Friday, September 22, was the autumnal equinox or the day we mark the beginning of fall. What does that mean exactly?
An equinox is the moment in which the plane of Earth’s equator passes through the center of the sun's disk, which occurs twice each year in the spring and fall. On an equinox, day and night are of approximately equal duration all over the planet. A solstice, on the other hand, is the day that has either the most sunlight of the year (summer solstice) or the least sunlight of the year (winter solstice).
Birds know our changing seasons instinctively. Our change from summer to fall brings many clues — temperature changes, later sunrises and earlier sunsets, changes in food availability, daylight, tides and more — that signal times for mating, nesting and migrating.
Where I live in Northern California, one of the surest indicators that fall is approaching is the arrival of warblers. Late August and September are heavenly for warbler opportunities here. Other fall birds that will begin arriving soon include juncos, certain sparrows, waxwings, avocets and stilts, many shorebirds and, a bit later, the wintering ducks and Sandhill Cranes which start arriving very soon.
Let’s use this edition of Dawn Chorus as an open thread, but if you have warblers or other fall migrants arriving now or expect them soon, please share what you’re seeing. If you have photos to add, please do, but it's not necessary. And please tell us (or remind us) where you are located. Fall migrants show up at different times all over the country. We’d like to hear what’s going on where you live.
I’m sharing some warbler photos below that I’ve taken in the Sacramento area, but I’m also pleased to share some additional warbler photos taken by a friend of mine, Melissa Lea, who birded Magee Marsh in Ohio during the spring migration. Magee Marsh is a warbler mecca on the southern shore of Lake Erie.
Here are a couple of photos of the cute little Wilson’s Warbler with his distinctive black cap. These little guys are a very common warbler species where I live.
A couple of photos of another very common warbler here each fall, the Yellow-rumped Warbler, also commonly called the “Butterbutt”
One of the most widespread warblers is the Yellow Warbler seen here.
This striking bird in black and white with the dot of yellow is the Black-throated Gray Warbler.
And this lovely little guy is the secretive Hermit Warbler. I took this photo just a few weeks ago, a lifer for me.
These Magee Marsh warbler photos were taken by Melissa Lea:
So, what fall migrants are you seeing or hope to see soon? What else is going on in your birding world? Join in! Newbies, lurkers, and non-birders are always welcome at Dawn Chorus!