CONTINENTAL SURVEY The AutumnMigration August1-November 30, 1986 NORTHEASTERN MARITIME REGION Richard A. Forster : • • 9/•OUNOLAND• normalheweather throughoutforthe the fall season.averaged August notably andcooler November than were wetter than normal while the middle period was somewhatdrier than expected.In Newfoundland, summer ended in mid-Septemberwhen November weather com- menced and by mid-November winter had set in. There were numerous cold fronts, most notably in late August when it was downright cold, but impressivewaves of mi- grants failed to materialize much to the chagrin of most observers.Once again there was widespreadconcern that bird populationsare not what they were formerly, and this observeris beginningto believe there may be some truth to that allegation.Passefine migration varied from average to the "dullest of the dullest."At AppledoreIsland, Maine, David Holmes reportedhis highestbanding totals ever, but since the net hours were so high they drove the birds/net hour averageto the lowest point yet. The shorebird mi- gration was almost universally average or below-average. Pelagicspecies were alsounderreported with a few excep- tions. The scarcity of sand launce (Ammodytes sp.) on StellwagenBank, Massachusettsresulted in paltry numbers of pelagics.Even HumpbackedWhales, bread winners of occurrenceof a given speciesis not obsolutelyconclusive. whale watching trips, were scarce and frequently unob- My apologiesto all observerswhose reports were over- served. lookedand/or do not appearin this account. Not all groupswere representedon the down side how- ever. The hawk migration through southern portions of LOONS, GB•B•S • Loon migration through the Re,on the Region was spectacularand, if equalled or surpassed proceedson a predictableschedule and is seldomcommented in subsequentyears, will be worth seeing. Also, the con- on u•ess someth• out of the ordinaryoccurs. Common Loons centrationsof someother diurnal passefinemigrants were start migratingin the beginni• of Septemberand Red-throat- truly staggering,particularly at LighthousePoint, Con- edsfollow about one month later. Repo•s are mostprevalent as a result of stor• or strongonshore •n• when birdsare necticut. Likewise, in a seasonthat spanssuch a lengthy concentratedal•g the co•t or blo• inl•d. This fall the period during which anything is seemingly possible,this lack of stormsbrought few loon report, es•cially no signifi- fall seasondid not disappoint and the usual array of im- c•t in]and reports. The o•y signific•t report of •grating probablespecies was recorded.Indeed, it is almostdifficult Red-throate• occurred Nov. 6, at Denis, •ss., when 395 to determine what is improbable. It is the task of the re- were observedin only one hour •N). The same date at Pt. gional editor to sort through these reports,weigh the docu- Judith.R.I., only 14 were seen(•de DLE). A con•nci• report mentary evidence, and make value judgmentson the va- of a Pacific Loon came from Saco, Me. on the u•easonable lidity of the reports--rightly or wrongly. No reports are date of Aug. 16 (G. Lemelin).•other w• reportedfrom Na- categoricallydismissed, but, on occasion,some are down- patme Pt., R.L, Nov. 5 (•de DLE). No major movementsof played becausethe necessarydefinitive evidence of the Corn.Loons were noted• the Re,on throughoutthe period. 52 AmericanBirds, Spring 1987 Numbersof Pied-billedGrebes seem to be recoveringsome- 4 (BH). Typical counts of Wilson's Storm-Petrel were "thou- what from recent low totals. In Nova Scotia they were said to sands"at Mount DesertRock, Me., Aug. 28 (•de WT), 1000•- be "as usual" (•de PP) but in RhodeIsland they were "more at HydrographerCanyon, Mass., Sept. 4 (BH)and a like number numerous than usual" during September and October. In in Cape Cod Bay, Mass., Aug. 23 (j•de RHS). Most, however, Massachusetts12 were at Lakeville Sept. 20, 18 were there had departed by mid-September. Although an abundant Nov. 1, and during Octoberthey were well reported.Horned breederin the Region,Leach's Storm-Petrel is seldomreported Grebes likewise continue in depressednumbers and were in appreciablenumbers. Rather typical countswere 31 on a generallynot commentedon exceptin Nova Scotiawhere they Bluenosecrossing Aug. 31 (CDD) and 20 at HydrographerCan- were termed "rather scarce" (j•de PP). A Red-necked Grebe yon, Mass.,Sept. 4 (BH), but 15 observedduring a storm at in breeding plumage appearedinland and early at Clinton, Cable Head, P.E.I., Sept. 27 (BD) were consideredunusual. A Mass., Aug. 14 (j•de RHS). At Mount Desert Narrows, Me., 110 single Band-rumped Storm-Petrel at HydrographerCanyon, Red-neckedswere noted Aug. 31 (KJ).This was apparently a Mass.,Sept. 4 (BH) was expected. routine occurrencewhere they appearearly and undergomolt PELECANIFORMES- Northern Gannets are a feature before moving on. Elsewhere in the Region they were fairly well reported and at P.E.I., where they are consideredrare, along the coastat this season,especially in October and No- there were 21 at Rustico Bay Nov. 8 (BD). The W. Grebe re- vember during onshorewinds or storms.Representative high turned to Reid S.P., Me. during November for its 10th consec- totals were 5000 in one hour at Cable Head, P.E.I., Sept. 27 (BD), 1200 in one hour at Dennis, Mass., Nov. 6 (BN) and utive winter there (j•de WT). 10,000q-in 2 hours at Eastham, Mass., Nov. 19 (WRP) when at times they were passingat the rate of 475/minute. TUBENOSES -- As mentionedpreviously, this was a very poor year for this group. Most unexpected, however, was a Black-browed Albatross well observed from the Cabot Strait The event of the seasonwas the presence of tropic- ferry July 21 (CG). Consideringtheir scarcity, six N. Fulmars birds. A sub-ad. White-tailed Tropicbird was seen and at Rockport,Mass., Sept. 27 (RSF0were surprising.The only photographedat HydrographerCanyon, Mass.,Sept. 4, other reportswere of singlesat StellwagenBatik, Mass., Oct. where an immature thought to be this specieswas seen 26 (j•de RHS) and Eastham, Mass., Nov. 19 (WRP). The ap- 2 years ago. More exciting, however, was an ad. Red- pearance of Cory's Shearwater in our area is always unpre- billed Tropicbird which made 2 brief appearancesat dictable, and dependenton warm waters in the s. portion of Mount Desert Rock, Me., Aug. 31 (D. James,•de HC). the Region.Hence, the coolweather may have beenresponsible Even more amazing was the appearance of what was for the low numbers. Far offshoresix were noted at Hydrog- likely the same individual discoveredat Gay Head, rapherCanyon, Mass., Sept. 5 (BH)and severalwere still pres- Martha's Vineyard, Mass., Sept. 15 (J. Rosenwald, m. ent at GeorgesBank, N.S., in early October (j•de RGBB).At oh.).This individual madeseveral brief visitsto the clay the local strongholdat Cox's Ledge,R.I., the maximum count cliffsdaily to the delight of many observerswho flocked was of only ten Sept. 4 (j•de DLE). In view of their scarcity, to see the bird even in this remote location.It was present three at Eastham,Mass., during a storm Aug. 28 (WRP, RAF) at least until early November but its precise departure were most unusual. Greater Shearwaterswere best reported date is unknown sinceby that time it had becomeroutine from the Bluenoseferry with 400 Aug. 20 (j•de WT) and 527 and localobservers had becomebored with makingdaily Aug. 31 (CDD). On Sept. 4, 200 were observedat Cox's Ledge, observations. R.I. (j•de DLE) and 100+ at HydrographerCanyon, Mass.(BH). Bed-billedTropicbird at Martha's Vineyard, Mass.,Oct. 21, 1986. Photo/Alan Brady. Six laggardGreaters were at Eastham,Mass., Nov. 22 (BN). Both speciesof cormorantscontinue their population increase The bestcount for SootyShearwater was of nine on a Bluenose annually. As a consequencethey are frequently observedbut crossingAug. 13 (j•de WT). Otherwise counts there and else- seldomcommented upon. Largeflocks of Double-crestedsare where averagedonly one to three on numerousoccasions. The noted migrating beginning in early September.Included in besttally for Manx Shearwaterwas 15 at Eastham,Mass., Aug. these flocks are small numbers of Great Cormorants which 28 (WRP, RAF). Otherwise they were routinely seen in low move in unobtrusivelyand accumulatein favored wintering numbersin offshorewaters, including the Bluenose,through areas.More and more Double-crestedsare lingeringinto winter September. The only Audubon's Shearwaters were three at and Great Cormorants sometimes remain in summer. Inland the now traditionalHydrographer Canyon, Mass., locality Sept. reports,while still noteworthy, are becomingroutine. Volume 41, Number 1 53 54 AmericanBirds, Spring 1987 HERON AND ALLIES -- Most membersof this groupoffer with maximum countsof 5500 at Orwe]] Bay W M A, Oct 4, no surprisesand carry over from the breedingseason wh•le 3000 at Powna]l Bay Nov. 17, and 2500 at Tracadle Bay Nov concentratingin late summerroosts in greatlyincreased num- 23 (fide BD). bers American Bitterns continue to be reported in reduced An excellentpo•t-breeding concentration of 318 WoodDucks numbers.Only sevenwere reportedfrom Connecticutduring was at Norfolk, Mass.,Aug. 31 (fide RHS). Green-wingedTeal the period (DV) and other areasreported equally discouraging were widely noted throughoutthe period but no major con- totals. Least Bitterns were reported only from Massachusetts centrationswere reported. Good numbers of N. Pintail were where a family groupof five was presentat Plum I. through reportedfrom P.E.I., where 300 were observedat Pt. Prim Oct much of Augustand a singleindividual was notedat Concord 4 (BD).Rather sizable numbers of Blue-wingedTeal were noted Aug 3 where it may still breed.Great Blue Heron breedingis in the Maritimes early in the periodwith 165 at PrinceEdward very successfuland goodnumbers were widespreadthrough- Island N.P., Aug. 27 (BD) and a "goodyear" in Nova Scotia out the Regionduring the period.Excellent numbers of Great They were equallyprevalent s. of there but mosthad departed Egretswere reportedin Massachusetts.Forty-seven were noted by early October. Northern Shovelerswere normal this fall in S Dartmouth Aug.