Migration Happens!

The official start of fall is still a few weeks away, but for many migratory species -- some butterflies and dragonflies, as well as birds -- "fall" migration is well underway. I went looking the other evening for Chimney Swifts, but they've already vacated our area.

There are many other signs, too. An Eastern Wood-Pewee was calling a few days ago in our Main Street backyard. Birds like pewees come down from the hills and forests where they've been nesting and begin heading south. A steady stream of swallows was passing over Mudge Pond in late afternoon; they may be migrating or heading out to join large flocks to form enormous pre-migration roosts.

I love the fall migration. The sense of urgency and quickening is unmistakable. Fall migration is widespread, protracted, and often involves staggering numbers of birds. In just a couple of weeks we will see the great flocks of Broad-winged Hawks performing their migration. A single "kettle" of broadwings can have 100 or more birds in it. I've seen them from almost any open vantage point -- once even overhead of the Trotta's parkinglot in Sharon, but if you really want the full-blown spectacle, visit the Greenwich Audubon Center or Lighthouse Point in New Haven.

I mentioned that some dragonflies also migrate, notably the Green Darner and the Black Saddlebags. This year I bought the Dragonflies through Binoculars field guide and am determined to learn some of the common species in our area. I started out at Mudge Pond and i.d.'d a Blue Dasher and many small Eastern Amberwings out over the water lillies.

Introduction

Welcome to "That Bird Blog." This is for readers of my "Nature's Notebook" column in The Lakeville Journal and for friends, family, and fellow birders. Here you'll find my personal observations about birds and other natural wonders, information and tips on viewing wildlife, and links to helpful resources. Check back soon for the first posting.