Notes from the Ridge: Fall Migration Count 2023 (September 1 - September 10)

Fall migration has a way of quietly creeping up. It can feel like just yesterday when the first boreal and Arctic migrants were arriving, following their long winters spent at southerly latitudes throughout Latin America, yet the late summer night sky slowly begins to fill with call notes of many southbound birds. While humans enjoy the final dog days of summer, migratory birds are already beginning their long-distance journeys south that will take them thousands of miles away through harrowing feats of endurance. This is truly a special time of year as the spectacle of avian migration has begun once again and to be able to witness it along the north shore of Lake Superior is what makes Hawk Ridge so remarkable.

 

 The 2023 Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory (HRBO) fall migration count began on August 15, with the official season on September 1. The first day of September brought less-than-favorable winds from the south; however, great company on the platform as Erik Bruhnke, Steve Kolbe, Stephen Nelson, and Jan and Larry Kraemer spent time throughout the day assisting to spot birds. The real excitement arrived on the Ridge the following day, September 2, when a tremendous morning flight passed southbound in the hours following sunrise. As the orange tentacles of the sun extended out over the lake and adjacent valley, a steady trickle of warbler chip notes began to fill the empty airspace. Miniature avian silhouettes passing through the low light of the morning sky, fluttering overhead while the quiet hum of hand clickers began to chatter on the platform. The medley of flight calls that filled the air rang out an ephemeral snapshot of species diversity: bobolinks, flycatchers, shorebirds, warblers, thrushes. A few highlights include: (1) a total of 154 ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK (!!!) being counted passing along the Ridge and lake shore throughout the morning into the early afternoon hours and (2) 10 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS (New HRBO site record) following similar ridge flight lines throughout the morning, (3) 3468 Unidentified warbler species (16 identified species), and (4) 2292 CEDAR WAXWING. While the raptor flight did not gain similar momentum throughout the late morning into the afternoon, this morning count was quite incredible.

Red-headed Woodpecker flying past the Ridge on September 2

The following Monday September 4 brought additional raptor excitement along the Ridge: Towards the mid-afternoon hours, a slender-winged greyish raptor rose from the summit in slow circles and made two rotations over the tree line before an emphatic call from the platform rang out down to the overlook: "MISSISSIPPI KITE OVER THE RIDGE!". The rare raptor spent only a few seconds spiraling upward before tucking into a rigid southbound glide down the Ridge. There are only a few annual fall records of this species passing along the Ridge and recorded on the count, so it's always a special treat to spot one (and to have such a great look as well!)

Mississippi Kite passing low along the Ridge on September 4

 

September 6 brought a cold front with precipitation during the morning hours; however, once the rain broke, a steady stream of earlier southbound CANADA GEESE continued to push south along the lake shore with 2077 migrants tallied by the end of the count.

September 8 saw the first migrant BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER pushing south down the Ridge! The bird first appeared to the west of the platform, disappearing low into the treeline; however, quickly scurrying up a naked tree snag and providing excellent views for several seconds before disappearing to the south.

The first migrant Black-backed Woodpecker of the Fall 2023 season on September 8

 

 

September 9 brought the first noticeably large BLUE JAY on the season, with 8375 passing southward along both the lake shore and Ridge throughout the count period; however, the following day (September 10) ushered in an incredible flight of migrant birds. With north winds blowing, a distant SHORT-EARED OWL pushed down the shore in the moments following sunrise while an absolutely unreal BLUE JAY flight of 14054 (!!!) passed southward during the count period as well as a pair of BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS. The first larger kettles of BROAD-WINGED HAWKS of the fall (431 total throughout the day) began to pour out of the north, while two SWAINSON'S HAWK (juvenile intermediate and light morphs) both made low close passes directly above the overlook! The two western vagrants provided excellent views to everyone visiting the overlook, circling slowly for several minutes before drifting lazily south down the Ridge. The day also brought the best SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (963) and AMERICAN KESTREL (218) flights of the season to date - Just an absolutey excellent day of migration on the Ridge! Fall migration is in full swing on the Ridge and the large pulse of BROAD-WINGED HAWK kettles should be passing by any day now, once a good cold front passes through and brings blustery northwest winds in its wake. However, there are many more migrant birds left to count between now and the end of Novemeber! Make your way up to the Ridge this fall and enjoy the spectacle of bird migration. 

 

 Follow the HRBO count daily here at: https://www.trektellen.org  

 

Jess Cosentino 

Lead Counter 

Swainson's Hawk passing along the Ridge on September 10

Hatch-year Bald Eagle heading south along the Ridge on September 8

Osprey passing overhead on the Ridge on September 8