varying vagrant totals; miscellanea

varying vagrant totals; miscellanea
By – 5:44 am

Yesterday, 9 Sep, there were a new Blackburnian and Tennessee Warblers in a not-so-nice area in residential Lincoln Park, a little east of Greenwood Cemetery. A female Vermilion Flycatcher at the Sunset ball fields in the TRV. Two late Black-chinned Hummingbirds continue at Tierrasanta feeders.

The Blackburnian reminded me of how variable numbers of some vagrant species can be from year to year. Last fall, we were drowning in Blackburnian Warblers, with an amazing county total of 17 seen during Sep and Oct. This year we are up to a “mere” 4 birds so far. But, in contrast, this year, as of yesterday I believe we are now at 21 Tennessee Warblers for Sep/Oct 2022, an exceptional total even for the ‘glory days’ of this species back in the 1970s and 1980s. And this fall’s total to date of 10 Magnolia Warblers is also extremely high. The 6 Chestnut-sided Warblers ain’t half bad, either. But in contrast, so far there have been only a very low number of Clay-colored Sparrows, just like in 2021, whereas in 2020 were were literally drowning in that species, as well as having off-the-charts numbers of fall migrant Purple Martins, Brewer’s Sparrows, and Green-tailed Towhees. But not this year.

–Paul Lehman, San Diego