Miniwave

Yesterday was pretty sweet.  There weren't a ton of birds, but there was pretty good diversity.  Especially of warblers.  Warblers included in this miniwave included, in no specific order: Yellow, Tenessee, Nashville, Townsend's, Hermit, Blackburnian, Chestnut-sided, and Blackpoll.  It looks like things have only improved for today.  As I sit here typing, Jim is calling down Bay-breasted Warbler and Hoary Bat from the lighthouse.  So it could be a good day.

Blackburnian Warbler, Bird Of The Day yesterday.

Chestnut-sided Warbler, getting macro-ed.

Things Shaping Up?

Well, we ended up getting a few birds yesterday.  The visibility improved over the day and we had some arrivals throughout.  Highlights were: Green-winged Teal, Common Tern (very rarely seen from the Island), Violet-green Swallow, Tenessee Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, and probably a few more little gems that I'm forgetting.  Today looks even better, though I haven't been outside yet.

We sometimes see these Harbor Seal pups that have been tagged by researchers right across their  heads!  Makes a nice little party hat.

This is our first of many Blackpoll Warblers for the fall.  Hopefully we get some more today.

More Fogging Fog

Fog conspired against us again yesterday and prevented migrants from finding the Island.  I barely managed to take two usable photographs.  Again, they are of the non-bird variety.

First up, we have a Spot-Winged Glider, cooperatively perched on the Rixford Tree.  These dragonflies showed up in numbers on Thursday and were still lingering around the Island yesterday.

This is how Elephant Seals sometimes sleep.  This one was catching some R&R down at Mussel Flat yesterday.  I think they must only need to breathe once an hour or so.  Can you imagine sleeping underwater?