Howie’s Myrtle Warbler fits very well with his even earlier Purple Finch this sumer (http://digest.sialia.com/?rm=message;id=493218)
Indeed, fall 2012 reminds me more and more of fall 2007 and, especially, fall 1999. Each of these seasons featured an early and heavy irruption of Red-breasted Nuthatches; early coastal records of boreal forest breeders, such as Myrtle Warbler and Purple Finch; and was followed by big flights of finches and other species. Some of these lessons come around infrequently enough that it takes some effort to keep track of the patterns. For those who are interested in the fine workings of correlated irruptions and the minutiae of bimodal migrations, I’ve pulled up the following tidbits: 1. An account of the correlated irruptions of fall 2007, as predicted and subsequently observed on Long Island: http://www.nybirds.org/KBsearch/y2008v58n1/y2008v58n1rgn10.pdf# 2. A note by Ken Parkes on a molting Myrtle Warbler captured on Great Gull Island on 28 August 1983 (preceding another big fall for RB Nuts and others on LI): http://www.nybirds.org/KBsearch/y1985v35n2/y1985v35n2p114-115parkes.pdf# 3. A series of early arrivals of forest-breeding birds I observed at Fire Island during summer 1999, prior to a broad array of impressive irruptions: Worm-eating Warbler, 23 July 1999, an adult undergoing symmetrical molt of the primaries. Myrtle Warbler, molting juvs as early as 24 Aug and an AHY female undergoing wing and tail molt 31 Aug 1999. Purple Finch, multiple birds during late August 1999. Shai Mitra Bay Shore ________________________________ From: [email protected] [[email protected]] on behalf of [email protected] [[email protected]] Sent: Friday, August 31, 2012 10:55 AM To: [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: [nysbirds-l] early male Yellow-rumped Warbler Clove Lakes Park 31 August 9 A M Concrete bridge near the "horse" trail. A brightly plumaged male Yellow -rumped Warbler was feeding in a hornbeam tree over a stream in CLP. The bird appeared to me to be a "spring bird" - that is how bright it was. There was some molt in the tail and there was an unusual amount of white suggesting the bird has partial leucism. As a rule, we don't see YRWAs until late sometimes mid September in the NYC region. What struck me was the fact that the bird is still in alternate plumage and looks like a spring (April) bird. Howard Fischer ________________________________ Out of respect for others and the environment, the College of Staten Island is a 100% Tobacco-Free Campus. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
