May Migration Challenge - Day 27
May 27, 2025 | 9:18am
Date: May 27, 2025
Location: Seabrook Town Forest
Start Time: 9:18am
Duration: 1 hr, 42 min
Daily Highlights:
Total species observed: 48 species
Warbler species observed: 9
Notable species: Eastern Bluebird, American Robin
Merlin’s Bird of the Day: Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Goal Progress:
Seabrook Town Forest Life List: 143 / 140 COMPLETE
Seabrook Town Forest Species Month Total: 108/80+ COMPLETE
Warbler Species Total: 24/20+ COMPLETE
Single Checklist Record: 69/60+ (May 11th) COMPLETE
Vagrant Species Found?: No
Merlin Bird of the Day Streak: 4 (Longest Streak: 4)
Photo of the Day:
Daily Recap:
I woke up around 8:30 this morning and decided to check BirdCast where I was surprised to see that 1.1 million birds had crossed over my county last night. A pretty big number for late May. I had originally planned to go to the Town Forest after work, but with numbers like that, I figured I should take advantage of the morning.
I rushed out and arrived at what turned out to be a pretty quiet Town Forest. I was honestly a little disappointed to have hurried out the door, trying to have enough time to bird before work. Still, I kept going where I then experienced something changed the entire tone of the day.
I was stopped in my tracks by a juvenile Eastern Bluebird hopping along the ground with a worm in its beak. It looked like it had just left the fledgling stage and was doing well on its own. I stood and watched for a moment, and realized the area around it was surprisingly active. I decided to pish to see what might pop out of the brush but little did I know, this young bird's parents were still very much around.
As I marked this bird on my eBird checklist, I suddenly heard a sharp zoom by my ear that startled me. I looked up and there she was: mama bluebird coming straight at me, head first! I ducked, and she continued to dive-bomb above me, circling and swooping back and forth. I couldn’t believe it. I’ve never had a bird come after me like that before. I realized quickly that my pishing had set her off. Pishing is like mimicking alarm calls, which had triggered her protective instincts.
It made perfect sense, and I didn’t blame her one bit. I wasn’t even close to her baby, but she wasn’t taking any chances. That whole interaction lit a fire in me and now I was wide awake and more excited than ever to continue the walk.
Just a few feet down the trail, I saw an American Robin feeding a fledgling of its own. I couldn’t believe how many birds were already out of the nest!
At the powerline cut, I heard two Alder Flycatchers calling out their classic “free-BEER!” song back and forth. It was exciting to hear two, since this was only my second time ever hearing one.
The rest of the trail was full of the usual songs and sightings, but the weather this morning was warm, sunny, and calm. The best it’s been in weeks. Finally, a true spring morning, after what felt like nonstop cold, wind, and rain.
I won’t be heading back out tonight to look for Nighthawks, so I will make the effort tomorrow unless there’s another surprise night of heavy migration.