A number of posts to this and other regional lists have mentioned Red- breasted Nuthatch being seen in varying numbers. Some of the area & regional hawk-watch sites have been reporting these in up to high double-digit numbers (on a single day) and it will be interesting to see if the movements continue, as well as whether it portends any other trends - as some have been wondering - a summer-fall movement of this species is not all that unusual, although the numbers being seen in some places seem notable. This species does regularly migrate (albeit a "short-distance" migrant in comparison) along with warblers moving & may even peak around times when warbler movement peaks (as well as sometimes having later movements well after peak fall warbler migration). Peak diversity for fall warbler migration can be at about this time - the mass movements of Myrtle [Yellow-rumped] Warblers that typically happen much later in fall (and can be very obvious in terms of overall numbers of birds of a single specie) is not that representative of the peak of diversity for warblers or even of all 'long-haul' land bird migration generally. With favorable conditions right now & perhaps into the coming month, migrants in general are streaming south, and it doesn't look likely we will see a "fall-out" situation for a while in this area - but those out seeking may find a lot anyhow. There's an interesting report from Ontario (Canada) of a Western Wood-Pewee apparently heard calling as well as seen by many birders, a rare sighting in the east and a reminder that a lot of unexpected species can and do turn up in early "fall" migration as well as later as calendar fall comes along and cooler weather prevails...
BAR-TAILED Godwit again, Chatham, Massachusetts 8/28: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/MASS.html#1283052493 Good birding, Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
