On 19 May 2013 at Park Point, Duluth, observers witnessed the biggest fallout of thrushes, warblers, and other passerines in recent memory. Our total of 24 warbler species did not include Pine Warbler (which was reported by others) or Connecticut Warbler. The bonanza lasted throughout the day, although by afternoon the rate of new arrivals diminished. Record-high counts of 43 Veeries and 135 Swainson's Thrushes were found at the Recreation Area, and warblers seemed to be everywhere. During the early morning hours, overwhelming numbers of birds in reverse migration were moving past 43rd Street so quickly that most could not be identified; we estimate that only 10-15% of the early morning warblers were ever identified. Difficult viewing conditions in the afternoon, including high winds and poor visibility, also hampered our ability to identify each and every individual.
Four observers (Mike Hendrickson, Jan & Larry Kraemer, Peder Svingen) conducted eBird area counts of Southworth Marsh, morning and afternoon area counts at the Recreation Area, and stationary counts at Lafayette Square and the bus turnaround at 43rd Street. We also surveyed parts of the beach on the Lake Superior side of the Recreation Area. Observer effort and time were similar during our morning and afternoon area counts at the Recreation Area; however, the morning count favored areas near the ballfields, while the afternoon count favored the area between the entrance to the Recreation Area and the first parking lot. The total number of passerines counted in the afternoon was considerably less than our morning total, but at least 9 species were found in the afternoon that had not been seen earlier in the day. New individuals continued to arrive well into the afternoon. It should be noted that our area counts focused on passerines; a few exceptional waterbird species were reported by others during the morning, but we wanted to carefully document the exceptional numbers of thrushes, warblers, and sparrows. Heavy fog lingering from the previous day of rain and wind limited visibility in the morning to about 1/4 mile, but by late morning the fog lifted as the offshore winds (ENE 20-25 mph) picked up. By afternoon the winds were so strong that it was nearly impossible to see and/or identify waterbirds on Lake Superior. None of the larger trees and shrubs on Park Point were leafed out due to winter-like weather extending well into May (Duluth had its snowiest April ever with more than 50 inches of snow and persistent cold). Hummingbirds were trying to find sustenance from willow catkins and the first buds on fruiting trees without much success. Warblers congregated along the shore on both sides of the point. Northern Waterthrush, American Redstart, and Magnolia and Yellow warblers were among the most common species foraging along the bayside shoreline. Orange-crowned, Tennessee, and Cape May warblers were among the most common species foraging at or below eye level in willow, red osier dogwood, and other small shrubs. American Redstarts, and Cape May, Magnolia, and Chestnut-sided warblers were foraging on the ground and flycatching from low perches. Despite the strong offshore winds, hundreds (perhaps thousands) of warblers were desperately trying to find food and shelter among the grasses and small shrubs along the dunes. Warblers were apparently searching for insects and any other available sustenance in the detritus washed up on the beach. Hundreds of Palm Warblers were foraging along the wrack line, along with several other warbler species. Most surprising to us were the Blackburnian and Blackpoll warblers (species normally seen foraging in trees above eye level) and the Mourning and Canada warblers (species usually seen skulking in heavy undergrowth) that were picking at debris on the beach. Though adding a splash of color to the beach on a dreary and overcast day, we realized that these birds were stressed by the cold, windy conditions and lack of food sources. The following data represent our best effort to count and keep track of birds throughout the day and undoubtedly underestimate the numbers of the most common warbler species. These totals do not include the thousands of warblers migrating past the 43rd Street bus turnaround prior to our arrival at Park Point. We also missed seeing most of the thousands of sparrows reported by Douglas Mayo. Our results: 43 Veery (record high count) 6 Gray-cheeked Thrush 135 Swainson's Thrush (record high count) 4 Golden-winged Warbler 61 Tennessee Warbler 12 Orange-crowned Warbler 53 Nashville Warbler (4th highest northbound count) 7 Northern Parula 22 Yellow Warbler 26 Chestnut-sided Warbler 72 Magnolia Warbler (2nd highest northbound count) 92 Cape May Warbler (2nd highest northbound count) 5 Black-throated Blue Warbler (2 males, 3 females, 2nd highest northbound count) 84 Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 Black-throated Green Warbler 8 Blackburnian Warbler (including adult male on the beach) 118 Palm Warbler 1 Bay-breasted Warbler 4 Blackpoll Warbler (including adult male on the beach) 12 Black-and-white Warbler 185 American Redstart (3rd highest northbound count) 28 Ovenbird 14 Northern Waterthrush 1 Mourning Warbler (on the beach!) 7 Common Yellowthroat 18 Wilson's Warbler 3 Canada Warbler (adult male on the beach!) plus 4,000 unidentified warblers Ten species of sparrow including: 140 Chipping Sparrow 11 Clay-colored Sparrow 1 Vesper Sparrow (rare migrant at Duluth) 27 Savannah Sparrow -- Peder H. Svingen Duluth, MN psvin...@gmail.com ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
