On this last sunny morning I hit two of the migrant 'traps' at Alum Lake: New Galena and Berlin Station accesses.  Landbird movement was heavy early, but largely done by 11:00,  Waterbird movement was slight, possibly due to the opening of waterfowl season recently (Alum is hunted).  Highlights included

Waterfowl - 1 cormorant flew south past New Galena, but virtually no other waterfowl were there except a very wary small flock of geese.  Berlin Station had 9 Wood Ducks as fly-bys and a flock of Coots out in the bay.

Raptors - disappointing, with only 10 Turkey Vultures and 1 Cooper's Hawk as obvious migrants.  2 Red-tails soaring over Berlin Station access were likely residents.

Woodpeckers - small #s of flickers at both spots (3 at NG, 4 at BSt), but also had several Red-bellies and Downies fly past New Galena.  Do they know something we don't?

Blue Jays - small numbers (12/1hr at New Galena; 14/1hr at Berlin Station).  More impressive was a flock of 40 Crows that moved past Berlin Station.

Thrushes - another good morning for Robins, with 300+ flying south in the 2 hours between the 2 sites.  This doesn't count the 30-40+ hanging around grape vines at each site.

Cedar Waxwings - lower numbers, with only about 40 for the entire morning

Pipits,Larks - 4 pipits & 5 horned larks, mostly flying past New Galena early.  Also had 3 E.Meadowlarks(!) flying high & south over New Galena

Lapland Longspur - first of the season came in low over New Galena early.

Warblers - all Yellow-rumps, and steady numbers of them, totalling 40+ birds

Blackbirds - modest numbers, with just over 100+ redwings and only 7 grackles.  Contrast that with a huge flock of 800+ Starlings hanging around the inlet north of Berlin Station.

Finches - few Goldfinches (15+), but still had 3 separate Purple Finches fly past and a single Pine Siskin.  It's getting to be a great migration for both of these species.

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