Bird count updates from Carl Engstrom 2022 Dans Rock Bird Count 2022 Special Projects

End of October Update from Dans Rock

Robins, Waxwings, and Red-winged Blackbirds! The second half of October brought the biggest counts of the season to Dans Rock and those three species made up the bulk of the birds migrating down the ridge. After a dip in numbers, after the last big Blue Jay day on October 3rd, it was nice to accumulate some solid numbers. American Robins had their first triple-digit day on October 16th and have not slowed down since with 5,825 pouring past the watch over the course of the month. Red-winged Blackbirds also began moving in earnest around this time with 4,306 recorded in the month, highlighted by a 1,000 bird day on October 24th. Cedar Waxwings continue to be the most abundant migrating species at Dans Rock this season. The 3,163 tallied in October pushed their season total over the 6,000 individual mark.

A noisy flock of Red-winged Blackbirds moves by the watch. © Carl Engstrom
A noisy flock of Red-winged Blackbirds moves by the watch. © Carl Engstrom

The second half of October was very slow for raptors, primarily due to a long-lasting pattern of southerly winds that did not facilitate raptor migration. Turkey Vultures and Sharp-shinned Hawks were the only two species noted in solid numbers with 80 and 60 respectively during the month. It looks like I will have to wait until November for Golden Eagles.

Migrating Turkey Vulture passing close to the platform. © Carl Engstrom
Migrating Turkey Vulture passing close to the platform. © Carl Engstrom

Warbler numbers have continued to dwindle and they will be completely absent from Dans Rock very soon. Only five species were detected during the second half of the month; Nashville, Blackpoll, Black-throated Blue, Palm, and Yellow-rumped. Of those five, only Yellow-rumped Warblers were recorded in any substantial numbers. Their large size, distinctive flight calls, and their willingness to engage in sustained migratory flights make them a staple of late fall morning flight counts on the East Coast. 370 were counted here during October with a single-day high count of 84 on October 24th. Time will tell how many more of these hardy warblers will come by before the end of the season.

Yellow-rumped Warbler in flight. © Carl Engstrom
Yellow-rumped Warbler in flight. © Carl Engstrom
A pair of Yellow-rumps pause in a tree next to the platform, the bird on the right showing off its namesake fieldmark. © Carl Engstrom
A pair of Yellow-rumps pause in a tree next to the platform, the bird on the right showing off its namesake fieldmark. © Carl Engstrom
Blue-headed Vireos have also finished passing by Dan’s Rock for the fall. 9 of the subtly beautiful birds made an appearance at the count this fall. © Carl Engstrom
Blue-headed Vireos have also finished passing by Dans Rock for the fall. 9 of the subtly beautiful birds made an appearance at the count this fall. © Carl Engstrom

With the warblers mostly gone, the migration calendar moves on to the sparrows and finches. Sparrows have been hard to come by at Dans Rock as they are less likely to engage in obvious diurnal migration than other groups of songbirds are. A pair of Fox Sparrows and a handful each of Dark-eyed Juncos and Chipping Sparrows are all that this group had to offer in late October. Finches have had a much better showing up at the Rock so far this fall. Purple Finches in particular are moving into Maryland in big numbers this winter and the numbers at Dans Rock are reflecting this. 219 Purple Finches were counted here in October with an impressive single-day high count of 96 on October 24th. Evening Grosbeaks are another “winter finch” that is looking to have a big winter here in Maryland with a few reports already coming in from Garrett County. It feels like only a matter of time before one of these stunning finches flies by….

A Chipping Sparrow that dropped into a tree next to the platform while migrating down the ridge. © Carl Engstrom
A Chipping Sparrow dropped into a tree next to the platform while migrating down the ridge. © Carl Engstrom

Although not as obvious as the winter finch invasions, a few other species are irrupting this year in Maryland. Jonathan and I have already mentioned the record-breaking Red-bellied Woodpecker movement this year in the state, but a few other common backyard birds that we may not think of as migrants are on the move. The most obvious one at Dans Rock has been the White-breasted Nuthatch. Often viewed as a year-round resident, over a hundred of this species has been recorded migrating past the Rock this fall. The biggest day came on October 22nd when 16 flew down the ridge. Black-capped Chickadees have also been a surprise to see in active migration this fall. So far 22 of these friendly birds have zipped past, excited to see how many come through in November.

An unfamiliar view of a familiar bird, a White-breasted Nuthatch in active migration. © Carl Engstrom
An unfamiliar view of a familiar bird, a White-breasted Nuthatch in active migration. © Carl Engstrom
A more familiar view of a White-breasted Nuthatch. © Carl Engstrom
A more familiar view of a White-breasted Nuthatch. © Carl

October was by far the best month numbers-wise at the watch with nearly 16,000 individual migrants recorded. The final month of the count is already here, excited to see what comes by in these final weeks! As always feel free to visit the watch in person or follow along in real-time on Trektellen.

Carl Engstrom

The fall foliage made for some particularly stunning views from Dan’s Rock recently. © Carl Engstrom
The fall foliage made for some particularly stunning views from Dans Rock recently. © Carl Engstrom

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