Monhegan Island summary 9.19-24.25
Brett Ewald
There were many highlights on our recent NJ Audubon Eco-Travel trip to Monhegan Island September 19-24, including 19 species of warbler and a number of vagrants—among the 89 bird species recorded. There were also many butterflies, including numerous Monarchs. Harbor and Gray Seals, along with Harbor Porpoise, added to the spectacle. Highlights below.
You can shortly view a more expansive summary and photos from the trip on The Birds of Monhegan Facebook Page. A seasonal update to The Birds of Monhegan book will be posted there later in the fall. Don’t have a copy of the book, you can purchase one at www.birdsofmonhegan.com or reach out directly to me for a signed softcover or a limited edition, signed hardcover. The Monhegan Birds WhatsApp group has also worked well, with postings being sent/received on numerous occasions. If you aren’t already a member but would like to join the group, please download WhatsApp onto your phone and send me your phone number so that I can add you.
As always, seeing friends and fellow birders/butterfliers on the island is part of the specialness of Monhegan.
Brett Ewald
Director, Cape May Bird Observatory
Ring-necked Pheasant – many on the island (25+), including family groups with small young.
Common Loon – 8, mainly seen from the ferry over/back (Port Clyde)
Northern Gannet – only 8 seen
Great Cormorant – 14, including 12 below White Head
Common Eider - 100+
Osprey - 6
Bald Eagle - 4, 1 adult around Monhegan
Northern Harrier - 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 6
American Kestrel - 13
Merlin – 20+
Peregrine Falcon – 6
Wilson’s Snipe - 1
Laughing Gull - 10+
Lesser Black-backed Gull – 3
Black Guillemot - 15+
Ruby-throated Hummingbird – 8
Belted Kingfisher - 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 18
Northern Flicker - 75+
Eastern Phoebe – 8
Alder Flycatcher – 1
Least Flycatcher - 4
Brown Thrasher - 1
Swainson’s Thrush – 2
Cedar Waxwing - 200+
Blue-headed Vireo – 9
Warbling Vireo – 3
Philadelphia Vireo - 3
Red-eyed Vireo - 40+
Carolina Wren – 4+
Winter Wren – 2
Purple Finch – 25+
Clay-colored Sparrow – 2, multiple dates and locations
Lark Sparrow – 1, multiple dates, usually around the school
Savannah Sparrow - 2
Lincoln's Sparrow – 6
Swamp Sparrow – 3
White-throated Sparrow – 30+
Bobolink - 10
Baltimore Oriole – 4
Blue-winged Warbler – 1 on 9/19
Tennessee Warbler - 4
Nashville Warbler – 1 on 9/19
Northern Parula - 9
Yellow Warbler - 4
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1 on 9/24
Magnolia Warbler - 7
Cape May Warbler - 13
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler – 20+
Black-throated Green Warbler - 5
Palm Warbler – 11
Bay-breasted Warbler – 1 on 9/19
Blackpoll Warbler - 5
Black-and-white Warbler – 7
American Redstart – 4
Northern Waterthrush - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 10+
Wilson's Warbler – 5
Rose-breasted Grosbeak – 2 on 9/21
Dickcissel – 4+, multiple dates.