Diversity and numbers are starting to pick-up as migration gets into full swing here in western Maryland! The tail end of August has provided us with some of the better flights of the young season thus far. These days have been associated with winds out of the north that help push migrating birds down along the ridge. Some of our most familiar backyard birds have been tallying the highest numbers so far at the rock with Chimney Swifts, Cedar Waxwings, Barn Swallows, and American Goldfinches all hitting triple figures.

The real star of the show at Dan’s Rock has been the warbler migration. The long expanse of contiguous forest that makes up the ridgeline here is a great corridor for these long-distance migrants to follow. Since my last update, Cape May Warblers have become the most common warbler by far, with a single day high count of 71 being recorded on the 31st! Recent outbreaks of eastern spruce budworm on their breeding grounds in Canada have bolstered breeding success for this species and we are seeing the results down here on migration. Blackburnian and Black-throated Green Warblers continue to move in good numbers, and I was excited to get my first Hooded and Yellow-rumped Warblers for the season as well.

As we move into September, migrant numbers and diversity should only continue to increase. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have been a species that has been moving down the ridge in increasing numbers with a high of 16 being counted on the 31st. Red-breasted Nuthatches are being recorded nearly every day and Bobolinks have made appearances on most days. Raptors have been few and far between so far, but I expect that to change once we get some September days with good winds.

Special thanks goes to Aaron Graham and Kyle Klotz who helped me cover the count for a few days during this period! Remember that you can always follow along in real time with what is being seen at Dan’s Rock on the Trektellen page. 

Carl Engstrom