11 days left and migration has really tapered off. Over the last two days about 50 BROAD-WINGS, 2 RED-TAILS and 4 BALD EAGLES have been recorded. There seems to be a more Adult Broad-wings, I’m starting to wonder if some/most aren’t local.
The local young COMMON RAVENS have been hanging around the top of the hill, squawking all day long. I thought that there were 5 originally, but lately I’ve only seen four. The other day, the 4 landed along the road. I think they were picking at the seed on the ground! They were walking around and pecking like funny looking chickens:
Lots of breeders on and around the hill now too. There are at least 3 CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLERS, a half dozen INDIGO BUNTINGS, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, MOURNING WARBLER, and CEDAR WAXWINGS.
Cedar Waxwing
The number of butterflies is on the up as well. Lots of CANADA TIGER SWALLOWTAILS, RED ADMIRAL, AMERICAN LADY, AZURES, MOURNING CLOAK and NORTHERN CRESCENT. Dragonflies have tapered off, though a group of AMERICAN EMERALDS (I think) have been helping keep the flies down around my head. I haven’t positively ID’ed BASKTETTAIL (SPINY?) yet , but I like the photo:
Max
Yo- Ryne took a look, and also thought Baskettail, but he said (without looking at a guide) it could be a Beaverpond Baskettail
I love the raven picture and the description of them as “like funny looking chickens.”
At least there is an upside to migration tapering off, which is that it looks like we will not be missing much by ending the count period on June 15th. And who knows, maybe there is another surprise or two yet to come.