As the summer continues to sizzle on the Cape and Islands, birds of many kinds are heading south. Birds are in the air, both day and night, as they travel hundreds and even thousands of miles, evacuating the northern reaches of the Northern Hemisphere to escape the upcoming severity of fall and winter.

This past week, large numbers of land birds, migrants from the north woods, began to arrive in the region after nocturnal migratory flights. These included many northern waterthrushes, small streaky warblers that nest in prolific numbers across the boreal and tundra vastness of North America. While seemingly uncommon in Massachusetts, these hardy, freshwater loving, ground foraging warblers pass by in good numbers. They are remarkably common in Central America during the winter months — their chip notes emanating from virtually every patch of rain forest, jungle and mangrove woods. At least six individual northern waterthrushes were heard and seen on Nantucket Wednesday morning.

Other warblers, flycatchers, vireos and orioles are also on the move. In fact, any evening with clear skies through the end of the summer will have birds moving in the night. Evenings with light northwest winds will have lots of birds on the move, and a check of one's favorite patch of woods, stream or swamp the next morning should be worthwhile and exciting.

If you happen to be on Martha's Vineyard, the Gay Head Cliffs on the western tip of the island are always worth checking for birds in the morning. This beautiful spot, especially early in the morning before the crowds begin to make parking difficult and tour buses arrive, is where numbers of nocturnal migrants can be seen as they correct their flight paths and head back to the west and the mainland at dawn. While the birds are often hard to see — flying little shapes that don't want to stop and be seen — the experience in nonetheless mesmerizing.

Elsewhere at Cape and Islands beaches and tidal flats, shorebird numbers declined slightly this past week as many adult birds moved south and immature birds have mostly not yet arrived.

Shorebirds such as sandpipers and plovers have two peaks of migration in the region. Generally, the last week of July and first few days of August have peak numbers of southbound birds. These are all adult birds that have finished their nesting for the year and instinctively know to head south as soon as possible. Near the end of August, there is a second wave of migration when all the birds of the year, immature birds of many species and a few lingering adults, crowd Cape and Islands shores. Not only do the beaches and flats "load up" with shorebirds, but they are also accompanied by flocks of gulls and terns, often with some surprise visitors.

A trip to the beach, where time of day is not as important as it is in the woods and it is generally cooler, is a great way to go birding in this hottest of months. Birding the flats is all about the tide and weather. For birding at most beaches and tide flats, bad weather is a good thing. Many shorebirds will routinely over-fly many areas, and strong winds and rain will cause them to divert to the nearest landfall to ride out the storm. During and immediately after such weather is the time to get outside and see what has blown in.

Getting out in a boat, especially if one is able to go well south of Nantucket and the Vineyard, is another great way to see birds in August. Seabirds, those that spend their lives on the open ocean such as shearwaters, storm-petrels, jaegers and phalaropes are often abundant in offshore Vineyard waters. A trip offshore is a journey to another world, the marine environment where one might encounter all sorts of things that you will never see ashore. A selection of rather scarce sea turtles, Portuguese man-of-war, perhaps an increasingly rare and beautiful blue shark, an ocean sunfish, dolphins and whales, and a great variety of marine game fish are all possible sightings.

Given good weather, it is always worthwhile and exciting to journey out of sight of land. If one is able to journey all the way south to the edge of the continental shelf, some 100 miles south of Nantucket and the Vineyard, then one is truly fortunate to be in a place as different from inshore as can be. It's like taking a trip through time and space to a marine world as different from land as can be imagined.

Until next week — keep your eyes to the sky!

E. Vernon Laux's birding column appears every Saturday in the Cape Cod Times. Laux is the resident naturalist for the Linda Loring Nature Foundation on Nantucket.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4z9gl-AZzs

gives up, takes a twig

MAK 6:53am: Callidora on HSBC SW corner. No A or B yet.

The Juvie on the left is trying so hard to steal the fish from it's sib....funny to watch. 

Osprey Diary 9th August
August 9th, 2010 by E Rawling, Perthshire Ranger SWT

  â€œOver to Dadâ€�

 With our female osprey’s departure to African pastures for the winter, the two juveniles have been left in dads care at Loch of the Lowes. This is the normal pattern- the female invariably leaves first and the male stays behind to ’supervise’ the teenagers. We believe his instinct to provide for his offspring lingers and that there is a certain amount of ‘demonstration’ in fishing technique going on too. Whilst most of the young bird’s training in life skills seems to be instinctive, there can be no harm in watching an adult expert at it to give them some ideas!

 As Rinchen mentioned yesterday, the youngsters need for fish is plateauing as there incredible growth spurt is levelling out. We are also about to enter the ‘tough love’ stage when the male begins to taper off the fish he brings in, to encourage the youngsters to fish for themselves. By later this month the male too will head south and the youngsters will be alone in the world (gulp!).

So our males role as ’super -dad’ is entering its last phase. Aren’t we grateful he has turned out to be such a wonderful first time father! It seems an age ago we were doubting him back in spring, shouting at him neglecting the eggs- I eat my words. Emma Rawling

BTW, both juvies at nest now

MAK, no Dan: 6:00am: Callidora flying around Xerox kakking.

And they were on NBC News tonight

Molly had another hatch, her name is Carrie after Carrie Underwood.

Has anyone seen ms Callidora recently?

Yes she has been around most of the day today, hanging with mom and dad. 

Not sure how I missed this pic this am. A & B

[wnyfalconfan (Joyce):]

wnyfalconfan (Joyce): 3rd pefa on TS

Link:
http://twitter.com/wnyfalconfan/statuses/20649881918

Yay, the happy family.

OH yay, she's back! thanks

Many thanks for bringing this site to my attention.  After following the fortunes of the gallant Lady, I am awed by what a magnificent bird the Osprey is. 

I have to admit that I have failed to visit any of these wonderful birds this season. There must be ten nests within a few minutes of my home, so I really have no excuse.  I guess all my birding time was spent with Peregrines.  (It's OK to admit that, since this is a falcon board, right?)

I'll make a resolution to spend quality time with local Osprey next spring.  In the meantime, I'll imagine the Lady soaring over the ocean to West Africa, so there will be Osprey in my dreams, if not in my life.

Paul

Very well said Paul. You never know about any bird or raptor until you watch, hear or see for yourself their way of life. Just like me watching MK for 7 years and totally different A and B this year, we learn. I hope to hear your stories next season. Thank you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_KdhnUlRmk  Mom Osprey's last day at the Loch. She checked the nest, took a few circles around the area, made sure all was OK and left.  Be well sweet lady.

When Archer Migrates:

Last year Archer was last seen on Oct 11. Let's see if Beauty stays or goes this year.

…a warm & muggy morn…in contrast to last nights’ blazing sunset with “Sir� presiding majestically from atop a pine…

This morning I was greeted by “ourâ€�  male on the same perch high above the loch. I have mentioned behaviour and patterns over the many weeks. The male perchs close to the nest now. He has been afar for weeks, save for his reliable fish drops. Yes, to me, he looks majestic. He is in his prime.

I have noted in reply to a couple of comments that the young no longer require as much food as they did 4-6 weeks ago. Do you remember how rapidly they grew during their flight feather stage? The large fish now delivered are serving the juvies well. They will start to catch over the next week or two, I am confident of that.

At the Visitors Centre over the past few days I have noticed beaming smiles by young and not so young. People knowing that “our� female is on her way.

I send a smile to you. Rinchen