Fall Shorebird: What to Watch For

Fall starts early for birders — southbound shorebird traffic actually kicks off in July! Shorebirds that bred in the Canadian Arctic are already on their way to non-breeding grounds along the Atlantic Flyway, most heading straight for the coast. They arrive in two waves: the first in the second week of July, the second hitting the coast in the second week of August.

This makes it the perfect time for a day trip to Edwin B. Forsythe NWR ("Brig") and other shorebird hotspots across the Delaware Valley — which is exactly why the Bucks Birders' August trip is always a Brig trip. Check our calendar for the date.

August is also prime time to look for shorebird specialties like Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Baird's Sandpiper. As for plovers, both Black-bellied and American Golden-Plovers can be found at sod farms, large mowed agricultural or short-grass areas, mudflats, lake shores, and impoundment banks. In August, the plovers you find are most likely to be adults passing through. American Golden-Plover is trickier to find locally, but it's not unlikely to stumble into — worth keeping an eye out at the right fields, especially after a good rain. One ID note worth keeping in mind: molting adult American Golden-Plovers in spring can superficially resemble Black-bellied Plovers, so careful looks matter more than date alone — check for black axillaries ("wingpits") on Black-bellied versus gray underwings on American Golden.

Purple Martins have also already started heading south. The best place to catch the spectacle: 50,000–100,000 Purple Martins gathering to roost in the Maurice River watershed. You can book a Martin Cruise on the Maurice River to watch this incredible natural phenomenon (link here).

Nighthawks are worth watching for too — the second half of August is peak season for their migration. An unofficial nighthawk watch typically starts a week or two before the official Militia Hill Hawk Watch, which begins September 1st. Keep an eye on the sky during late-summer evenings for large nighthawk flights.

Getting Ready for Hawk Migration: Northern Harriers, American Kestrels, and Bald Eagles have long, drawn-out migrations running from August through December, so August marks the earliest raptor movement at area hawk watches — Militia Hill in Fort Washington, Bake Oven Knob, and points down toward Cape May. It's a slow trickle compared to the big September/October Broad-winged Hawk kettles, but worth checking if you're near a ridge on a good northwest-wind day.

Bird Walks in Bucks County:

(Please check our events page for more information and registration links):

• Our August day trip is to Edwin B. Forsythe NWR led by Sharon Furlong (details in Calendar/Events page)

• Every Saturday: Bird walks are held at Peace Valley, Churchville, and Silver Lake nature centers. (Please check the nature center websites for specific timings). You can borrow a fully stocked "Birding Backpack" (donated by Bucks County Birders) complete with binoculars and local checklists at the center.

• Select Fridays Warrington Shorebird Walks at Bradford Reservoir starting August 14th(details in Calendar/Events page).

• Bi-Weekly Bird Walk at Bucks County Audubon at Honey Hollow. Led by a staff naturalist on the first and third Saturdays of the month. Naturalists explain behavior, songs, field marks, and calls.

Conservation Corner Any conservation related questions can be directed to Vicky Mahmoud at bucksbirders@gmail.com.

Bird Collision Season 4 of the Bird Safe Doylestown bird collision monitoring program will start on Sept 1st, but the volunteer recruitment starts in August. If you would like to participate, please visit our conservation page and register as a volunteer. Any questions on bird window collision directed to the Bird Safe Bucks coordinator, Vin Pannerselvam at bucksbirders@gmail.com.

Finally, please keep the LIGHTS OUT during migration nights (August 15 to November 15)!!

You can do ‘LIGHTS OUT pledge’ for office and residential buildings (including single family homes) using the link here.

For more info on ‘LIGHTS OUT program’ please check BirdSafePhilly.org