Migration is just around the corner. Shorebird numbers are steadily rising on the coast, and local passerines are leaving their breeding territories. In the next month warblers and other boreal nesters will be heading south through our area. Our yard is rapidly gaining a reputation for a great migrant trap. On some fall days it has more warblers than any other spot in Vermont. We could have double-digit warbler days by the second week in August. Last year I spent many mornings roaming the woods and clearings in search of warblers, vireos, flycatchers and anything else. In the month of August I ebirded 15 checklists containing 58 species. This year I want to do better. The goal is a total of 100 (checklists+species). Given that I am gone for parts of the month, I can't hope for more than 70 some odd species, but 30 checklist is doable.
It will make relativity common birds more exciting and meaningful. Things like Tree Swallow will become a great surprise (if I get it at all), and it will force me to check places that I don't always bird. Looking forward to some great surprises!
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