Jack Hayden and I decided to mark the anniversary of last year's epic migration event on 5/9/24, with another Vollmer Peak dawn watch. While the weather and wind conditions weren't aligned this year for a massive flow of migrants, the continuing warming trend at least boded well for some movement - and I'd been seeing migrants over previous days from my house in Albany. *PSA: tomorrow (Saturday) promises be another good day for a Vollmer Peak dawn watch with further warming and mild wind. *
We arrived at the peak just before sunrise, at about 6am. As the rosy daylight spread <https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/635394055>, we began to see periodic migrants arriving on the peak to forage briefly in Bay Laurels and Oaks or occasionally flying past. While last year's May 9th was like drinking from a fire hose, this was more like sipping from a water fountain. But we hoped the day would deliver some fun migrants *- which it did! *
One of the first migrants was an *Olive-sided Flycatcher*, one of 4 we'd eventually find. The first one perched on bare branches against a pink sunrise. Later another landed on top of the largest antenna tower. We then began to hear *Western Tanager*s, and would occasionally see one or several blowing past the peak. We'd eventually tally 17 (far short of the 100+ last year, but enough to keep us engaged). The common residents of the coastal scrub began to increase their volume - and *American Robin* song was almost a constant. Next, we heard a *Lazuli Bunting*, one of 5 we'd eventually find. At 6:32, we heard a sharp Pip and I called out *Hammond's Flycatcher*, which we saw and got a recording of <https://ebird.org/checklist/S235119183>. Another was heard pipping later.
We then started to encounter the soon numerous *Orange-crowned Warblers*, along with *Warbling Vireos*, most of them moving northward. And *Ash-throated Flycatchers* entered the mix, calling out loud whup-eeer calls, and lingering sometimes 2 at a time, sallying from trees or the radio towers before leaving to the north (a total of 7 eventually). A *Black-throated Gray Warbler* eventually made an appearance, and late migrating *Townsend's Warblers* also entered the scene, followed by a *Hermit Warbler *(the first of 4). *Swainson's Thrushes* occasionally vocalized and one blew across the hilltop in a blur. *Band-tailed Pigeons* streamed north along the valley over the Tilden Steam Trains, and *Wilson's Warblers* began to enter the mix. A *Black-headed Grosbeak* sounded off in the distance. By now the air was often busy with *Tree and Violet-green Swallows*, with each taking turns singing from the wires, and the Tree Swallows visiting the double-occupancy nest box and copulating once. *Western Bluebirds* arrived on the peak, and *Pygmy and Red-Breasted Nuthatches* were a constant.
At around 8am, while touring the hilltop, we kept hearing a song snippet we didn't recognize. Eventually Jack pointed and we looked up to see a female *Purple Martin*, giving melodious short song bursts as she flew north over the peak. A *White-throated Swift* zipped past.
At 8:17 a slender, long-tailed all gray bird flew from the Southwest corner of the peak, passing directly over our heads, showing it's buffy wing stripes. Jack yelled out "*Townsend's Solitaire*!". It alighted on some bare branches on the northeast corner of the peak, and stayed just long enough for me to get a couple of photos. Jack was prescient, having mentioned solitaire as a fun thing to see earlier in the morning. The day was definitely
By 9am the flights were mostly over, though an occasional *Western Tanage*r or warblers would still come through. We began to make our way down from the peak. As we walked through the pine grove on the north side of the peak, we were hearing warbler songs, eventually finding more *Townsend's, Hermit *and* Black-throated Gray Warblers.* But in the midst of the warbler song, we heard a distinctive 2 to 3 note tinkle call; *Lawrence's Goldfinch*! It was perched out of view in the pines, where it began to sing! (recording to come later) Another was heard later as we made our way down. A *Western Wood-pewee* called, possibly one of 2 and a *California Thrasher* occasionally vocalized. A juvenile *Red-tailed Hawk* was perched in a low pine, and by now the chorus of coastal scrub birds was in full swing.
In the middle of the eucalyptus and pine grove closer to the bottom, we stopped, hearing a *Pacific Wren *make its typical harsh chatter - this was unexpected. While this had been a wintering spot, I'd thought they'd moved on to breed elsewhere. We moved closer to investigate and were rewarded with a full-throated round of song, given vigorously over about 10 minutes! I'm not sure if this bird will attempt to stay and breed, but it would be fun to have another local breeding spot for this species - and within 5 miles of my house too.
*Checklist from last year on May 9th (the major migration event): * https://ebird.org/checklist/S173066896 *Note that while the above list was epic for the East Bay, the biggest migration flows were seen from Battery Godfrey on 5/9/24 in SF - check that out if you have time! *
