saltmarsh
willet?
On Fri, Oct 16, 2026, 3:28 PM Don Morrow <donaldcmorrow...> wrote:
> I watched the International Space Station in the night sky above St. Marks
> NWR on Thursday morning. It was closely followed by an unmanned Cargo
> Dragon capsule that was moving to link up with it. They passed soundlessly
> overhead as Black-crowned Night Herons were flying in to roost, barking in
> the dark, mindless of the technological marvel taking place 250 miles above
> them. Slowly, the light gathered and Gray Catbirds began to call,
> announcing another Fall day at the refuge.
>
> These mornings at St. Marks are cool and colorful. Goldenrod is in bloom
> and Muhly grass is a pink haze along the edges of the levees. Butterflies
> are swarming; Cloudless Sulphurs, Gulf Fritillaries, Long-tailed Skippers
> and the first few Monarchs.
>
> Outlying rain bands from Hurricane Isaias dropped a lot of rain on the
> refuge and the pools and ponds are full. Favorable winds gave a boost to
> migration and in two nights, fifteen million birds passed through the
> refuge. Most of these were thrushes, warblers and flycatchers, just passing
> through. Yellow Warblers are easy to find right now. Look for them on
> Goldenrod as they search for insects. Thrushes make use of fruit on
> migration and I’ve recently found Swainson’s Thrushes at the refuge feeding
> on Yaupon, Sweetbay and Viburnum. This migratory pulse also brought in
> wintering birds; Swamp Sparrows, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Eastern Phoebes and
> Northern Harriers.
>
> Our winter duck population starts climbing in October and then jumps up in
> late November. Waterfowl populations are usually still low in mid-October,
> but generally show the first increase in diversity as a few pintails and
> wigeons begin to show up among the usual Blue-winged Teal. I found 56
> Blue-winged Teal and a single Northern Shoveler on the refuge on Thursday.
> Most of the teal were skittish and easily spooked, a sign of active
> migrants.
>
> The refuge’s Land Protection Plan calls for one area to be closed in
> order to provide an area for waterfowl to rest, unmolested. Signs have
> gone up closing the Gulf-side levee on the southeastern side of Mounds 3.
> This closure is for the winter season.
>
> The refuge’s current high water levels have inundated shorebird flats and
> the refuge biologist is working to adjust water levels to accommodate both
> ducks and shorebirds. On Thursday, I had only a handful of shorebirds, but
> they included a Black-necked Stilt, a Red Knot and a Dunlin, all on Tower
> Pond. Dunlin normally begin to arrive in October and by November, they will
> be the most common shorebird on the refuge.
>
> The American Ornithological Society has decided to split one of our most
> common shorebirds, the Willet, into two species. The new Saltmarsh Willet
> is our local breeder and the new Prairie Willet is our wintering bird,
> currently on the refuge. If you keep a bird list, your total just went up
> by one with no effort.
>
> One other thing that you can do with almost no effort is come down to St.
> Marks. We have birds, butterflies and glorious Fall weather waiting for
> you.
>
> --
> To subscribe to this group, send email to
> nflbirds+<subscribe...>
> https://groups.google.com/g/nflbirds > ---
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "NFLbirds" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
> email to nflbirds+<unsubscribe...>
> To view this discussion visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/nflbirds/<9cd62b8c-525d-4493-b124-240f6c829757n...> > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/nflbirds/<9cd62b8c-525d-4493-b124-240f6c829757n...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > .
>
Date: 10/16/26 12:29 pm From: Don Morrow <donaldcmorrow...> Subject: [NFLbirds] October at SMNWR
I watched the International Space Station in the night sky above St. Marks
NWR on Thursday morning. It was closely followed by an unmanned Cargo
Dragon capsule that was moving to link up with it. They passed soundlessly
overhead as Black-crowned Night Herons were flying in to roost, barking in
the dark, mindless of the technological marvel taking place 250 miles above
them. Slowly, the light gathered and Gray Catbirds began to call,
announcing another Fall day at the refuge.
These mornings at St. Marks are cool and colorful. Goldenrod is in bloom
and Muhly grass is a pink haze along the edges of the levees. Butterflies
are swarming; Cloudless Sulphurs, Gulf Fritillaries, Long-tailed Skippers
and the first few Monarchs.
Outlying rain bands from Hurricane Isaias dropped a lot of rain on the
refuge and the pools and ponds are full. Favorable winds gave a boost to
migration and in two nights, fifteen million birds passed through the
refuge. Most of these were thrushes, warblers and flycatchers, just passing
through. Yellow Warblers are easy to find right now. Look for them on
Goldenrod as they search for insects. Thrushes make use of fruit on
migration and I’ve recently found Swainson’s Thrushes at the refuge feeding
on Yaupon, Sweetbay and Viburnum. This migratory pulse also brought in
wintering birds; Swamp Sparrows, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Eastern Phoebes and
Northern Harriers.
Our winter duck population starts climbing in October and then jumps up in
late November. Waterfowl populations are usually still low in mid-October,
but generally show the first increase in diversity as a few pintails and
wigeons begin to show up among the usual Blue-winged Teal. I found 56
Blue-winged Teal and a single Northern Shoveler on the refuge on Thursday.
Most of the teal were skittish and easily spooked, a sign of active
migrants.
The refuge’s Land Protection Plan calls for one area to be closed in order
to provide an area for waterfowl to rest, unmolested. Signs have gone up
closing the Gulf-side levee on the southeastern side of Mounds 3. This
closure is for the winter season.
The refuge’s current high water levels have inundated shorebird flats and
the refuge biologist is working to adjust water levels to accommodate both
ducks and shorebirds. On Thursday, I had only a handful of shorebirds, but
they included a Black-necked Stilt, a Red Knot and a Dunlin, all on Tower
Pond. Dunlin normally begin to arrive in October and by November, they will
be the most common shorebird on the refuge.
The American Ornithological Society has decided to split one of our most
common shorebirds, the Willet, into two species. The new Saltmarsh Willet
is our local breeder and the new Prairie Willet is our wintering bird,
currently on the refuge. If you keep a bird list, your total just went up
by one with no effort.
One other thing that you can do with almost no effort is come down to St.
Marks. We have birds, butterflies and glorious Fall weather waiting for
you.
I'd bet the farm an awful lot of those were Western Palms and some early yellow-rumps. I saw that 50 years ago on SGI every cool front. And remember, it's not the temp, it's the dew point that says, "GO!"Jim in Galveston On Oct 9, 2026 11:34 AM, Peter Yaukey <peter.yaukey...> wrote:
Bob and FL Birders: Yesterday I had a late Purple Martin in Mobile while pausing to do a skywatch enroute to New Orleans, which also immediately made me wonder if it could have been Isaias- displaced trans-Gulf from the Yucatan, where eBird shows there are still good numbers this late. You may be aware there is a recent paper that reported that Golden-w Warblers in Tennessee on their nesting grounds retreated all the way to the Gulf Coast to avoid a tornadic weather system that was approaching from the west. They returned days later. The researchers detected it serendipitously because they had geolocators on them (their return was quick enough that they would have not had a clue otherwise). The observation of the warblers moving east along the Gulf Breeze peninsula yesterday is fascinating, as is storm retreat in general. In New Orleans, I have seen gradual movements of Mississippi Kites southward while I was out looking for waifs after storms, making me suspect that I was seeing kites returning to places fartther south from which they had retreated inland for the storm passage. An alternative hypothesis to consider for the warblers yesterday, might be corrective migratory morning flight into the wind. South Point in New Orleans has a similar geographical context, being on the south side of a large body of water (Lake Pontchartrain), and the large flights there move NE up the lakefront, characteristically on days with NE winds immediately after fronts, with the birds flying into the wind. The best explanation there appears to be that the birds are orienting into the wind to correct for wind drift the night before, and accumulate along the shoreline into a concentrated flow. So, eastward movement along the GB peninsula could be birds likewise flying correctively into the NE (ENE) wind, accumulating along the bayshore. I explored this possibility last fall on a few days, and did have a flight of 3000 robins moving NE at the extreme east end of the peninsula following one Nov front. I believe eBird also reports an eastbound flight of 1000 Palms in a similar location on the peninsula a few Octobers ago (can be found by searching maxima counts for the county). Your home's position on the far west end of the peninsula might make this invisible to you, because you would be at the very start of the flow concentration process (likewise, the New Orleans flights are not evident farther west on the shore where the accumulation is just beginning). The spot in Mobile where I did yesterday's skywatch was Arlington Park, on the west side of Mobile Bay, near the Downtown Airport (exit 24). I had picked it on the supposition that a corrective movement into the NE wind would bring birds to the western bayshore where they would funnel north. On Tuesday (first morning after front) I only had 15 min to skywatch, but had over 800 small passerines (660 Indigos) fly past heading north in that time. Thursday was much slower (c. 40 birds in 30 min), as often happens in New Orleans (rapid drop off a few days after front). Perhaps the 100-200 birds that JM reported yesterday included both corrective migratory movements, and hurricane retreat! As you say, Questins Questions Questions! Good birding and stay safe today. I myself am hunkering down in Ferry Pass. Peter Yaukey
On Thu, Oct 8, 2026 at 9:34 PM 'Lucy and Bob Duncan' via NFLbirds <nflbirds...> wrote:
Hi all, This morning Jeff Madsen, an experienced birder who lives about 10 miles east of the tip of our 20 mile long peninsula of Gulf Breze watched about 100 - 200 warblers fly EAST against a moderate ENE wind. Normally, birds in Fall migration are seen moving west in a circum-Gulf movement or a later trans-Gulf migration. The exception would be those headed for the West Indies. I rather doubt that a movement that large would be West Indian-bound birds this late in the season. Is it possible these birds "sensed" future worsening conditions to the west of their intended movement and it caused them to avoid further movement west? The hurricane at that point in time was still in the S. Gulf. That's mind boggling! This phenomenon occurred years ago when a hurricane was headed for landfall to our west but was still well to the south of the coast. Lucy and I witnessed a steady progression of Black Terns from our home as they flew east most of the day against a stiff east wind. That's what's great about birding. Questions, questions, questions. Bob DuncanGulf Breeze, Fl
Date: 10/9/26 9:35 am From: Peter Yaukey <peter.yaukey...> Subject: Re: [NFLbirds] Interesting warbler migration
Bob and FL Birders:
Yesterday I had a late Purple Martin in Mobile while pausing to do a
skywatch enroute to New Orleans, which also immediately made me wonder if
it could have been Isaias- displaced trans-Gulf from the Yucatan, where
eBird shows there are still good numbers this late.
You may be aware there is a recent paper that reported that Golden-w
Warblers in Tennessee on their nesting grounds retreated all the way to
the Gulf Coast to avoid a tornadic weather system that was approaching from
the west. They returned days later. The researchers detected it
serendipitously because they had geolocators on them (their return was
quick enough that they would have not had a clue otherwise).
The observation of the warblers moving east along the Gulf Breeze peninsula
yesterday is fascinating, as is storm retreat in general. In New Orleans,
I have seen gradual movements of Mississippi Kites southward while I was
out looking for waifs after storms, making me suspect that I was seeing
kites returning to places fartther south from which they had retreated
inland for the storm passage.
An alternative hypothesis to consider for the warblers yesterday, might be
corrective migratory morning flight into the wind. South Point in New
Orleans has a similar geographical context, being on the south side of a
large body of water (Lake Pontchartrain), and the large flights there move
NE up the lakefront, characteristically on days with NE winds immediately
after fronts, with the birds flying into the wind. The best explanation
there appears to be that the birds are orienting into the wind to correct
for wind drift the night before, and accumulate along the shoreline into a
concentrated flow. So, eastward movement along the GB peninsula could be
birds likewise flying correctively into the NE (ENE) wind, accumulating
along the bayshore. I explored this possibility last fall on a few days,
and did have a flight of 3000 robins moving NE at the extreme east end of
the peninsula following one Nov front. I believe eBird also reports an
eastbound flight of 1000 Palms in a similar location on the peninsula a few
Octobers ago (can be found by searching maxima counts for the county).
Your home's position on the far west end of the peninsula might make this
invisible to you, because you would be at the very start of the flow
concentration process (likewise, the New Orleans flights are not evident
farther west on the shore where the accumulation is just beginning).
The spot in Mobile where I did yesterday's skywatch was Arlington Park, on
the west side of Mobile Bay, near the Downtown Airport (exit 24). I had
picked it on the supposition that a corrective movement into the NE wind
would bring birds to the western bayshore where they would funnel north.
On Tuesday (first morning after front) I only had 15 min to skywatch, but
had over 800 small passerines (660 Indigos) fly past heading north in that
time. Thursday was much slower (c. 40 birds in 30 min), as often happens
in New Orleans (rapid drop off a few days after front). Perhaps the
100-200 birds that JM reported yesterday included both corrective migratory
movements, and hurricane retreat!
As you say, Questins Questions Questions!
Good birding and stay safe today. I myself am hunkering down in Ferry Pass.
Peter Yaukey
On Thu, Oct 8, 2026 at 9:34 PM 'Lucy and Bob Duncan' via NFLbirds <
<nflbirds...> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> This morning Jeff Madsen, an experienced birder who lives about 10 miles
> east of the tip of our 20 mile long peninsula of Gulf Breze watched about
> 100 - 200 warblers fly EAST against a moderate ENE wind. Normally, birds in
> Fall migration are seen moving west in a circum-Gulf movement or a later
> trans-Gulf migration. The exception would be those headed for the West
> Indies. I rather doubt that a movement that large would be West
> Indian-bound birds this late in the season. Is it possible these birds
> "sensed" future worsening conditions to the west of their intended
> movement and it caused them to avoid further movement west? The hurricane
> at that point in time was still in the S. Gulf. That's mind boggling!
>
> This phenomenon occurred years ago when a hurricane was headed for
> landfall to our west but was still well to the south of the coast. Lucy and
> I witnessed a steady progression of Black Terns from our home as they flew
> east most of the day against a stiff east wind. That's what's great about
> birding. Questions, questions, questions.
>
> Bob Duncan
> Gulf Breeze, Fl
>
>
>
>
> <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail> > Virus-free.www.avg.com
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>
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> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/nflbirds/<1258222741.1181253.1791513285438...> > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/nflbirds/<1258222741.1181253.1791513285438...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > .
>
Date: 10/8/26 7:34 pm From: 'Lucy and Bob Duncan' via NFLbirds <nflbirds...> Subject: [NFLbirds] Interesting warbler migration
Hi all,
This morning Jeff Madsen, an experienced birder who lives about 10 miles east of the tip of our 20 mile long peninsula of Gulf Breze watched about 100 - 200 warblers fly EAST against a moderate ENE wind. Normally, birds in Fall migration are seen moving west in a circum-Gulf movement or a later trans-Gulf migration. The exception would be those headed for the West Indies. I rather doubt that a movement that large would be West Indian-bound birds this late in the season. Is it possible these birds "sensed" future worsening conditions to the west of their intended movement and it caused them to avoid further movement west? The hurricane at that point in time was still in the S. Gulf. That's mind boggling!
This phenomenon occurred years ago when a hurricane was headed for landfall to our west but was still well to the south of the coast. Lucy and I witnessed a steady progression of Black Terns from our home as they flew east most of the day against a stiff east wind. That's what's great about birding. Questions, questions, questions.
Bob DuncanGulf Breeze, Fl
Date: 10/7/26 8:14 am From: 'Charles Futch' via NFLbirds <nflbirds...> Subject: [NFLbirds] Seeking Advice
We are going to the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival in Harlingen, TX
in November. I am asking for suggestions for the best field guide for
the area.
Thanks,
Chas. Futch
Date: 9/29/26 4:04 am From: 'BARBARA BUFORD' via NFLbirds <nflbirds...> Subject: Re: [NFLbirds] Please add the email below to this group
Thank you for sending me Don’s post of the 24th. I enjoyed it.
> On Sep 24, 2026, at 12:06 PM, 'eliza hawkins' via NFLbirds <nflbirds...> wrote:
>
> I don't have any details about this person's name or any other information you may need to add her or him. They just requested to be added. I Googled how to add and I don't think I am able to do it myself
>
>
> <tiaoffner...>
>
>
>
> Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer <https://mail.onelink.me/107872968?pid=nativeplacement&c=US_Acquisition_YMktg_315_SearchOrgConquer_EmailSignature&af_sub1=Acquisition&af_sub2=US_YMktg&af_sub3=&af_sub4=100002039&af_sub5=C01_Email_Static_&af_ios_store_cpp=0c38e4b0-a27e-40f9-a211-f4e2de32ab91&af_android_url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?<id...>&listing=search_organize_conquer> > On Thu, Sep 24, 2026 at 9:19 AM, Don Morrow
> <donaldcmorrow...> wrote:
> At first it had been deceptively quiet on the levee where I was standing at St. Marks NWR. No frogs were calling and there had been only the low rumbling from a pair of thunderstorms out in the Gulf. A gentle breeze was coming out of the north. A quarter mile above me, where the winds were stronger, my Merlin app had picked up the chip notes of thrushes calling in the night sky. Finally, as the stars faded and the sky lightened, I heard an Eastern Screech Owl’s low tremolo from somewhere out in the marsh, King Rails called and a distant Barred Owl began hooting. Night birds often call just before dawn as if protesting the end of night.
>
> The Autumnal Equinox has come and gone and we are approaching the peak of Fall migration. Ten million birds have already crossed the refuge this month. Half of them did so on two nights. Fall migration proceeds in fits and starts, depending primarily on flight conditions. Stormy weather or headwinds from the south cause birds to hunker down, but when the wind is right and the weather is clear, it’s time to move. The peak nights of Fall migration usually occur roughly from September 29th to October 17th. On just a few nights, millions of birds come through.
>
> This is a good time to be down at St. Marks. Flycatchers, vireos, thrushes and warblers are moving and the refuge is ready. Many plants time their fruiting to the Fall migration period when migrating birds supplement their diets with plant food. Swainson’s Thrushes and Eastern Kingbirds, a type of flycatcher, can be found feeding on the red fruit of sweet bay magnolia. Sand holly berries nourish Red-eyed Vireos. Right now, migrant and local birds can feed on peppervine, wild grape, beautyberry and Virginia creeper. There’s plenty of food to go around.
>
> Shorebirds are continuing to migrate through and my survey totals are breaking one thousand birds. Along with the shorebirds come the birds that hunt them. I had to let forty sandpipers go as unidentified when a marauding Merlin falcon chased them off. Bald Eagles are back for the winter. They won’t bother the shorebirds, but I watched one attack and steal a fish from an unfortunate Osprey.
>
> And it’s not only birds that are migrating. Blazing Star and Goldenrod are blooming, just in time to feed migrating butterflies. Both Cloudless Sulphurs and Gulf Fritillaries are already moving through and Monarchs will show up in time for the refuge’s annual Monarch Festival in November. And over the last few weeks, I’ve had flocks of Black Saddlebags and Green Darners, two species of migratory dragonflies.
>
> Fall is a time of change, movement and wonder. The first cool weather is moving in and there are birds, butterflies and dragonflies to watch. Halloween will mark the refuge’s 95th birthday. You should come down to St. Marks, go to the Nature Store and buy yourself a present.
>
>
> --
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> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to nflbirds+<unsubscribe...> <mailto:nflbirds+<unsubscribe...>.
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>
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Date: 9/24/26 1:00 pm From: 'Fran Rutkovsky' via NFLbirds <nflbirds...> Subject: Re: [NFLbirds] Please add the email below to this group
Scott Borderiux is the list owner. Scott, how does someone join the group now that’s it’s changed from Yahoo to Google? Fran
On 09/24/2026 12:06 PM EDT 'eliza hawkins' via NFLbirds <nflbirds...> wrote: I don't have any details about this person's name or any other information you may need to add her or him. They just requested to be added. I Googled how to add and I don't think I am able to do it myself
<tiaoffner...>
Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
On Thu, Sep 24, 2026 at 9:19 AM, Don Morrow <donaldcmorrow...> wrote:
At first it had been deceptively quiet on the levee where I was standing at St. Marks NWR. No frogs were calling and there had been only the low rumbling from a pair of thunderstorms out in the Gulf. A gentle breeze was coming out of the north. A quarter mile above me, where the winds were stronger, my Merlin app had picked up the chip notes of thrushes calling in the night sky. Finally, as the stars faded and the sky lightened, I heard an Eastern Screech Owl’s low tremolo from somewhere out in the marsh, King Rails called and a distant Barred Owl began hooting. Night birds often call just before dawn as if protesting the end of night.
The Autumnal Equinox has come and gone and we are approaching the peak of Fall migration. Ten million birds have already crossed the refuge this month. Half of them did so on two nights. Fall migration proceeds in fits and starts, depending primarily on flight conditions. Stormy weather or headwinds from the south cause birds to hunker down, but when the wind is right and the weather is clear, it’s time to move. The peak nights of Fall migration usually occur roughly from September 29th to October 17th. On just a few nights, millions of birds come through.
This is a good time to be down at St. Marks. Flycatchers, vireos, thrushes and warblers are moving and the refuge is ready. Many plants time their fruiting to the Fall migration period when migrating birds supplement their diets with plant food. Swainson’s Thrushes and Eastern Kingbirds, a type of flycatcher, can be found feeding on the red fruit of sweet bay magnolia. Sand holly berries nourish Red-eyed Vireos. Right now, migrant and local birds can feed on peppervine, wild grape, beautyberry and Virginia creeper. There’s plenty of food to go around.
Shorebirds are continuing to migrate through and my survey totals are breaking one thousand birds. Along with the shorebirds come the birds that hunt them. I had to let forty sandpipers go as unidentified when a marauding Merlin falcon chased them off. Bald Eagles are back for the winter. They won’t bother the shorebirds, but I watched one attack and steal a fish from an unfortunate Osprey.
And it’s not only birds that are migrating. Blazing Star and Goldenrod are blooming, just in time to feed migrating butterflies. Both Cloudless Sulphurs and Gulf Fritillaries are already moving through and Monarchs will show up in time for the refuge’s annual Monarch Festival in November. And over the last few weeks, I’ve had flocks of Black Saddlebags and Green Darners, two species of migratory dragonflies.
Fall is a time of change, movement and wonder. The first cool weather is moving in and there are birds, butterflies and dragonflies to watch. Halloween will mark the refuge’s 95th birthday. You should come down to St. Marks, go to the Nature Store and buy yourself a present.
-- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "NFLbirds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to nflbirds+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/nflbirds/<514392756.425094.1790265984361...>
Date: 9/24/26 9:06 am From: 'eliza hawkins' via NFLbirds <nflbirds...> Subject: [NFLbirds] Please add the email below to this group
I don't have any details about this person's name or any other information you may need to add her or him. They just requested to be added. I Googled how to add and I don't think I am able to do it myself
<tiaoffner...>
Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
On Thu, Sep 24, 2026 at 9:19 AM, Don Morrow<donaldcmorrow...> wrote:
At first it had been deceptively quiet on the levee where Iwas standing at St. Marks NWR. No frogs were calling and there had been onlythe low rumbling from a pair of thunderstorms out in the Gulf. A gentle breezewas coming out of the north. A quarter mile above me, where the winds werestronger, my Merlin app had picked up the chip notes of thrushes calling in thenight sky. Finally, as the stars faded and the sky lightened, I heard anEastern Screech Owl’s low tremolo from somewhere out in the marsh, King Railscalled and a distant Barred Owl began hooting. Night birds often call justbefore dawn as if protesting the end of night.
The Autumnal Equinox has come and gone and we areapproaching the peak of Fall migration. Ten million birds have already crossedthe refuge this month. Half of them did so on two nights. Fall migrationproceeds in fits and starts, depending primarily on flight conditions. Stormyweather or headwinds from the south cause birds to hunker down, but when thewind is right and the weather is clear, it’s time to move. The peak nights ofFall migration usually occur roughly from September 29th to October17th. On just a few nights, millions of birds come through.
This is a good time to be down at St. Marks. Flycatchers,vireos, thrushes and warblers are moving and the refuge is ready. Many plantstime their fruiting to the Fall migration period when migrating birdssupplement their diets with plant food. Swainson’s Thrushes and EasternKingbirds, a type of flycatcher, can be found feeding on the red fruit of sweetbay magnolia. Sand holly berries nourish Red-eyed Vireos. Right now, migrantand local birds can feed on peppervine, wild grape, beautyberry and Virginia creeper.There’s plenty of food to go around.
Shorebirds are continuing to migrate through and my surveytotals are breaking one thousand birds. Alongwith the shorebirds come the birds that hunt them. I had to let fortysandpipers go as unidentified when a marauding Merlin falcon chased them off. Bald Eagles are back for the winter. Theywon’t bother the shorebirds, but I watched one attack and steal a fish from anunfortunate Osprey.
And it’s not only birds that are migrating. Blazing Star andGoldenrod are blooming, just in time to feed migrating butterflies. BothCloudless Sulphurs and Gulf Fritillaries are already moving through and Monarchswill show up in time for the refuge’s annual Monarch Festival in November. Andover the last few weeks, I’ve had flocks of Black Saddlebags and Green Darners,two species of migratory dragonflies.
Fall is a time of change, movement and wonder. The firstcool weather is moving in and there are birds, butterflies and dragonflies towatch. Halloween will mark the refuge’s 95th birthday. You should comedown to St. Marks, go to the Nature Store and buy yourself a present.
--
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To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to nflbirds+<unsubscribe...>
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Date: 9/24/26 7:14 am From: Galveston Ornithological Society <galornsoc...> Subject: [NFLbirds] And fall at the Island... :)
Dear Friends,
Kudos to Don, as always.
I wanted to offer my annual reminder that bird-producing cool fronts are on the way with the changing calendar. Usually, the best birding day of the year is the first full day a cool front passes. If you’re not sure which day, go both! You will see circum-Gulf migrants like Barn Swallows, flickers and Palm Warblers, all flying east toward the Peninsula (which they follow to Cuba and beyond). SG Island is THE place to see their movements.
You will also see trans-Gulf migrants like several warbler species, like just in the State Park on St. George, foraging and waiting till dusk to bolt across the abyss. Many families of songbirds have species that migrate through in October. You will also see cuckoos, almost like the Senate and House combined. One day MANY years ago I had 220 (!) in one day! The combination of c-G and t-G migrants is a miracle to behold.
It’s amazing how much better you’ll feel after a day in nature. Go ahead, mortgage your house so you can fill up.
Jim in Galveston
From: <nflbirds...> <nflbirds...> On Behalf Of Don Morrow
Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2026 8:19 AM
To: NFLbirds <nflbirds...>
Subject: [NFLbirds] Fall at the Refuge
At first it had been deceptively quiet on the levee where I was standing at St. Marks NWR. No frogs were calling and there had been only the low rumbling from a pair of thunderstorms out in the Gulf. A gentle breeze was coming out of the north. A quarter mile above me, where the winds were stronger, my Merlin app had picked up the chip notes of thrushes calling in the night sky. Finally, as the stars faded and the sky lightened, I heard an Eastern Screech Owl’s low tremolo from somewhere out in the marsh, King Rails called and a distant Barred Owl began hooting. Night birds often call just before dawn as if protesting the end of night.
The Autumnal Equinox has come and gone and we are approaching the peak of Fall migration. Ten million birds have already crossed the refuge this month. Half of them did so on two nights. Fall migration proceeds in fits and starts, depending primarily on flight conditions. Stormy weather or headwinds from the south cause birds to hunker down, but when the wind is right and the weather is clear, it’s time to move. The peak nights of Fall migration usually occur roughly from September 29th to October 17th. On just a few nights, millions of birds come through.
This is a good time to be down at St. Marks. Flycatchers, vireos, thrushes and warblers are moving and the refuge is ready. Many plants time their fruiting to the Fall migration period when migrating birds supplement their diets with plant food. Swainson’s Thrushes and Eastern Kingbirds, a type of flycatcher, can be found feeding on the red fruit of sweet bay magnolia. Sand holly berries nourish Red-eyed Vireos. Right now, migrant and local birds can feed on peppervine, wild grape, beautyberry and Virginia creeper. There’s plenty of food to go around.
Shorebirds are continuing to migrate through and my survey totals are breaking one thousand birds. Along with the shorebirds come the birds that hunt them. I had to let forty sandpipers go as unidentified when a marauding Merlin falcon chased them off. Bald Eagles are back for the winter. They won’t bother the shorebirds, but I watched one attack and steal a fish from an unfortunate Osprey.
And it’s not only birds that are migrating. Blazing Star and Goldenrod are blooming, just in time to feed migrating butterflies. Both Cloudless Sulphurs and Gulf Fritillaries are already moving through and Monarchs will show up in time for the refuge’s annual Monarch Festival in November. And over the last few weeks, I’ve had flocks of Black Saddlebags and Green Darners, two species of migratory dragonflies.
Fall is a time of change, movement and wonder. The first cool weather is moving in and there are birds, butterflies and dragonflies to watch. Halloween will mark the refuge’s 95th birthday. You should come down to St. Marks, go to the Nature Store and buy yourself a present.
Date: 9/24/26 6:19 am From: Don Morrow <donaldcmorrow...> Subject: [NFLbirds] Fall at the Refuge
At first it had been deceptively quiet on the levee where I was standing at
St. Marks NWR. No frogs were calling and there had been only the low
rumbling from a pair of thunderstorms out in the Gulf. A gentle breeze was
coming out of the north. A quarter mile above me, where the winds were
stronger, my Merlin app had picked up the chip notes of thrushes calling in
the night sky. Finally, as the stars faded and the sky lightened, I heard
an Eastern Screech Owl’s low tremolo from somewhere out in the marsh, King
Rails called and a distant Barred Owl began hooting. Night birds often call
just before dawn as if protesting the end of night.
The Autumnal Equinox has come and gone and we are approaching the peak of
Fall migration. Ten million birds have already crossed the refuge this
month. Half of them did so on two nights. Fall migration proceeds in fits
and starts, depending primarily on flight conditions. Stormy weather or
headwinds from the south cause birds to hunker down, but when the wind is
right and the weather is clear, it’s time to move. The peak nights of Fall
migration usually occur roughly from September 29th to October 17th. On
just a few nights, millions of birds come through.
This is a good time to be down at St. Marks. Flycatchers, vireos, thrushes
and warblers are moving and the refuge is ready. Many plants time their
fruiting to the Fall migration period when migrating birds supplement their
diets with plant food. Swainson’s Thrushes and Eastern Kingbirds, a type of
flycatcher, can be found feeding on the red fruit of sweet bay magnolia.
Sand holly berries nourish Red-eyed Vireos. Right now, migrant and local
birds can feed on peppervine, wild grape, beautyberry and Virginia creeper.
There’s plenty of food to go around.
Shorebirds are continuing to migrate through and my survey totals are
breaking one thousand birds. Along with the shorebirds come the birds that
hunt them. I had to let forty sandpipers go as unidentified when a
marauding Merlin falcon chased them off. Bald Eagles are back for the
winter. They won’t bother the shorebirds, but I watched one attack and
steal a fish from an unfortunate Osprey.
And it’s not only birds that are migrating. Blazing Star and Goldenrod are
blooming, just in time to feed migrating butterflies. Both Cloudless
Sulphurs and Gulf Fritillaries are already moving through and Monarchs will
show up in time for the refuge’s annual Monarch Festival in November. And
over the last few weeks, I’ve had flocks of Black Saddlebags and Green
Darners, two species of migratory dragonflies.
Fall is a time of change, movement and wonder. The first cool weather is
moving in and there are birds, butterflies and dragonflies to watch.
Halloween will mark the refuge’s 95th birthday. You should come down to St.
Marks, go to the Nature Store and buy yourself a present.
