More Warblers, Caspian with Baby in Tow, Pied-billed Grebe

I'm just back from seeing a bunch of warblers in the Adirondacks, but picked up one species I missed there this morning, in the form of two Northern Waterthrushes which flew over and then into the scrub/shrub at the Cape May Meadows. Northern Waterthrushes quiet down and head south early, though I was still surprised to miss them in the boreal woods of the Adirondacks.

A Magnolia Warbler also dropped in, as did several Yellow Warblers, Bobolinks, and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. Pete Dunne heard a Dickcissel.

A Caspian Tern adult with a fledge following behind it was neat - wonder where they came from? The Pied-billed Grebe in the west pool was a surprise, and the Least Bittern, though no longer a surprise, still gave a few of us a start when it flew up, then flew down again.

Being in the boreal forest at this time of year, by the way, is especially neat - besides New York's Adirondacks, Maine is another great place to experience our migrants on their breeding grounds. By now, most of the warblers are flocked up, and if you hear some chips or some chickadees (Black-capped or Boreal), a little pishing can bring in 30 or 40 birds of 10 or more species. Many adult warblers were looking very "molty." While some hatch year birds still have that disheveled baby bird look, most are absolutely striking, with perfect formative plumage. I love knowing many of these same birds will be on their way down the Atlantic Coast soon, perhaps passing over or even pausing in Cape May.

This morning's Cape May Meadows/Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge list is below.

Location: South Cape May Meadows
Observation date: 8/10/09
Number of species: 76

Canada Goose 50
Mute Swan 20
Wood Duck 1
Gadwall 1
Mallard 45
Blue-winged Teal 1
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Least Bittern 1
Great Blue Heron 3
Great Egret 5
Snowy Egret 2
Green Heron 1
Glossy Ibis 4
Osprey 5
American Kestrel 1
Semipalmated Plover 1
Killdeer 10
American Oystercatcher 5
Spotted Sandpiper 3
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 10
Ruddy Turnstone 1
Sanderling 75
Semipalmated Sandpiper 2
Least Sandpiper 40
Short-billed Dowitcher 50
Laughing Gull 150
Ring-billed Gull 20
Herring Gull 30
Lesser Black-backed Gull 2
Great Black-backed Gull 50
Least Tern 50
Caspian Tern 3 1 adult with chick, later single adult
Common Tern 75
Forster's Tern 5
Royal Tern 50
Black Skimmer 30
Rock Pigeon 10
Mourning Dove 10
Chimney Swift 25
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Alder/Willow Flycatcher (Traill's) 1
Eastern Kingbird 5
White-eyed Vireo 1
Fish Crow 20
Purple Martin 50
Tree Swallow 200
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 10
Barn Swallow 25
Carolina Chickadee 2
Carolina Wren 3
House Wren 1
Marsh Wren 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 3
American Robin 10
Gray Catbird 3
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 50
Cedar Waxwing 50
Yellow Warbler 5
Magnolia Warbler 1
American Redstart 2
Northern Waterthrush 2
Common Yellowthroat 4
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 4
Blue Grosbeak 1
Bobolink 20
Red-winged Blackbird 25
Common Grackle 15
Orchard Oriole 1
House Finch 5
American Goldfinch 5
House Sparrow 10