Atlantic Flyway review: Region IV, Piedmont-Coastal Plain, Fall 2004

Abstract

July, August, and September were cool and wet in the Southeast, with multiple hurricanes threatening the banding stations. Banding results ranged from poor in Laurel and Chincoteague to excellent at Chino Farms, Kiptopeke, Jekyll Island, and the Florida stations. There was little agreement on peak migration days, which ranged from 11 Oct to 6 Nov. Likewise, the date for maximum species ranged from 19 Sep to 9 Oct in Maryland and from 11 Sep to 15 Oct in states farther south. Myrtle Warbler numbers are still below normal, and warblers in general seemed scarcer except at Bill Baggs Cape Florida where warbler numbers approached those at Appalachian stations. Jekyll Island had an extraordinary total of 69 Tennessee Warblers in October, possibly pushed off course by the remnants of Hurricane Matthew in the lower Mississippi valley. Vireos are seldom mentioned in Region IV reports, but this year Blue-headed Vireo was a first for Eden Mill and was a highlight at Jug Bay. Chino Farms banded a record eight Warbling Vireos, Kiptopeke banded a Yellow-throated Vireo and the first Warbling Vireo in at least 11 years. Jekyll Island banders had two Philadelphia Vireos. Finally, Michelle Davis's report from Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park concludes with the mention of three West Indian vagrants.