I've got a new post up on 10,000 Birds, And so it begins. My new schedule there is the last Sunday of each month. So go visit and show me some love.
Migration is underway up here and although I speak of it as a large influx, it is nothing compared to the fall out that happened recently on New Brunswick's Machias Seal Island. Go here to see the amazing photos (scroll through them) and this is the brief account from the photographer, lighthouse keeper Ralph Eldridge.
Message from the lighthouse keeper:
Wed, 25 May 2011 06:31:45 -0300
From: Ralph Eldridge
Subject: MACHIAS SEAL ISLAND REPORT
The wind drop and shift overnight seems to have encouraged heavy migrant movement. The movement through here was easily the largest this year and one of the largest that I've ever seen. The fog and rain showers prompted lots of fall-outs. There was a good mix of species including shorebirds and Gr. Blue Herons.
Thrushes and Catbirds were noted but the mass was warblers. At one point, while on the light taking a few photos, I counted 15 warblers perched on me comprising 11 species. They feel odd when they cling to your beard or cozy down to sleep in your hair.
A Blackburnian Warbler and Yellow Warbler squabbled for several minutes to see which would perch on my right index finger, both oblivious to the finger's movements as I took photos and made camera adjustments. Evenyually, both the warblers lost the apparent prime perch to a male Common Yellowthroat. That fellow kept his position for nearly a half hour, interrupted only briefly when I had to reach into my pocket a couple times.
Comments
4 responses
They still have a lighthouse keeper? I think those are more rare than the birds he listed!
The island is claimed by both Canada and the US, which apparently influences the staffing of the lighthouse.
From Wikipedia: “In 1995, the Canadian Coast Guard dramatically reduced the number of manned lighthouses on the Atlantic coast as a cost-saving measure. Today, all lighthouses in Eastern Canada except for the station on Machias Seal Island are unmanned. The Machias Seal Island light had been automated several years prior to the announcement, but Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs is now covering the Canadian Coast Guard’s costs to maintain lightkeepers on Machias Seal Island “for sovereignty purposes”.”
But there are apparently others as well. According to the CCGS for Newfoundland they have 23 manned lighthouses in their region.
Wow. Sounds surreal!
Yeah, it would be incredible to be in the middle of it Steve.