September 1-11, 2016

      The migration during this period was one of the slowest on record with just under 3,000 migrant waterbirds recorded. This is nearly a thousand less than expected for this period and would be even lower if it wasn't for a teal and tern flight on the 8th.

Horned Grebe: One on the 5th was on schedule with the expected arrival dates.

Ducks: 1,266 Blue-winged Teal on the 8th was impressive considering no other day in this period broke 100. mixed in with the BW Teal were Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, and American Wigeon.

Magnificent Frigatebird: A single adult female going down the shoreline into south winds on the 6th. Fourth Tiscornia record and third in September, all since 2008.

Shorebirds: Decent diversity but low numbers. Four Black-bellied Plovers is on par with past years for this period. Two Willets on the 5th were the only large shorebirds of the period. One Buff-breasted, 3 Baird’s, and 7 Pectoral Sandpipers were recorded during this period along with a White-rumped Sandpiper on the 7th which is the first fall record since 2011.

Gull Types: Jaegers are well below previous years with only two Parasitic Jaegers recorded during this period. For comparisons 2012-14 averaged 11 for this period.
Two Great Blacked-backed Gulls were recorded this period, well ahead of the previous early arrival date of September 20. The first Little Gull of the season was recorded on the 9th, with the second of the season coming on the 11th. Both of which were juveniles.

Common Terns continue to move through in below average numbers with the 622 recorded during this period well below the previous low of 1,036. The peak count during this period was 213 on the 8th. A flock of five Black Terns on the 6th was the only sighting for this period and likely represent the last sighting of the season.

       New additions to the non-waterbird list include Merlin, Common Nighthawk, Swainson's Thrush (the gulls seem to have an easy time catching them), Blackpoll, Bay-breasted, Yellow-rumped, Palm, Wilson's, and Pine Warbler (only the second I've ever had at Tiscornia!), and Savannah Sparrow.
Also notable was a Map Turtle that swam past the north pier on the 2nd.