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The Landbird Conservation Team

EVAN: TUESDAY, MAY 26—CENSUS

It was yet another foggy morning on the way into Manomet. This time though, the temps were shifting from cool to warm, as summer finally bears down on the northeast in earnest. Along the net lanes, the cool air coming in off the ocean brought heavy fog and the classic “Manomet mickle” as the fog settled onto freshly-emerged leaves and dropped as a light mist. Truthfully, this weather can often make the birding great throughout the morning; overcast skies simulate early dawn and the mist will force migrating passerines to desperately drop down into coastal thickets and forests. A few Blackpoll Warblers and Northern Parulas did drop out of the mist along the bluff, but the overall volume of migration has diminished greatly. There were still a few transient birds including singing Magnolia Warblers, a silent Swainson’s Thrush and single Bay-breasted and Blackburnian Warblers, staying together in the same tree. The Farm was abuzz with Eastern Kingbirds, Yellow Warblers, Red-winged Blackbirds, and a singing Brown Thrasher. A lone Greater Yellowlegs darted around in search of aquatic invertebrates in the Bennett Bog. A great reminder of the impact of our habitat management practices. During a no-scope-needed seawatch, I was able to hear Common and Least Terns through the dense fog. Gray Seals have begun their summertime howling from the water below.

Net Lanes: https://ebird.org/checklist/S69660003

Farm: https://ebird.org/checklist/S69662412

Seawatch: https://ebird.org/checklist/S69664206