Migration…

the end.

I went birding this morning for like the first time really in months, and was fortunate to see many nimble and confusing fall warblers flitting around all over, with Chimney Swifts circling above and Eagles soaring further above them. It was a beautiful first-day-of-fall morning, but likely the end of the fall migration for the most part. For warblers, I managed to catch the following: Tennessee, Nashville, Redstart, Northern Parula, Bay-breasted, Blackburnian, Blackpoll, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Black-throated Blue, Cape May, and Magnolia. Not a bad catch for a late September morning.

Sadly, there were no shorebirds in appearance. I totally missed the entire fall shorebird migration it seems. I’ve personally been in a funk since probably June, and outside of seeing the Booby this month, have not ventured out into the field at all. Yes, depression can deprive one of even their greatest passions, and sadly it cost me the entire shorebird migration season, with hopes dashed for any Godwits or Plovers. But I cannot really complain. My 2020 total stands at a respectable 197 total species for the year, a year in which I recorded 25 Warbler species, the highlight of which was getting to observe a Golden-winged Warbler in early May – sadly I did not get a pic of that one as it was extra flitty!