Here in southern New England you don't need a calendar to tell you when October has arrived. No, I'm not talking about the disappearance of summer-like weather or the rapidly shortening days. If you're a birder you can tell the calendar page has turned just by the arrival (and departure) of certain species. This has been apparent as I've spent a good amount of time in the field over the first week of the month.
Along the coast, Forster's Terns now outnumber Common Terns.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_IlhKHkg8o4R5uqL9DoYDIFm7mU6T-kalZBBshnieO74VLC-H9NJyh-3S-zaIL8RHxXeS-Qg9iPI1u_bjvWN1Jr0kKBLm0PSqnt7815batcy2E0Yhp2MCVL7wamPr4sU7bju3-D5ox0/s400/1J1A1343a.jpg) |
Forster's Terns |
The first "Northern" Horned Larks of the subspecies
alpestris can be found in coastal dunes and open spaces.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOCEXpzSMMejvRk-En8m0Jph8Zo_RTbZqwqWEOTaVCY_Q6oiESSAMJIydk4g0Vl-0hRcTIzzeVyjZ5dbzF-xzx_RRC5se3HsOIROoDG_j5ByyXT5SvyLPugqxUlX8G6QuLGIm9qzrBR8/s400/1J1A1351a.jpg) |
Horned Lark |
Sparrow numbers and diversity skyrocket.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCY3W3f0jnStAevCXUGQ5Zqr43AppAghuuqWctcT-uAWgwF9hhrNMAdCeNgbcNl4lr87CrCBuY-pUqZGc8keZkBvYr71eSRcFTB1OUmHrCE7gbd0BLQY2LmSwCAgyLL7P0OTEp5CDwLak/s400/1J1A1025a.jpg) |
Lincoln's Sparrow |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZTwEFnPn9eiNmoRTTXQUUF-UC4O1jCEKPEChvj110YqDK0-Wn91PqhCbARLhdDlPkVH0oxZ_yaad1TkM-Y4k24UrjEwH3fPw_MYMNesfBUWEcaUf7GOYBfBHgwcu4J36vxuzhEj2dD98/s400/1J1A1358a.jpg) |
Savannah Sparrows are everywhere |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmK9PYzbQiqKB1SO4ohTZ1k6sBDp0LrBAcvMLbFwAOnd6EQQOqgdSTbstvezzDEt_m6JdS8dDeEnBk4HFqwh55eSyNlukc6QO91qdIyZZs0g7ENhIZFAbhCrW1JFPqHoy30QMp8usdrQ/s400/1J1A1367a.jpg) |
Nelson's Sparrow is a common October migrant in coastal saltmarsh, though this may actually be a hybrid... |
Raptor diversity peaks. At one location earlier this week I had 13 species of raptor/vulture in just a couple hours' watching the sky.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjejgnJ5-z610s-7qzW_TOdpYH2GP3SUe1KifTxDKbmTro6UPoZy8bgr_JiEnB80l-dn5D4baOLv8kJS1Yv38-qcliumtDI_1nNtMWubXlkbHkJ2JGH4_w7Ap3p4gU0ms3MZ6j2gjwbxyo/s400/1J1A0864a.jpg) |
Bald Eagle |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGL_QK4Z95gZwl1xoI89sRMPnM89rkpkjtNPsLJK42GVGmI9-0EFyeVUEpHheH2gaQoPuQrD5YNb-YGwQK7uFJB-VKNppI0DoE7ahcQTVlJnhTXTx8IYTzEhJLbb3LMMl6gTulhFsgHI/s400/1J1A1078a.jpg) |
Cooper's Hawk |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLE0D-afWcvtXQrdx_x57TL2uU-_HOKuvAL89GGC7kpM83fdMZSY_ASjk1f54Y-NB_tctC7SWQ0mNZYLYdfDXhYtUaIj0ALuTkjyaWR-KYapB73d6aQwVsMuLxmLGZmLEpcmF7DJgjGM/s400/1J1A1239a.jpg) |
Sharp-shinned Hawk |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_bCiiORLN4QKroyW_InkVP3WFXnP22nYKNlMzKEzECTfULvg6r9wB8O49ishy5Y75b9jI3DVt07L1Pd3ixAug92DfZ9gnXsd47eaQg5NkGgy4-L6QqEFO0we2vh1aML2oVoB6Hk9a2k/s400/1J1A1298a.jpg) |
Red-tailed Hawk |
Hawkwatching often yields a few non-raptor bonuses, such as this adult RED-HEADED WOODPECKER that passed between me and the sun a few days ago.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWl1-HVT4pJR3ttevaZ-Ichv5HcGGiko3J5Lb9A-mcMiV3RW5KmTl7TbbxQ2me3vOPeGEy2MqYA1cEUxPIW6hR5y_7WiG8OHsiEyN16k7g6KF63R6-agaxFu1wdjxGDppKKAU2aPEXT28/s400/1J1A1250a.jpg) |
Red-headed Woodpecker |
Yellow-rumped Warblers dominate, while good numbers of Palm Warblers spill over from September.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZ8LT8nfsf_mAsgMJD7SMumxqE6ngsWYwZKHdrVEH32T4WaJyQF3Aime-SXu3zQITe1kphsucMq5ucl8aeXAUBC1EVuhLqbLCt4mDYkYzgTMaW0hed4TvBKzQ18bIyvLKQt0Nw3axw18/s400/1J1A1058a.jpg) |
"Yellow" Palm Warbler |
Gull numbers continue to increase while diversity remains on the low side. Still, southbound Lesser Black-backed Gulls are often seen this month, particularly during periods of inclement weather and east winds, some of which we experienced last weekend.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghPlNXKbCnCPps9h62GJy5fCQyMz-5H4NDPLBFb9j6GcH-9JzZ7WsKrGTHRjH4hqSZ3GsgSwpLZqDaXNX2pDrpkrcSlGxLORsRxShhum3qSimUGLpLaaaQlkuPsVz_8G4-QvA4AmFYA8/s400/1J1A1375a.jpg) |
juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull |
Red-breasted Nuthatches have been moving since late summer, and they continue to be common statewide. Perhaps we will see more boreal irruptives as the month progresses.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHzxiknGxgK-VmCJT4vV8hhfe0edEsIzOzE9HaRRPmdz6BVO2Z7Qtz3i58cVECF87kDmq8VLUtkw71kZaCdNFkrVeXQBF_xhULwWWWjr6yKAF3L7KP4flRFGyyI34IMRt_91t0WN7oBY/s400/1J1A1162a.jpg) |
Red-breasted Nuthatch |
-NB
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