North winds led in a large movement of the two members of the Ardea genus— Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) and Great Egret (Ardea alba). First a walk at noontime at Forty Fort brought 4 Great Blues. These may not have moved in with the winds last night as at least a few have been hanging about this area the past few days. But a 5 o’clock check of the Pierce St. Bridge Island brought 5 Great Egret and 2 more Great Blue Herons. (UPDATE: 7 Great Egret the next day.) From there a check of Plymouth Flats saw a whopping 12 Great Blue Herons. Also apparently brought in with the wind to the Pierce St. Bridge Island were 3 juvenile Ring-billed Gulls (Larus delawarensis), all crisp and scaly.

On the other hand, it seems Spotted Sandpipers (Actitis macularia) are on there way out. It is the start of their fall migration and there isn’t much reason for most of them to stay. A year with high waters must have led to reproductive failure in their usual river breeding grounds. The noon walk at Forty Fort saw only one of the usually obvious birds. Also no juveniles have been noted at that spot when it had looked promising that there were 2 or 3 breeding pairs. Things are better for the birds at Plymouth Flats with two fledglings noted. Although not seen today, maybe they eluded me or moved on and hopefully haven’t been taken by the Merlin that’s hanging about. Also a female is on nest by the main pool and a pair seemed to be very touchy and protective in the front meadow.