I'd bet the farm an awful lot of those were Western Palms and some early yellow-rumps. I saw that 50 years ago on SGI every cool front. And remember, it's not the temp, it's the dew point that says, "GO!"Jim in Galveston On Oct 9, 2026 11:34 AM, Peter Yaukey <peter.yaukey...> wrote:
Bob and FL Birders: Yesterday I had a late Purple Martin in Mobile while pausing to do a skywatch enroute to New Orleans, which also immediately made me wonder if it could have been Isaias- displaced trans-Gulf from the Yucatan, where eBird shows there are still good numbers this late. You may be aware there is a recent paper that reported that Golden-w Warblers in Tennessee on their nesting grounds retreated all the way to the Gulf Coast to avoid a tornadic weather system that was approaching from the west. They returned days later. The researchers detected it serendipitously because they had geolocators on them (their return was quick enough that they would have not had a clue otherwise). The observation of the warblers moving east along the Gulf Breeze peninsula yesterday is fascinating, as is storm retreat in general. In New Orleans, I have seen gradual movements of Mississippi Kites southward while I was out looking for waifs after storms, making me suspect that I was seeing kites returning to places fartther south from which they had retreated inland for the storm passage. An alternative hypothesis to consider for the warblers yesterday, might be corrective migratory morning flight into the wind. South Point in New Orleans has a similar geographical context, being on the south side of a large body of water (Lake Pontchartrain), and the large flights there move NE up the lakefront, characteristically on days with NE winds immediately after fronts, with the birds flying into the wind. The best explanation there appears to be that the birds are orienting into the wind to correct for wind drift the night before, and accumulate along the shoreline into a concentrated flow. So, eastward movement along the GB peninsula could be birds likewise flying correctively into the NE (ENE) wind, accumulating along the bayshore. I explored this possibility last fall on a few days, and did have a flight of 3000 robins moving NE at the extreme east end of the peninsula following one Nov front. I believe eBird also reports an eastbound flight of 1000 Palms in a similar location on the peninsula a few Octobers ago (can be found by searching maxima counts for the county). Your home's position on the far west end of the peninsula might make this invisible to you, because you would be at the very start of the flow concentration process (likewise, the New Orleans flights are not evident farther west on the shore where the accumulation is just beginning). The spot in Mobile where I did yesterday's skywatch was Arlington Park, on the west side of Mobile Bay, near the Downtown Airport (exit 24). I had picked it on the supposition that a corrective movement into the NE wind would bring birds to the western bayshore where they would funnel north. On Tuesday (first morning after front) I only had 15 min to skywatch, but had over 800 small passerines (660 Indigos) fly past heading north in that time. Thursday was much slower (c. 40 birds in 30 min), as often happens in New Orleans (rapid drop off a few days after front). Perhaps the 100-200 birds that JM reported yesterday included both corrective migratory movements, and hurricane retreat! As you say, Questins Questions Questions! Good birding and stay safe today. I myself am hunkering down in Ferry Pass. Peter Yaukey
On Thu, Oct 8, 2026 at 9:34 PM 'Lucy and Bob Duncan' via NFLbirds <nflbirds...> wrote:
Hi all, This morning Jeff Madsen, an experienced birder who lives about 10 miles east of the tip of our 20 mile long peninsula of Gulf Breze watched about 100 - 200 warblers fly EAST against a moderate ENE wind. Normally, birds in Fall migration are seen moving west in a circum-Gulf movement or a later trans-Gulf migration. The exception would be those headed for the West Indies. I rather doubt that a movement that large would be West Indian-bound birds this late in the season. Is it possible these birds "sensed" future worsening conditions to the west of their intended movement and it caused them to avoid further movement west? The hurricane at that point in time was still in the S. Gulf. That's mind boggling! This phenomenon occurred years ago when a hurricane was headed for landfall to our west but was still well to the south of the coast. Lucy and I witnessed a steady progression of Black Terns from our home as they flew east most of the day against a stiff east wind. That's what's great about birding. Questions, questions, questions. Bob DuncanGulf Breeze, Fl
Date: 10/9/26 9:35 am From: Peter Yaukey <peter.yaukey...> Subject: Re: [NFLbirds] Interesting warbler migration
Bob and FL Birders:
Yesterday I had a late Purple Martin in Mobile while pausing to do a
skywatch enroute to New Orleans, which also immediately made me wonder if
it could have been Isaias- displaced trans-Gulf from the Yucatan, where
eBird shows there are still good numbers this late.
You may be aware there is a recent paper that reported that Golden-w
Warblers in Tennessee on their nesting grounds retreated all the way to
the Gulf Coast to avoid a tornadic weather system that was approaching from
the west. They returned days later. The researchers detected it
serendipitously because they had geolocators on them (their return was
quick enough that they would have not had a clue otherwise).
The observation of the warblers moving east along the Gulf Breeze peninsula
yesterday is fascinating, as is storm retreat in general. In New Orleans,
I have seen gradual movements of Mississippi Kites southward while I was
out looking for waifs after storms, making me suspect that I was seeing
kites returning to places fartther south from which they had retreated
inland for the storm passage.
An alternative hypothesis to consider for the warblers yesterday, might be
corrective migratory morning flight into the wind. South Point in New
Orleans has a similar geographical context, being on the south side of a
large body of water (Lake Pontchartrain), and the large flights there move
NE up the lakefront, characteristically on days with NE winds immediately
after fronts, with the birds flying into the wind. The best explanation
there appears to be that the birds are orienting into the wind to correct
for wind drift the night before, and accumulate along the shoreline into a
concentrated flow. So, eastward movement along the GB peninsula could be
birds likewise flying correctively into the NE (ENE) wind, accumulating
along the bayshore. I explored this possibility last fall on a few days,
and did have a flight of 3000 robins moving NE at the extreme east end of
the peninsula following one Nov front. I believe eBird also reports an
eastbound flight of 1000 Palms in a similar location on the peninsula a few
Octobers ago (can be found by searching maxima counts for the county).
Your home's position on the far west end of the peninsula might make this
invisible to you, because you would be at the very start of the flow
concentration process (likewise, the New Orleans flights are not evident
farther west on the shore where the accumulation is just beginning).
The spot in Mobile where I did yesterday's skywatch was Arlington Park, on
the west side of Mobile Bay, near the Downtown Airport (exit 24). I had
picked it on the supposition that a corrective movement into the NE wind
would bring birds to the western bayshore where they would funnel north.
On Tuesday (first morning after front) I only had 15 min to skywatch, but
had over 800 small passerines (660 Indigos) fly past heading north in that
time. Thursday was much slower (c. 40 birds in 30 min), as often happens
in New Orleans (rapid drop off a few days after front). Perhaps the
100-200 birds that JM reported yesterday included both corrective migratory
movements, and hurricane retreat!
As you say, Questins Questions Questions!
Good birding and stay safe today. I myself am hunkering down in Ferry Pass.
Peter Yaukey
On Thu, Oct 8, 2026 at 9:34 PM 'Lucy and Bob Duncan' via NFLbirds <
<nflbirds...> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> This morning Jeff Madsen, an experienced birder who lives about 10 miles
> east of the tip of our 20 mile long peninsula of Gulf Breze watched about
> 100 - 200 warblers fly EAST against a moderate ENE wind. Normally, birds in
> Fall migration are seen moving west in a circum-Gulf movement or a later
> trans-Gulf migration. The exception would be those headed for the West
> Indies. I rather doubt that a movement that large would be West
> Indian-bound birds this late in the season. Is it possible these birds
> "sensed" future worsening conditions to the west of their intended
> movement and it caused them to avoid further movement west? The hurricane
> at that point in time was still in the S. Gulf. That's mind boggling!
>
> This phenomenon occurred years ago when a hurricane was headed for
> landfall to our west but was still well to the south of the coast. Lucy and
> I witnessed a steady progression of Black Terns from our home as they flew
> east most of the day against a stiff east wind. That's what's great about
> birding. Questions, questions, questions.
>
> Bob Duncan
> Gulf Breeze, Fl
>
>
>
>
> <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail> > Virus-free.www.avg.com
> <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail> > <#m_-3543257325021187393_DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>
>
> --
> To subscribe to this group, send email to
> nflbirds+<subscribe...>
> https://groups.google.com/g/nflbirds > ---
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "NFLbirds" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
> email to nflbirds+<unsubscribe...>
> To view this discussion visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/nflbirds/<1258222741.1181253.1791513285438...> > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/nflbirds/<1258222741.1181253.1791513285438...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > .
>
Date: 10/8/26 7:34 pm From: 'Lucy and Bob Duncan' via NFLbirds <nflbirds...> Subject: [NFLbirds] Interesting warbler migration
Hi all,
This morning Jeff Madsen, an experienced birder who lives about 10 miles east of the tip of our 20 mile long peninsula of Gulf Breze watched about 100 - 200 warblers fly EAST against a moderate ENE wind. Normally, birds in Fall migration are seen moving west in a circum-Gulf movement or a later trans-Gulf migration. The exception would be those headed for the West Indies. I rather doubt that a movement that large would be West Indian-bound birds this late in the season. Is it possible these birds "sensed" future worsening conditions to the west of their intended movement and it caused them to avoid further movement west? The hurricane at that point in time was still in the S. Gulf. That's mind boggling!
This phenomenon occurred years ago when a hurricane was headed for landfall to our west but was still well to the south of the coast. Lucy and I witnessed a steady progression of Black Terns from our home as they flew east most of the day against a stiff east wind. That's what's great about birding. Questions, questions, questions.
Bob DuncanGulf Breeze, Fl
Date: 10/7/26 8:14 am From: 'Charles Futch' via NFLbirds <nflbirds...> Subject: [NFLbirds] Seeking Advice
We are going to the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival in Harlingen, TX
in November. I am asking for suggestions for the best field guide for
the area.
Thanks,
Chas. Futch
Date: 9/29/26 4:04 am From: 'BARBARA BUFORD' via NFLbirds <nflbirds...> Subject: Re: [NFLbirds] Please add the email below to this group
Thank you for sending me Don’s post of the 24th. I enjoyed it.
> On Sep 24, 2026, at 12:06 PM, 'eliza hawkins' via NFLbirds <nflbirds...> wrote:
>
> I don't have any details about this person's name or any other information you may need to add her or him. They just requested to be added. I Googled how to add and I don't think I am able to do it myself
>
>
> <tiaoffner...>
>
>
>
> Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer <https://mail.onelink.me/107872968?pid=nativeplacement&c=US_Acquisition_YMktg_315_SearchOrgConquer_EmailSignature&af_sub1=Acquisition&af_sub2=US_YMktg&af_sub3=&af_sub4=100002039&af_sub5=C01_Email_Static_&af_ios_store_cpp=0c38e4b0-a27e-40f9-a211-f4e2de32ab91&af_android_url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?<id...>&listing=search_organize_conquer> > On Thu, Sep 24, 2026 at 9:19 AM, Don Morrow
> <donaldcmorrow...> wrote:
> At first it had been deceptively quiet on the levee where I was standing at St. Marks NWR. No frogs were calling and there had been only the low rumbling from a pair of thunderstorms out in the Gulf. A gentle breeze was coming out of the north. A quarter mile above me, where the winds were stronger, my Merlin app had picked up the chip notes of thrushes calling in the night sky. Finally, as the stars faded and the sky lightened, I heard an Eastern Screech Owl’s low tremolo from somewhere out in the marsh, King Rails called and a distant Barred Owl began hooting. Night birds often call just before dawn as if protesting the end of night.
>
> The Autumnal Equinox has come and gone and we are approaching the peak of Fall migration. Ten million birds have already crossed the refuge this month. Half of them did so on two nights. Fall migration proceeds in fits and starts, depending primarily on flight conditions. Stormy weather or headwinds from the south cause birds to hunker down, but when the wind is right and the weather is clear, it’s time to move. The peak nights of Fall migration usually occur roughly from September 29th to October 17th. On just a few nights, millions of birds come through.
>
> This is a good time to be down at St. Marks. Flycatchers, vireos, thrushes and warblers are moving and the refuge is ready. Many plants time their fruiting to the Fall migration period when migrating birds supplement their diets with plant food. Swainson’s Thrushes and Eastern Kingbirds, a type of flycatcher, can be found feeding on the red fruit of sweet bay magnolia. Sand holly berries nourish Red-eyed Vireos. Right now, migrant and local birds can feed on peppervine, wild grape, beautyberry and Virginia creeper. There’s plenty of food to go around.
>
> Shorebirds are continuing to migrate through and my survey totals are breaking one thousand birds. Along with the shorebirds come the birds that hunt them. I had to let forty sandpipers go as unidentified when a marauding Merlin falcon chased them off. Bald Eagles are back for the winter. They won’t bother the shorebirds, but I watched one attack and steal a fish from an unfortunate Osprey.
>
> And it’s not only birds that are migrating. Blazing Star and Goldenrod are blooming, just in time to feed migrating butterflies. Both Cloudless Sulphurs and Gulf Fritillaries are already moving through and Monarchs will show up in time for the refuge’s annual Monarch Festival in November. And over the last few weeks, I’ve had flocks of Black Saddlebags and Green Darners, two species of migratory dragonflies.
>
> Fall is a time of change, movement and wonder. The first cool weather is moving in and there are birds, butterflies and dragonflies to watch. Halloween will mark the refuge’s 95th birthday. You should come down to St. Marks, go to the Nature Store and buy yourself a present.
>
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "NFLbirds" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to nflbirds+<unsubscribe...> <mailto:nflbirds+<unsubscribe...>.
> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/nflbirds/<d6b0f492-31d9-4efa-910b-67514ac9d6bbn...> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/nflbirds/<d6b0f492-31d9-4efa-910b-67514ac9d6bbn...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>.
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "NFLbirds" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to nflbirds+<unsubscribe...> <mailto:nflbirds+<unsubscribe...>.
> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/nflbirds/<514392756.425094.1790265984361...> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/nflbirds/<514392756.425094.1790265984361...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>.
Date: 9/24/26 1:00 pm From: 'Fran Rutkovsky' via NFLbirds <nflbirds...> Subject: Re: [NFLbirds] Please add the email below to this group
Scott Borderiux is the list owner. Scott, how does someone join the group now that’s it’s changed from Yahoo to Google? Fran
On 09/24/2026 12:06 PM EDT 'eliza hawkins' via NFLbirds <nflbirds...> wrote: I don't have any details about this person's name or any other information you may need to add her or him. They just requested to be added. I Googled how to add and I don't think I am able to do it myself
<tiaoffner...>
Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
On Thu, Sep 24, 2026 at 9:19 AM, Don Morrow <donaldcmorrow...> wrote:
At first it had been deceptively quiet on the levee where I was standing at St. Marks NWR. No frogs were calling and there had been only the low rumbling from a pair of thunderstorms out in the Gulf. A gentle breeze was coming out of the north. A quarter mile above me, where the winds were stronger, my Merlin app had picked up the chip notes of thrushes calling in the night sky. Finally, as the stars faded and the sky lightened, I heard an Eastern Screech Owl’s low tremolo from somewhere out in the marsh, King Rails called and a distant Barred Owl began hooting. Night birds often call just before dawn as if protesting the end of night.
The Autumnal Equinox has come and gone and we are approaching the peak of Fall migration. Ten million birds have already crossed the refuge this month. Half of them did so on two nights. Fall migration proceeds in fits and starts, depending primarily on flight conditions. Stormy weather or headwinds from the south cause birds to hunker down, but when the wind is right and the weather is clear, it’s time to move. The peak nights of Fall migration usually occur roughly from September 29th to October 17th. On just a few nights, millions of birds come through.
This is a good time to be down at St. Marks. Flycatchers, vireos, thrushes and warblers are moving and the refuge is ready. Many plants time their fruiting to the Fall migration period when migrating birds supplement their diets with plant food. Swainson’s Thrushes and Eastern Kingbirds, a type of flycatcher, can be found feeding on the red fruit of sweet bay magnolia. Sand holly berries nourish Red-eyed Vireos. Right now, migrant and local birds can feed on peppervine, wild grape, beautyberry and Virginia creeper. There’s plenty of food to go around.
Shorebirds are continuing to migrate through and my survey totals are breaking one thousand birds. Along with the shorebirds come the birds that hunt them. I had to let forty sandpipers go as unidentified when a marauding Merlin falcon chased them off. Bald Eagles are back for the winter. They won’t bother the shorebirds, but I watched one attack and steal a fish from an unfortunate Osprey.
And it’s not only birds that are migrating. Blazing Star and Goldenrod are blooming, just in time to feed migrating butterflies. Both Cloudless Sulphurs and Gulf Fritillaries are already moving through and Monarchs will show up in time for the refuge’s annual Monarch Festival in November. And over the last few weeks, I’ve had flocks of Black Saddlebags and Green Darners, two species of migratory dragonflies.
Fall is a time of change, movement and wonder. The first cool weather is moving in and there are birds, butterflies and dragonflies to watch. Halloween will mark the refuge’s 95th birthday. You should come down to St. Marks, go to the Nature Store and buy yourself a present.
-- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "NFLbirds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to nflbirds+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/nflbirds/<514392756.425094.1790265984361...>
Date: 9/24/26 9:06 am From: 'eliza hawkins' via NFLbirds <nflbirds...> Subject: [NFLbirds] Please add the email below to this group
I don't have any details about this person's name or any other information you may need to add her or him. They just requested to be added. I Googled how to add and I don't think I am able to do it myself
<tiaoffner...>
Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
On Thu, Sep 24, 2026 at 9:19 AM, Don Morrow<donaldcmorrow...> wrote:
At first it had been deceptively quiet on the levee where Iwas standing at St. Marks NWR. No frogs were calling and there had been onlythe low rumbling from a pair of thunderstorms out in the Gulf. A gentle breezewas coming out of the north. A quarter mile above me, where the winds werestronger, my Merlin app had picked up the chip notes of thrushes calling in thenight sky. Finally, as the stars faded and the sky lightened, I heard anEastern Screech Owl’s low tremolo from somewhere out in the marsh, King Railscalled and a distant Barred Owl began hooting. Night birds often call justbefore dawn as if protesting the end of night.
 The Autumnal Equinox has come and gone and we areapproaching the peak of Fall migration. Ten million birds have already crossedthe refuge this month. Half of them did so on two nights. Fall migrationproceeds in fits and starts, depending primarily on flight conditions. Stormyweather or headwinds from the south cause birds to hunker down, but when thewind is right and the weather is clear, it’s time to move. The peak nights ofFall migration usually occur roughly from September 29th to October17th. On just a few nights, millions of birds come through.
 This is a good time to be down at St. Marks. Flycatchers,vireos, thrushes and warblers are moving and the refuge is ready. Many plantstime their fruiting to the Fall migration period when migrating birdssupplement their diets with plant food. Swainson’s Thrushes and EasternKingbirds, a type of flycatcher, can be found feeding on the red fruit of sweetbay magnolia. Sand holly berries nourish Red-eyed Vireos. Right now, migrantand local birds can feed on peppervine, wild grape, beautyberry and Virginia creeper.There’s plenty of food to go around.
 Shorebirds are continuing to migrate through and my surveytotals are breaking one thousand birds.  Alongwith the shorebirds come the birds that hunt them. I had to let fortysandpipers go as unidentified when a marauding Merlin falcon chased them off.  Bald Eagles are back for the winter. Theywon’t bother the shorebirds, but I watched one attack and steal a fish from anunfortunate Osprey.
And it’s not only birds that are migrating. Blazing Star andGoldenrod are blooming, just in time to feed migrating butterflies. BothCloudless Sulphurs and Gulf Fritillaries are already moving through and Monarchswill show up in time for the refuge’s annual Monarch Festival in November. Andover the last few weeks, I’ve had flocks of Black Saddlebags and Green Darners,two species of migratory dragonflies.
 Fall is a time of change, movement and wonder. The firstcool weather is moving in and there are birds, butterflies and dragonflies towatch. Halloween will mark the refuge’s 95th birthday. You should comedown to St. Marks, go to the Nature Store and buy yourself a present.
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "NFLbirds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to nflbirds+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/nflbirds/<514392756.425094.1790265984361...>
Date: 9/24/26 7:14 am From: Galveston Ornithological Society <galornsoc...> Subject: [NFLbirds] And fall at the Island... :)
Dear Friends,
Kudos to Don, as always.
I wanted to offer my annual reminder that bird-producing cool fronts are on the way with the changing calendar. Usually, the best birding day of the year is the first full day a cool front passes. If you’re not sure which day, go both! You will see circum-Gulf migrants like Barn Swallows, flickers and Palm Warblers, all flying east toward the Peninsula (which they follow to Cuba and beyond). SG Island is THE place to see their movements.
You will also see trans-Gulf migrants like several warbler species, like just in the State Park on St. George, foraging and waiting till dusk to bolt across the abyss. Many families of songbirds have species that migrate through in October. You will also see cuckoos, almost like the Senate and House combined. One day MANY years ago I had 220 (!) in one day! The combination of c-G and t-G migrants is a miracle to behold.
It’s amazing how much better you’ll feel after a day in nature. Go ahead, mortgage your house so you can fill up.
Jim in Galveston
From: <nflbirds...> <nflbirds...> On Behalf Of Don Morrow
Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2026 8:19 AM
To: NFLbirds <nflbirds...>
Subject: [NFLbirds] Fall at the Refuge
At first it had been deceptively quiet on the levee where I was standing at St. Marks NWR. No frogs were calling and there had been only the low rumbling from a pair of thunderstorms out in the Gulf. A gentle breeze was coming out of the north. A quarter mile above me, where the winds were stronger, my Merlin app had picked up the chip notes of thrushes calling in the night sky. Finally, as the stars faded and the sky lightened, I heard an Eastern Screech Owl’s low tremolo from somewhere out in the marsh, King Rails called and a distant Barred Owl began hooting. Night birds often call just before dawn as if protesting the end of night.
The Autumnal Equinox has come and gone and we are approaching the peak of Fall migration. Ten million birds have already crossed the refuge this month. Half of them did so on two nights. Fall migration proceeds in fits and starts, depending primarily on flight conditions. Stormy weather or headwinds from the south cause birds to hunker down, but when the wind is right and the weather is clear, it’s time to move. The peak nights of Fall migration usually occur roughly from September 29th to October 17th. On just a few nights, millions of birds come through.
This is a good time to be down at St. Marks. Flycatchers, vireos, thrushes and warblers are moving and the refuge is ready. Many plants time their fruiting to the Fall migration period when migrating birds supplement their diets with plant food. Swainson’s Thrushes and Eastern Kingbirds, a type of flycatcher, can be found feeding on the red fruit of sweet bay magnolia. Sand holly berries nourish Red-eyed Vireos. Right now, migrant and local birds can feed on peppervine, wild grape, beautyberry and Virginia creeper. There’s plenty of food to go around.
Shorebirds are continuing to migrate through and my survey totals are breaking one thousand birds. Along with the shorebirds come the birds that hunt them. I had to let forty sandpipers go as unidentified when a marauding Merlin falcon chased them off. Bald Eagles are back for the winter. They won’t bother the shorebirds, but I watched one attack and steal a fish from an unfortunate Osprey.
And it’s not only birds that are migrating. Blazing Star and Goldenrod are blooming, just in time to feed migrating butterflies. Both Cloudless Sulphurs and Gulf Fritillaries are already moving through and Monarchs will show up in time for the refuge’s annual Monarch Festival in November. And over the last few weeks, I’ve had flocks of Black Saddlebags and Green Darners, two species of migratory dragonflies.
Fall is a time of change, movement and wonder. The first cool weather is moving in and there are birds, butterflies and dragonflies to watch. Halloween will mark the refuge’s 95th birthday. You should come down to St. Marks, go to the Nature Store and buy yourself a present.
Date: 9/24/26 6:19 am From: Don Morrow <donaldcmorrow...> Subject: [NFLbirds] Fall at the Refuge
At first it had been deceptively quiet on the levee where I was standing at
St. Marks NWR. No frogs were calling and there had been only the low
rumbling from a pair of thunderstorms out in the Gulf. A gentle breeze was
coming out of the north. A quarter mile above me, where the winds were
stronger, my Merlin app had picked up the chip notes of thrushes calling in
the night sky. Finally, as the stars faded and the sky lightened, I heard
an Eastern Screech Owl’s low tremolo from somewhere out in the marsh, King
Rails called and a distant Barred Owl began hooting. Night birds often call
just before dawn as if protesting the end of night.
The Autumnal Equinox has come and gone and we are approaching the peak of
Fall migration. Ten million birds have already crossed the refuge this
month. Half of them did so on two nights. Fall migration proceeds in fits
and starts, depending primarily on flight conditions. Stormy weather or
headwinds from the south cause birds to hunker down, but when the wind is
right and the weather is clear, it’s time to move. The peak nights of Fall
migration usually occur roughly from September 29th to October 17th. On
just a few nights, millions of birds come through.
This is a good time to be down at St. Marks. Flycatchers, vireos, thrushes
and warblers are moving and the refuge is ready. Many plants time their
fruiting to the Fall migration period when migrating birds supplement their
diets with plant food. Swainson’s Thrushes and Eastern Kingbirds, a type of
flycatcher, can be found feeding on the red fruit of sweet bay magnolia.
Sand holly berries nourish Red-eyed Vireos. Right now, migrant and local
birds can feed on peppervine, wild grape, beautyberry and Virginia creeper.
There’s plenty of food to go around.
Shorebirds are continuing to migrate through and my survey totals are
breaking one thousand birds. Along with the shorebirds come the birds that
hunt them. I had to let forty sandpipers go as unidentified when a
marauding Merlin falcon chased them off. Bald Eagles are back for the
winter. They won’t bother the shorebirds, but I watched one attack and
steal a fish from an unfortunate Osprey.
And it’s not only birds that are migrating. Blazing Star and Goldenrod are
blooming, just in time to feed migrating butterflies. Both Cloudless
Sulphurs and Gulf Fritillaries are already moving through and Monarchs will
show up in time for the refuge’s annual Monarch Festival in November. And
over the last few weeks, I’ve had flocks of Black Saddlebags and Green
Darners, two species of migratory dragonflies.
Fall is a time of change, movement and wonder. The first cool weather is
moving in and there are birds, butterflies and dragonflies to watch.
Halloween will mark the refuge’s 95th birthday. You should come down to St.
Marks, go to the Nature Store and buy yourself a present.
Date: 9/13/26 3:00 pm From: Mary Driscoll <wdriscol...> Subject: [NFLbirds] Please add me
I’m interested in the birding info you might provide. Sunny Phillips forwarded your lnote from Sept 10 about weather and migration. I’d love to learn more about how to anticipate good viewing at St Marks (early morning)s this Fall.
