Date: Tue, 3 Oct 2000 11:42:10 -0400
Reply-To: Brad_Bergstrom <bergstrm@VALDOSTA.EDU>
Sender: Georgia Birders Online <GABO-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From: Brad_Bergstrom <bergstrm@VALDOSTA.EDU>
Subject: Sapelo Island weekend migrants
In-Reply-To: <005a01c02d45$759eab20$659a56d1@oemcomputer>
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Managed to get in some birding while with my Ecology class on a
fieldtrip...
A winter-like pattern of strong noreasters (up to 35 knots on the beach)
dominated Sapelo this past weekend, producing phenomenally high neap tides
and making shorebirding a bust (but CASPIAN and GULL-BILLED TERNs were on
Cabretta at "low" tide). But, on Saturday, a steady progression of
southbound MERLINs could be seen streaking across the sky (2 or 3 an hour
throughout the day); and for every three Merlins there was a PEREGRINE
similarly southbound. Strangely enough, no jaegers.
Kristi Avera and I can echo Doris's "two pounds of yellowthroats"-- they
were in nearly plague proportions all weekend on Sapelo, and PALM WARBLERs
were not far behind in abundance. AMERICAN REDSTARTs were fairly common;
several NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHes were seen, along with an OVENBIRD and a few
BLACK-AND-WHITEs and one CAPE MAY WARBLER. At least three YELLOW-BILLED
CUCKOOs were seen. On Sunday after the overcast lifted, RED-EYED VIREOs
in large flocks appeared everywhere, and a GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH was seen
along the nature trail. That day, 5 PIPING PLOVERs were on Nannygoat
Beach.
Oh, and the phosphorescent dinoflagellate tide at night on an incoming
tide off the Sapelo River dock near the dorms was utterly breathtaking--
the best any of us had ever seen. You could see complete outlines of fish
swimming below the surface, and the waters sparkled continuously.
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Brad Bergstrom, Ph.D., Professor TEL 912-333-5770 /-5759
Department of Biology FAX 912-333-7389
Valdosta State University e-mail: bergstrm@valdosta.edu
Valdosta, GA 31698-0015 Home: 912-333-0743
Home Page-- http://www.valdosta.edu/~bergstrm/
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