May Migration Challenge - Day 4
May 4, 2025 | 11:37am
Date: May 4, 2025
Location: Seabrook Town Forest
Start Time: 11:37am
Duration: 4 hr, 7 min
Daily Highlights:
Total species observed: 64
Warbler species observed: 18
Notable species: Cape May Warbler, Magnolia Warbler
Merlin’s Bird of the Day: Barn Swallow
Goal Progress:
Seabrook Town Forest Life List: 138 / 140
Seabrook Town Forest Species Month Total: 84/80+ COMPLETE
Warbler Species Total: 18/20
Single Checklist Record: 64/63+ (May 4th) COMPLETE
Vagrant Species Found?: No
Merlin Bird of the Day Streak: 4
Photo of the Day:
Daily Recap:
May 4th—64 species!?
I headed to the Town Forest after a rainy morning delay, only to get a message from the NH Rare Birds group on my way: a fallout was underway on the seacoast thanks to the rain, and everyone needed to get out and bird. Perfect timing.
I kid you not—the trees were littered with warblers when I arrived. Northern Parula, Black-throated Green, Black-and-white, and Yellow-rumped Warblers were singing nonstop from every direction. The gloomy weather made the lighting tricky, and with so many birds flitting around high in the canopy, it was nearly impossible to identify them all. My neck is already regretting it—warbler neck incoming.
Highlight warblers of the day: Nashville, Magnolia, and Cape May.
The Cape May was especially tricky—I heard it call and, with another birder, spent a solid chunk of time trying to track it down. Thankfully, it called again, and I was able to lock eyes on it just in time, allowing the both of us to get eyes on it.
After about two hours of walking the trail in a light mist, it turned into a full downpour. And naturally, right in the middle of it was another big flock of warblers—impossible to see anything through the rain. (You can see my disappointment in the photo above.)
After spending just over four hours walking back and forth through the trail in the rain, I ended up with a highly productive 64 species! I also hit my Month Total Goal of 80 species—now sitting at 84. Not sure if I made my challenges too easy or if birding is just that good this year.
For the goals I’ve already completed, I’ll keep pushing to beat those numbers and continue challenging myself throughout the month.
Rain is still in the forecast for the week ahead—but after today, I’m seeing that as a good thing. I’ll be returning to the Town Forest to keep an eye on any new fallouts while the warblers stay low.
Let’s see what tomorrow brings.