CONTINENTAL SURVEY The Autumn Migration August 1--November 30, 1982 NORTHEASTERN MARITIME REGION /Richard A. Forster It is extraordinarily difficult to capsulizea seasonas diverse as fall in terms of numbers of speciesand bulk of migrants. This report will surely overlook some records and observers' sightingsin the more than 300 pagesof reports received. Any oversightis clearly mine. In generalweather during the period was not conduciveto migra- tion. Many of the cold fronts that moved through the area took an unusual track producing northeast rather than northwest winds. A moderatenor'easter in October producedsome excitement, at least in coastalMassachusetts, but suchstorms have becomeless depend- able than in the past. High temperaturesand strong southwestwinds in October, and particularly in November, favored reversemigration and provided some extremely late records. The generalconsensus was that it was almostuniversally a poorfall ATLANTIC migration.Field observersare not out constantlyand if observersare not out when major flights occur then migration is termed a bust. A OCEAN truer sense of overall migration can be judged by banding stations whose efforts are relatively constantfrom year to year but subjectto Vineyard the vagaries of weather. At Mahomet Bird Observatory (hereafter, M.B.O.), Lloyd-Evans termed the migration "average" with some speciesdown .•nd othersmaking a recoveryfrom recentlosses. One final comment. The overwhelmingbulk of reports emanates from offshore islands and barrier beaches where knowledgeable SoAo observersgo to see rare speciesand concentratedmigrants. Obvi- ously unfavorableweather will producewidely varying resultsfrom In the past, few pelagic trips have been attempted in late summer to the warm waters s. and w. of Massachusetts but 2 year to year. were made this season. A 2'/2 day trip met with spectacular LOONS, GREBES -- The first migrant Red-throated Loons were successat HydrographerCanyon about 75 mi s.e. of Nantuc- ket. Fortunate observers were treated to views of White-faced noted in Newfoundland in mid-September but the only numbers of Storm-Petrel, Audubon's Shearwater, South Polar Skua and any consequencewere noted at Pt. Judith, R.I., with a maximum of 59 Nov. 15, a date when three birds were grounded by a storm in Long-tailed Jaeger.The other trip to waters s. of Martha's northern New Hampshire. Six Red-necked Grebes at Squam L., Vineyard was shroudedin controversy.More than 100people, includingmany of the area's mostcompetent observers, saw a N.H., Aug. 16 (TR,fide KCE) were strikinglyearly, especiallyfor an inland location. Two locations in inland Maine also had Red-necked small black-and-white shearwater that was unanimously identified as an Audubon's. Subsequentphotographs have left Grebes, bul few were reported until late November when 200 were viewers divided on the correct identification and it is best left observed at Cutler, Me. (NF, fide ML). Very few Horned Grebes unspecified(RRV, WCR). were reported and Pied-billed Grebe was saidto be "closer to normal numbers after several years of scarcity" in w. Massachusetts(SK). Maine's W. Grebe returned again Nov. 6 (PDV) and another, prob- was Sept. 19 at Plum 1., Mass., when 18 were countedat an evening ably the one seen last spring. was found at Duxbury. Mass., Nov. 28 roost. Up to four of this specieslingered in N. Scituate, Mass., (WRP). through November. There were a number of late reports of Cattle Egrets, many as a result of reversemigration. In Nova Scotiaa single TUBENOSES -- Northern Fulmar was not particularly numerous Cattle Egret was at Brier I., Sept. 5, four were at Cape Breton in late until October. At Mt. Desert Rock, Me., 15were observeddaily Oct. October and three were present during November. One in Rexton, 22-27, 13 were noted Oct. 9-16 in Massachusettsboth from land and N.B., Nov. 6-9 was considered very unusual. On Nov. 5 in Maine on pelagictrips, and 75 were seenat Seal I., N.S., Oct. 15. Four N. three were in Greenville and eight in Shirley. From Nov. 6-16 a total Fulmars off the New Hampshire coast Nov. 2 (DJA) were most of 18 Cattle Egretswas reportedfrom 6 Massachusettslocalities. A unusual, as was an albino bird observed about 300 mi e. of Newfound- stray Snowy Egret was at Port au Port Pen., Nfid., Sept. 6. Six or land Nov. 22 (RGBB). Cory's Shearwater was reported mainly from more Yellow-crowned Night Herons were seen in Eastham, Mass., Rhode Island waters: max. 427 Aug. 21 (DLK). Greatest concentra- Aug. 30 and four others were reported in the state. Nova Scotia had tions of Greater Shearwater were recorded in October with 3000 + at three Yellow-crownedsin Septemberand three were presentmost of Seal l., N.S., Oct. 15, and 2000 at North Beach, Orleans, Nov. 11. September on Mortbegan I., Me. A Least Bittern was out of place at Only a few Sooty Shearwaterswere observedand Manx was also Seal I., Oct. I I and several reporterscommented on the absenceof scarce,with max. 10at StellwagenBank, Mass., Oct. 17. Leach's and Am. Bittern. Glossy Ibis normally departs from our area in early Wilson's storm-petrels were observed on the usual Bluenose ferry Septemberso an individualNov. 23, in Richmond,Mass. (far inland), crossingsin Augustand September.As manyas 15 Leach's were seen was extremely late as well as out of place. at Barnstable, Mass., Oct. l0 after a storm which was also responsi- ble for one in Greenwich, Conn., Oct. I 1 (TB). WATERFOWL -- The only Whistling Swans reported were three that put down in Pittsfield. Mass., Nov. 14and remainedthrough the HERONS, IBISES -- Most of the excitement in this group re- reporting period. The Snow Goose migration was average, with the volved around a few species.The peak count of Little Blue Heron first flocks totalling 121 noted at Block I., R.I., Oct. 2. The bulk of the Volume 37, Number 2 155 migrationpassed through from mid-Octoberto early November with SHOREBIRDS -- The shorebirdsituation was normal.The high- flocks, several observedat hawk watches, reportedfrom New Eng- est countof Am. Oystercatcherwas 38 at MonomoyI., Mass, Aug land. Gadwall remain well establishedin s. New England and six 22 and a crippledbird was in nearbyChatham Nov. 18, well beyond reported from Nova Scotia at A.P.B.S. (Amherst Point Bird Sanc- normal departuredate. Killdeer numbering250 in Ipswich, Mass, tua'ry),Nov. 17 is indicativeof their spread.The 1510Green-winged Nov. 6 was an excellent count. Greatest numbers of Am. Golden Teal at Plum I., Mass., Nov. 18 was by far the highestcount for the Ploverswere reported from the n. areas of the Regionwith 175 in Region. The usualEur. Wigeonswere reported,the first onein Rhode NewfoundlandSept. 25 (66%juv.), 215 at Amherst,N.S., Sept 1 and Island Oct. 8 and another at Barrington,R.I., Nov. 1-19. One was in 325 at St. Show s, Nfid., Aug. 30. Whimbrelwere alsobetter reported Ipswich, Mass., most of October and November and one at inland from the n. with peaks of 83, St. ShoWs, Nfid., Aug. 30, 120+ at Longmeadow, Mass., Oct. 18-22 was consideredvery unusual. The Lusby Marsh, N.S., in late August, and 200+ at the samelocation in best count of Am. Wigeonwas 1200at E. ProvidenceRes., R.I., Oct. mid-September.A late individualwas shotat WitlessBay, Nfid, in 30. Ring-necked Duck received much comment with the earliest the second week of November. being16 at Lakeville, Mass., Aug. 31. Typicalreports incladed 500 in Thirty Upland Sandpipersat Martha's Vineyard, Aug. 30 was Manchester, Me., Oct. 3 and 120 and one Redhead at Pictou Harbor, extraordinaryand one at Lusby Marsh, N.S., Oct. 31 was very late N.S., Nov. 7. The only substantialcount of Lesser Scaupwas 150+ There were no large counts of Pectoral Sandpiperbut there were at Granton, Me., Sept. 30. The timingof migrationand statusof this almost unanimousreports of this specieslingering into November speciesthroughout the Regionneeds clarification. Barrow's Golden- The same holds true for White-rumped Sandpiperwith over 100+ eye is uncommon-to-rarethroughout the Region; the best place to seenat Hartlen'sPt., N.S., Oct. 16and 40 stillpresent Nov. 4 Of 37 findit is BangorDam, Me., wherenine were seenOct. 24 and 31 were Baird'sand 17Buff-breasted sandpipers most records occurred in the presentNov. 21. Two inland at Gill, Mass., Nov. 5 wree noteworthy. late August-early September period although several late October A spectacular concentration of 25,000+ Oldsquaws was noted at reportswere noted. Long-billed Dowitcher and Stilt Sandpiper in this Nantucket, Mass., Nov. 26. Inland in Massachusetts,13 sightings Regionare mostfrequently recordedin Massachusettswith peaksfor totalling49 individualsfrom late Octoberto November20 were Long-billedDowitcher of 75 at Plum I., Oct. 3 and Stilt Sandpiper33 termed 10 timesthe usualfall sightings.There wasthe normalnumber there Sept. 3 (RSH). Late individualsof each speciesincluded a of Harlequin Ducks reported. A new winteringlocation at Sachuest dowitcher, probably Long-billed, in Nova ScotiaNov. 21 and a Stilt Pt., R.I., hosted 13 on Nov. 27. CommonEiders were everywhere s. Sandpiperat PlumI., Nov. 9. Of 15 sightingsof MarbledGodwit nine to Massachusetts.Two King Eiders in Newfoundland were deemed were in Massachusetts, but the two each in Nova Scotia and Maine noteworthy while one at Guilford, Conn., Aug. 14 was rare and were unusual.Reports were concentratedin Augustand September unseasonal(TB). There was very little comment on all 3 scorer Most Hudsonian Godwits were reported from Massachusettswith speciesbut an impressivecount of 4000+ Red-breastedMergansers 150 at Monomoy Aug. I but 30 at Scarborough,Me., Aug. 18 were was at Provincetown, Mass., Nov. 14 (BN). exceptional. Most ad. Ruffs passthrough our area beforethis reportingperiod and few juveniles are reported. This season'sRuffs included two in VULTURES, DIURNAL RAPTORS --The wealth of data repre- Massachusettsand two presentin W. Lawrencetown,N.S., Aug 17 sentingthis group would necessitatea lengthierreport than space Uniquefor the seasonwas an Am.