September started with a bang at Dan’s Rock, as north winds and blue skies produced the best day of the season so far on the 1st! Nearly five hundred individual warblers were counted that morning and the 276 Cape May Warblers represent a new high count for Maryland as of today! Tennessee Warblers also turned in a good showing on this morning with 15 totaled. It was an absolute treat to get to watch groups of warblers streaming down the ridge for nearly the entire morning.

The favorable migration conditions continued into the 2nd and another good flight occurred. Cedar Waxwings continue to be the most abundant bird of the season, and the 316 counted during the course of the morning is the highest single day count for a species this season at Dans Rock. Cape May Warblers had another good flight with 88 being seen. Red-breasted Nuthatches have been one of my favorite migrants to encounter up at the rock nearly everyday, the six that migrated down the ridge on the 2nd represent the best day for the species this fall.

South winds and rainy weather really put a halt to migration for the next six days. When the rain cleared and the winds switched to the north on the 9th, the birds were ready to get moving again. 13 species of warbler migrated past the rock, including the first Blackpoll and Wilson’s Warblers of the season. The real warbler highlight came when alternate counter Aaron Graham spotted a Connecticut Warbler on the 11th, the 21st species of warbler for the season! Another big highlight was seeing Red-headed Woodpeckers on two mornings, a scarce migrant through the Appalachians.

Migration in September has been stop and start due to all the rain we have been getting in western Maryland. It looks like the next week should be free of rain, so fingers crossed the birds take advantage of the clear skies and fly back the rock in force. Remember you can always follow along in real-time on the count’s Trektellen page.

Carl Engstrom