I had a chance to bird several forest pathes along the Darby corridor today (Terrace Trail & Trail of Ancients), and was struck by how we've hit a lull in migration here.  I thought the weather might bring in a flush of new migrants, but only a few varieties showed up, and many of the older ones departed.  I guess that's what makes birding interesting.  Highlights in almost 2 hours included:

cuckoos - heard 1-2 Yellow-billed on Trail of Ancients (a reliable spot for them)

flycatchers - increase in the numbers of Pewees (5-6), Crested Flycatchers (6+) and E.Kingbirds (3-4), but virtually no empidonax excepts for a few acadians calling on territory.

vireos - large increase in Red-eyed Vireos.  I had 20+ singing along the Terrace Trail (where there is often less than half that number).  Also had a few Yellow-throated & Warbling, but no Blue-headed

thrushes - only a few Swainsons and 1 Veery, much reduced from last week

waxwings - another flock (5), but they were flying over so I had no chance to see what they were eating :-)

warblers - 13 spp., but many of them are residents here, including Yellow, Yellow-throated, Parula, La. Waterthrush, and Chat.  Common Yellowthroats were very abundant (10-12), followed by American Redstarts (4-5).  Only Blackburnian, Tennessee, and Canada remain from the 'boreal contingent' that was so common last week.  A pioneering Hooded Warbler was singing on territory along the Terrace Trail, a place where there are usually none despite decent habitat.  Such 'Unglaciated strays' are typical of the woods along the Darby, but they never seem to produce persistent populations.

Tanagers - surprisingly few, with only 2.  There are usually more residents than this, so they may still be yet to come.

Grosbeaks, Buntings - 4-5 singing Rose-breasteds (they nest here), but even more Indigo Buntings (15-16, including females) which seem to have arrived in numbers.

Orioles - Baltimores continue to be common, with 5-6 being seen or heard, but I couldn't find any Orchards.

Sparrows - virtually no migrants, with only 1 White-throated.  Plenty of resident Fields and Songs to pick up the slack, however.


Rob Thorn
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