Another perspective is that they're actually stopping off in places. It seems to me that the morning flights are the only times that I see Siskins (most years). When the flights die off, there seem to be none left along the barrier beach. I can't think of many occasions that I've seen migrants between flights anywhere. Things seem different at this time. There were a few at Kissena Corridor (Queens) over the weekend (and previously). With the limited time I have today, I went to the meadow I cited a couple of weeks ago (Alley Pond Park, across the street from the east end of Oakland Lake) and found a few dozen Siskins a little while ago. They appear to be feeding on goldenrods (not Seaside, but a species that is just past flowering). I'll even call it a feeding frenzy. At one point, I found myself within 20 feet of a group that didn't seem to mind me. One individual flew about a foot right over my head and landed five feet in front of me. I might post siskin pictures later - if I'm not focused on cardinals or orioles (or Yankees or Tigers, etc.).
Steve Walter Bayside, NY From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Shaibal Mitra Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2012 10:42 AM To: NYSBIRDS ([email protected]) Subject: [nysbirds-l] Very Heavy Pine Siskin Flight Long Island In just one hour this morning (7:15-8:15) I counted 1,840 Pine Siskins passing the Fire Island Hawkwatch, Suffolk County. The overall rate of passage was the greatest I've seen so far this season and at least comparable to the biggest flights I've ever seen on Long Island. The average flock size was also larger than on the best days last weekend (the above total was distributed among 48 flocks). Shai Mitra Bay Shore _____ <http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/magazine/septemberoctober_2012/features/am ericas_bestbangforthebuck_co039461.php> Washington Monthly magazine ranks the College of Staten Island as one of "America's Best-Bang-for-the-Buck Colleges" -- NYSbirds-L List Info: <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME> Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES> Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html> <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L> Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net <http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html> Please submit your observations to <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/> eBird! -- -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
