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Fall Migration Cruise on the Osprey – October 5, 2024

Leaders: Kathy Horn, Roger Horn 

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It was the perfect afternoon to be out on the Osprey for the final CMBO Migration Cruise of the season. Shorebirds are still plentiful, and we had close-up looks at many of them including Marbled Godwits, Ruddy Turnstones, Semi-palmated Plovers, Red Knots, American Oystercatchers, Black-bellied Plovers and Sanderlings. We also got close to Caspian, Royal and Forsters Terns, as well as both Black and Yellow-crowned Night Herons. On the return trip, one of our participants found a handsome adult Peregrine Falcon tucked into a bridge support overhead. 

Ocean Drive–Bree-Zee-Lee Marina – 1:35pm  

20 species   

Species  Count 
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  10 
American Oystercatcher  18 
Black-bellied Plover  60 
Short-billed Dowitcher  2 
Ruddy Turnstone  14 
Sanderling  4 
Dunlin  12 
Semipalmated Sandpiper  15 
Laughing Gull  40 
Herring Gull  60 
Great Black-backed Gull  6 
Forster’s Tern  38 
Double-crested Cormorant  30 
Little Blue Heron  1 
Great Egret  13 
Great Blue Heron  1 
Osprey  10 
Belted Kingfisher  2 
Fish Crow  4 
Northern Mockingbird  1 

 

 Jarvis Sound – 2:23pm  

30 species   

Species  Count 
Clapper Rail  1 
American Oystercatcher  30 
Black-bellied Plover  40 
Semipalmated Plover  8 
Marbled Godwit  7 
Short-billed Dowitcher  8 
Greater Yellowlegs  16 
Red Knot  5 
Sanderling  4 
Dunlin  8 
Semipalmated Sandpiper  14 
Laughing Gull  12 
Herring Gull  19 
Great Black-backed Gull  4 
Caspian Tern  7 
Forster’s Tern  40 
Royal Tern  15 
Double-crested Cormorant  14 
Yellow-crowned Night Heron  2 
Yellow-crowned Night Heron - Kathleen Horn

Yellow-crowned Night Heron photo by Kathy Horn

 
Black-crowned Night Heron  2 
Snowy Egret  6 
Green Heron  1 
Great Egret  18 
Great Blue Heron  3 
Turkey Vulture  1 
Osprey  7 
Bald Eagle  3 
Belted Kingfisher  1 
Peregrine Falcon  1 
Peregrine Falcon - Kathleen Horn

Peregrine Falcon photo by Kathy Horn

 
Boat-tailed Grackle  2