Date: 4/2/25 6:50 pm From: Drew Haffenden via groups.io <andrew...> Subject: [ALbirds] Banding on Dauphin Island
Upcoming Bird Banding on Dauphin Island
We wanted to send out a reminder about the BCA upcoming spring banding event on Dauphin Island co-hosted by our friends at Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuaries (DIBS). Please come out and support this event! You will be supporting migratory birds and their critical habitats.
When: April 5th -9th
Time: 8:00am- 2:00pm CST everyday
Where: The banding event will be held across from the Goat Tree Reserve on the corner of Cadillac Avenue and Grant Street (if you enter the address for banding below you won't miss it). Parking and restrooms are available at Cadillac Square Park on Bienville Blvd. There will be signs to denote where the banding is occurring.
Address for banding: 700 Cadillac Avenue Dauphin Island, AL 36528
Address for Parking: 661 Bienville Blvd, Dauphin Island, AL 36528
Things to keep in mind when visiting the station:
* Remember bug spray, sunscreen, water/snacks, and chairs (if you plan to stay for an extended amount of time). Closed toe shoes are recommended.
* If you have a disability and are concerned about access, please reach out to us in advanced so we can arrange your visit. Email: <kyle...><mailto:<kyle...>.
* Bring your friends and families but please leave your pets at home.
* If you would like to attend as an organized group (school group, birding group, etc.) please email us in advance to schedule your visit to best accommodate.
BCA is federally permitted/licensed which allows research to be conducted and all photographs are taken under proper permits and procedures.
Date: 4/2/25 5:04 pm From: Katherine Clemo via groups.io <kclemo54...> Subject: Re: [ALbirds] Primer for beginning birders
Oh if only we could! Thanks for all that info, Bob.
Katherine Clemo
On Wed, Apr 2, 2025, 7:59 PM Lucy & Bob Email via groups.io <RobertADuncan= <bellsouth.net...> wrote:
> Coming from an expert birder, that's a great compliment! > > Bob > > On Wednesday, April 2, 2025 at 06:18:00 PM CDT, Drew Haffenden < > <andrew...> wrote: > > > Excellent outlook and possibilities summary, thanks Bob. > > Cheers, > > Drew Haffenden > ------------------------------ > *From:* <ALbirds...> <ALbirds...> on behalf of Lucy & Bob > Email via groups.io <RobertADuncan...> > *Sent:* Wednesday, April 2, 2025 5:12:39 PM > *To:* Nflbirds <nflbirds...>; Albirds <albirds...> > *Subject:* [ALbirds] Primer for beginning birders > > Hi all, > > Right now (Wednsday a.m.) we have strong SE winds about 20 - 25 mph, maybe > higher, in the Gulf, forecast to continue out of the SE and S through > Saturday, though lessening in velocity later due to a diffuse Bermuda High > off the Atlantic coast and a deep low over the mid-continent. What does > this mean for bird migration? Great for birds, not for birders. Birds with > this tail wind will fly over the coast and head for the interior, the river > swamps of the south where the biomass has much better foraging conditions. > Some may go as far as n. AL with these winds, non-stop. > > So we are in the birding doldrums for a few days. But there is a bright > spot which should keep birders in the field. We have the potential for > strays from the tropics which could turn up. Already this has happened with > a Black- whiskered Vireo found at Ft. Pickens yesterday. It's the beginning > of Fall in the *Southern * Hemisphere and birds that nest in southern > South America move north toward the Equator in the Austral winter. Some > keep going and overshoot, some overshoot big time. > > Here are some of the birds from the tropics we can look for in our area > (S. AL - NW FL):Tropical Kingbird, Black-whiskered Vireo, Yellow-green > Vireo (several records), Fork-tailed Flycatcher, elaenia (sp). These have > occurred here. In addition there is a potential to find others that have > occurred elsewhere in N. AM. such as LaSagra's Flycatcher, Slaty-capped > Flycatcher (one record, LA.), elaenias, Gray-breasted Martin, Variegated > Flycatcher, Mangrove Swallow. Note that these are strong flyers. > > A note on trying to determine what the winds will be like for potentially > good birding. DO NOT rely on the forecast or actual conditions from land > stations such as might be forecast for the general area or reported in > actual time from land stations. The friction from land, trees, buildings, > etc. decreases wind velocity. What you want is the forecast for the Gulf of > Mexico, the Marine Forecast from NOAA. That's what the birds are actually > going to or actually experiencing. An excellent source for all weather > information is Windy.com. It's an amazing site that can show everything > about weather, including winds at varying altitudes. This is important > since birds migrate incoming from the Gulf from about 1500 to 5000 feet. > > So all is not lost, the potential for some great find is present, NOW. Go > find it! > > Bob Duncan > Gulf Breeze > > -- > Lucy and Bob Duncan > Gulf Breeze, Florida > > -- > Lucy and Bob Duncan > Gulf Breeze, Florida > > >
Date: 4/2/25 4:59 pm From: Lucy & Bob Email via groups.io <RobertADuncan...> Subject: Re: [ALbirds] Primer for beginning birders
Coming from an expert birder, that's a great compliment!
Bob
On Wednesday, April 2, 2025 at 06:18:00 PM CDT, Drew Haffenden <andrew...> wrote:
Excellent outlook and possibilities summary, thanks Bob.
Cheers,
Drew HaffendenFrom: <ALbirds...> <ALbirds...> on behalf of Lucy & Bob Email via groups.io <RobertADuncan...>
Sent: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 5:12:39 PM
To: Nflbirds <nflbirds...>; Albirds <albirds...>
Subject: [ALbirds] Primer for beginning birders Hi all,
Right now (Wednsday a.m.) we have strong SE winds about 20 - 25 mph, maybe higher, in the Gulf, forecast to continue out of the SE and S through Saturday, though lessening in velocity later due to a diffuse Bermuda High off the Atlantic coast and a deep low over the mid-continent. What does this mean for bird migration? Great for birds, not for birders. Birds with this tail wind will fly over the coast and head for the interior, the river swamps of the south where the biomass has much better foraging conditions. Some may go as far as n. AL with these winds, non-stop.
So we are in the birding doldrums for a few days. But there is a bright spot which should keep birders in the field. We have the potential for strays from the tropics which could turn up. Already this has happened with a Black- whiskered Vireo found at Ft. Pickens yesterday. It's the beginning of Fall in the Southern Hemisphere and birds that nest in southern South America move north toward the Equator in the Austral winter. Some keep going and overshoot, some overshoot big time.
Here are some of the birds from the tropics we can look for in our area (S. AL - NW FL):Tropical Kingbird, Black-whiskered Vireo, Yellow-green Vireo (several records), Fork-tailed Flycatcher, elaenia (sp). These have occurred here. In addition there is a potential to find others that have occurred elsewhere in N. AM. such as LaSagra's Flycatcher, Slaty-capped Flycatcher (one record, LA.), elaenias, Gray-breasted Martin, Variegated Flycatcher, Mangrove Swallow. Note that these are strong flyers.
A note on trying to determine what the winds will be like for potentially good birding. DO NOT rely on the forecast or actual conditions from land stations such as might be forecast for the general area or reported in actual time from land stations. The friction from land, trees, buildings, etc. decreases wind velocity. What you want is the forecast for the Gulf of Mexico, the Marine Forecast from NOAA. That's what the birds are actually going to or actually experiencing. An excellent source for all weather information is Windy.com. It's an amazing site that can show everything about weather, including winds at varying altitudes. This is important since birds migrate incoming from the Gulf from about 1500 to 5000 feet.
So all is not lost, the potential for some great find is present, NOW. Go find it!
Bob DuncanGulf Breeze
--
Lucy and Bob Duncan
Gulf Breeze, Florida
Date: 4/2/25 4:17 pm From: Drew Haffenden via groups.io <andrew...> Subject: Re: [ALbirds] Primer for beginning birders
Excellent outlook and possibilities summary, thanks Bob.
Cheers,
Drew Haffenden
________________________________
From: <ALbirds...> <ALbirds...> on behalf of Lucy & Bob Email via groups.io <RobertADuncan...>
Sent: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 5:12:39 PM
To: Nflbirds <nflbirds...>; Albirds <albirds...>
Subject: [ALbirds] Primer for beginning birders
Hi all,
Right now (Wednsday a.m.) we have strong SE winds about 20 - 25 mph, maybe higher, in the Gulf, forecast to continue out of the SE and S through Saturday, though lessening in velocity later due to a diffuse Bermuda High off the Atlantic coast and a deep low over the mid-continent. What does this mean for bird migration? Great for birds, not for birders. Birds with this tail wind will fly over the coast and head for the interior, the river swamps of the south where the biomass has much better foraging conditions. Some may go as far as n. AL with these winds, non-stop.
So we are in the birding doldrums for a few days. But there is a bright spot which should keep birders in the field. We have the potential for strays from the tropics which could turn up. Already this has happened with a Black- whiskered Vireo found at Ft. Pickens yesterday. It's the beginning of Fall in the Southern Hemisphere and birds that nest in southern South America move north toward the Equator in the Austral winter. Some keep going and overshoot, some overshoot big time.
Here are some of the birds from the tropics we can look for in our area (S. AL - NW FL):Tropical Kingbird, Black-whiskered Vireo, Yellow-green Vireo (several records), Fork-tailed Flycatcher, elaenia (sp). These have occurred here. In addition there is a potential to find others that have occurred elsewhere in N. AM. such as LaSagra's Flycatcher, Slaty-capped Flycatcher (one record, LA.), elaenias, Gray-breasted Martin, Variegated Flycatcher, Mangrove Swallow. Note that these are strong flyers.
A note on trying to determine what the winds will be like for potentially good birding. DO NOT rely on the forecast or actual conditions from land stations such as might be forecast for the general area or reported in actual time from land stations. The friction from land, trees, buildings, etc. decreases wind velocity. What you want is the forecast for the Gulf of Mexico, the Marine Forecast from NOAA. That's what the birds are actually going to or actually experiencing. An excellent source for all weather information is Windy.com. It's an amazing site that can show everything about weather, including winds at varying altitudes. This is important since birds migrate incoming from the Gulf from about 1500 to 5000 feet.
So all is not lost, the potential for some great find is present, NOW. Go find it!
Date: 4/2/25 3:12 pm From: Lucy & Bob Email via groups.io <RobertADuncan...> Subject: [ALbirds] Primer for beginning birders
Hi all,
Right now (Wednsday a.m.) we have strong SE winds about 20 - 25 mph, maybe higher, in the Gulf, forecast to continue out of the SE and S through Saturday, though lessening in velocity later due to a diffuse Bermuda High off the Atlantic coast and a deep low over the mid-continent. What does this mean for bird migration? Great for birds, not for birders. Birds with this tail wind will fly over the coast and head for the interior, the river swamps of the south where the biomass has much better foraging conditions. Some may go as far as n. AL with these winds, non-stop.
So we are in the birding doldrums for a few days. But there is a bright spot which should keep birders in the field. We have the potential for strays from the tropics which could turn up. Already this has happened with a Black- whiskered Vireo found at Ft. Pickens yesterday. It's the beginning of Fall in the Southern Hemisphere and birds that nest in southern South America move north toward the Equator in the Austral winter. Some keep going and overshoot, some overshoot big time.
Here are some of the birds from the tropics we can look for in our area (S. AL - NW FL):Tropical Kingbird, Black-whiskered Vireo, Yellow-green Vireo (several records), Fork-tailed Flycatcher, elaenia (sp). These have occurred here. In addition there is a potential to find others that have occurred elsewhere in N. AM. such as LaSagra's Flycatcher, Slaty-capped Flycatcher (one record, LA.), elaenias, Gray-breasted Martin, Variegated Flycatcher, Mangrove Swallow. Note that these are strong flyers.
A note on trying to determine what the winds will be like for potentially good birding. DO NOT rely on the forecast or actual conditions from land stations such as might be forecast for the general area or reported in actual time from land stations. The friction from land, trees, buildings, etc. decreases wind velocity. What you want is the forecast for the Gulf of Mexico, the Marine Forecast from NOAA. That's what the birds are actually going to or actually experiencing. An excellent source for all weather information is Windy.com. It's an amazing site that can show everything about weather, including winds at varying altitudes. This is important since birds migrate incoming from the Gulf from about 1500 to 5000 feet.
So all is not lost, the potential for some great find is present, NOW. Go find it!
Date: 3/27/25 6:36 pm From: Katherine Clemo via groups.io <kclemo54...> Subject: Re: [ALbirds] A primer on early migration for new birders
Thank you for this.
Katherine
On Thu, Mar 27, 2025, 4:46 PM Lucy & Bob Email via groups.io <RobertADuncan= <bellsouth.net...> wrote:
> Hi all, > > Early Neotropical passerine migrants have been moving through for the last > several days. Parula, Prothonotary, Hooded and Black & White Warblers and > Louisiana Waterthrushes and White-eyed Vireos. These species have > populations that winter in both the West Indies and Central and South Am. > Early in the season, March, early April, most of these arrivals are from > the Indies. Why? Early migrants doing Trans-Gulf migration risk > encountering strong cold fronts and adverse winds in the Gulf of Mexico. > Better to winter in the Indies and move up the Florida Peninsula or eastern > Gulf where land is down below or not far. Later in the season when the > Bermuda High is in position giving them SE or S tail winds is a better > deal. Populations of these same species move up later. > > Rain, the key ingredient for putting birds down in the immediate coastal > area, occurred on the 24th and sure enough, Lucy and I had several migrants > of the above species in our yard. This was not a classic Fallout (trees > dripping with birds). This is a rare event with fewer birds each year as > populations decline, but enough to put some down. > > So watch the forecast and hit the migrant traps when rain is forecast. > > Bob Duncan > Gulf Breeze, FL > > > > > -- > Lucy and Bob Duncan > Gulf Breeze, Florida > >
Date: 3/27/25 3:30 pm From: Cynthia Freeman via groups.io <Cynthiafreeman633...> Subject: Re: [ALbirds] A primer on early migration for new birders
Thanks Bob, great summary for us newer birders.
Cynthia
Cynthia L Freeman
256.328.6331
On Thu, Mar 27, 2025 at 3:46 PM Lucy & Bob Email via groups.io
<RobertADuncan...> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> Early Neotropical passerine migrants have been moving through for the last
> several days. Parula, Prothonotary, Hooded and Black & White Warblers and
> Louisiana Waterthrushes and White-eyed Vireos. These species have
> populations that winter in both the West Indies and Central and South Am.
> Early in the season, March, early April, most of these arrivals are from
> the Indies. Why? Early migrants doing Trans-Gulf migration risk
> encountering strong cold fronts and adverse winds in the Gulf of Mexico.
> Better to winter in the Indies and move up the Florida Peninsula or eastern
> Gulf where land is down below or not far. Later in the season when the
> Bermuda High is in position giving them SE or S tail winds is a better
> deal. Populations of these same species move up later.
>
> Rain, the key ingredient for putting birds down in the immediate coastal
> area, occurred on the 24th and sure enough, Lucy and I had several migrants
> of the above species in our yard. This was not a classic Fallout (trees
> dripping with birds). This is a rare event with fewer birds each year as
> populations decline, but enough to put some down.
>
> So watch the forecast and hit the migrant traps when rain is forecast.
>
> Bob Duncan
> Gulf Breeze, FL
>
>
>
>
> --
> Lucy and Bob Duncan
> Gulf Breeze, Florida
>
>
>
Date: 3/27/25 1:46 pm From: Lucy & Bob Email via groups.io <RobertADuncan...> Subject: [ALbirds] A primer on early migration for new birders
Hi all,
Early Neotropical passerine migrants have been moving through for the last several days. Parula, Prothonotary, Hooded and Black & White Warblers and Louisiana Waterthrushes and White-eyed Vireos. These species have populations that winter in both the West Indies and Central and South Am. Early in the season, March, early April, most of these arrivals are from the Indies. Why? Early migrants doing Trans-Gulf migration risk encountering strong cold fronts and adverse winds in the Gulf of Mexico. Better to winter in the Indies and move up the Florida Peninsula or eastern Gulf where land is down below or not far. Later in the season when the Bermuda High is in position giving them SE or S tail winds is a better deal. Populations of these same species move up later.
Rain, the key ingredient for putting birds down in the immediate coastal area, occurred on the 24th and sure enough, Lucy and I had several migrants of the above species in our yard. This was not a classic Fallout (trees dripping with birds). This is a rare event with fewer birds each year as populations decline, but enough to put some down.
So watch the forecast and hit the migrant traps when rain is forecast.
Date: 3/22/25 11:13 am From: Lucy & Bob Email via groups.io <RobertADuncan...> Subject: [ALbirds] Red-billed Tropicbird
The tropicbird is being seen today in the vicinity of the EPA Lab on Pensacola Beach. This is on the south side of Santa Rosa Sound, west of the road and bridge leading to the beach. There is NO public access to the EPA Lab, but one might find the bird from a parking lot along the Ft. Pickens Road.
As of 30 minutes ago, it was on the west side of the Lab area. Last year when the tropicbird was in the area, it was often seen from behind the restaurant Peg Leg Pete's.
Best of luck,Lucy Duncan
Date: 3/14/25 11:12 am From: Lucy & Bob Email via groups.io <RobertADuncan...> Subject: [ALbirds] Fw: [NFLbirds] Gray Gull is back! DETAILS
another detail.... It was seen at Ft. Panic beach this morning between 11:00 and 11:30 am. Ft. Panic beach access is in Dune Allen.
----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Lucy and Bob Duncan <robertaduncan...>To: Nflbirds <nflbirds...>; Albirds <albirds...>Sent: Friday, March 14, 2025 at 01:09:20 PM CDTSubject: [NFLbirds] Gray Gull is back! DETAILS
The gull is at Dune Allen Beach access, looking for handouts......Many thanks to Brian Cammarano, Shorebird Guru from Audubon Florida!
Lucy
----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Lucy & Bob Email <robertaduncan...>To: Nflbirds <nflbirds...>; Albirds <albirds...>Sent: Friday, March 14, 2025 at 12:22:39 PM CDTSubject: [ALbirds] Gray Gull is back!
Just got a brief report that the Gray Gull is back in Walton County, FL. No details yet, but I'll post asap when I hear.
Lucy Duncan
--
Lucy and Bob Duncan
Gulf Breeze, Florida
Date: 3/14/25 11:09 am From: Lucy & Bob Email via groups.io <RobertADuncan...> Subject: [ALbirds] Gray Gull is back! DETAILS
The gull is at Dune Allen Beach access, looking for handouts......Many thanks to Brian Cammarano, Shorebird Guru from Audubon Florida!
Lucy
----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Lucy & Bob Email <robertaduncan...>To: Nflbirds <nflbirds...>; Albirds <albirds...>Sent: Friday, March 14, 2025 at 12:22:39 PM CDTSubject: [ALbirds] Gray Gull is back!
Just got a brief report that the Gray Gull is back in Walton County, FL. No details yet, but I'll post asap when I hear.
Lucy Duncan
--
Lucy and Bob Duncan
Gulf Breeze, Florida
