a good weekend to observe migration and returning winter residents to the area. large flocks moving through coastal chatham in various states of plumage.

of interest today were marbled godwit, reddish egret, and a nice "flock" of 27 piping plover. in addition, still lots of black, common, as well as increasing numbers of caspian tern. sandpipers & plovers are moving through in mass. today black bellied plovers out numbered the dowitchers & whimbrils on the mudflats, while many semipalmated plover & sanderling flocks rested in the dry sand at the toe of the dunes on little tybee.

in the upland hammocks, american redstart, blue-gray gnatcatcher and black & white warblers were active in the canopy, while painted bunting, northern parula and prairie warblers worked the understory.

on the home front, the ruby-throated hummingbirds have been very active, along with a suspicious looking sub adult. butterfly numbers are also increasing.

in case it sounds like heaven, i should probably mention the green-headed deerflies and the mosquitos...

deb barreiro tybee