May Migration Challenge - Day 20
Date: May 20, 2026
Location: Seabrook Town Forest
Start Time: 5:05am
Duration: 2 hr, 16 min
Daily Highlights:
Total species observed: 53
Warbler species observed: 9
Notable species: Orchard Oriole, Purple Martin
Merlin’s Bird of the Day: Eastern Kingbird
Goal Progress:
Seabrook Town Forest Life List: 156/158
May Species Total: 119/100 COMPLETE
Warbler Species Total: 24/25
Single Checklist Record: 80/70 (80 species - May 13th) COMPLETE
Vagrant Species: 0
Merlin Bird of the Day Streak: 0 (Longest Streak: 3)
2026 Patch Big Year: 130/150
Photo of the Day:
Daily Recap:
What started as a brutally humid and windy walk turned into one of those evenings where everything clicks at once.
The trail was dead quiet until I had reached the pond, and then it all changed. As the temperatures cooled, the skies filled with swallows coming in from every direction. Tree, Barn, Northern Rough-winged, and a new species for the month: Purple Martin. Seeing a pair of Purple Martins here is always special. I only catch them once or twice a year at the Town Forest, though down on the Seabrook coast, the Purple Martin gourds attract over a dozen at a time.
As I continued around the pond, two Baltimore Orioles chased each other through the trees, and trailing behind them was an immature Orchard Oriole. That pitch-black throat on a bright yellow body makes for one of my favorite looks in all of birding.
Tomorrow is supposed to be much nicer after a couple days of this heatwave, so I’ll be back at sunrise!