Chirps and Cheeps

September began ushering warblers back through the region. Nesting is over at this date and adults and their young begin a slow migration down south. I like fall migration better for one reason and that is its pace is so much more relaxed, unlike the rush of spring migration when the birds are in a big hurry to get to their nesting grounds, pick a spot, build their nest, and raise a family.  Fall migration has none of that urgency and the birds filter down for a longer and more relaxed time.

The later shorebirds come through in September too. I was happy to get many looks at American Golden and Black-bellied Plovers. I visited them nearly every day during the month and they gave me a great opportunity for study.

On the 8th, Alec Humann and I had an awesome sighting of a Long-tailed Jaeger at the Erie Basin Marina.  The bird gave us extended scope looks, flew around and back the way he came. A few minutes later, he flew back through the same area a second time!  We were both pretty breathless by that point - and quite excited that it was a county bird for us both!

Celeste and I had a great time doing a lot of birding down in Chemung County during the annual two day NYSOA conference. We each tallied around 75 different bird species during our few days there.

One nice sighting for me locally, was that of a pair of Common Ravens right here in Erie County. I haven't seen them for a couple of years here as they seem to have abandoned the Huntley Plant in Tonawanda. I heard their loud croaking first, looked up and was rewarded with the pair flying right overhead. I've seen them, or at least one of them, a couple more times since then.

I also joined Greg Lawrence, his friend, Ethan, and Gale down in Cattaraugus County for a "big day" of county birding.  I ended up the last hour of the day on my own where I had a nice couple of Lincoln Sparrows - one of my favorites!

A few photos of some of these birds are below...