It’s been a long dry spell around here. I suspect migration is a little slow, but one big kink in my favorite spots is the high water. Many wading birds look for shallow water and mudflats, and that’s hard to find around here right now. I can’t put any real blame on climate change, but you gotta’ wonder.
I’ve mostly been to CBEC and Terrapin, with a few trips to Wooton, Governor Bridge and Sandy Point. None are living up to historical norms, but there’s probably some bad luck also.
Anyway, here’s a few images from the last two weeks. Maybe we’ll have better luck soon.
This is a link to my Ebird checklist: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S60147634
![CBEC 47 CBEC 47](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/CBEC-47.jpg?resize=584%2C457&ssl=1)
![CBEC 45 CBEC 45](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/CBEC-45.jpg?resize=584%2C390&ssl=1)
CBEC in the morning.
![Yellow Billed Cuckoo 2019-3 Yellow Billed Cuckoo 2019-3](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Yellow-Billed-Cuckoo-2019-3.jpg?resize=584%2C503&ssl=1)
A pair of late season Yellow Billed Cuckoos were foraging at Lake Artemesia.
![Pied Billed Grebe 2019-101 Pied Billed Grebe 2019-101](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Pied-Billed-Grebe-2019-101.jpg?resize=584%2C413&ssl=1)
![Pied Billed Grebe 2019-102 Pied Billed Grebe 2019-102](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Pied-Billed-Grebe-2019-102.jpg?resize=584%2C408&ssl=1)
My first Pied Billed Grebe of the season.
![Catbird 2019-100 Catbird 2019-100](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Catbird-2019-100.jpg?resize=584%2C478&ssl=1)
![Catbird 2019-101 Catbird 2019-101](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Catbird-2019-101.jpg?resize=584%2C500&ssl=1)
Catbirds have been numerous lately.
![Domestic Goose 2019-4 Domestic Goose 2019-4](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Domestic-Goose-2019-4.jpg?resize=584%2C488&ssl=1)
This Domestic Goose is still hanging around Lake Artemesia.
![Caspian Tern 2019-07 Caspian Tern 2019-07](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Caspian-Tern-2019-07.jpg?resize=584%2C464&ssl=1)
Caspian Terns have returned to Sandy Point.
![Great Egret 2019-253 Great Egret 2019-253](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Great-Egret-2019-253.jpg?resize=584%2C458&ssl=1)
![Great Egret 2019-257 Great Egret 2019-257](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Great-Egret-2019-257.jpg?resize=584%2C424&ssl=1)
An early morning Egret at CBEC.
![Common Yellowthroat 2019-6 Common Yellowthroat 2019-6](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Common-Yellowthroat-2019-6.jpg?resize=584%2C413&ssl=1)
This Common Yellowthroat was migrating through Terrapin.
![Solitary Sandpiper 2019-1 Solitary Sandpiper 2019-1](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Solitary-Sandpiper-2019-1.jpg?resize=584%2C429&ssl=1)
![Solitary Sandpiper 2019-2 Solitary Sandpiper 2019-2](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Solitary-Sandpiper-2019-2.jpg?resize=584%2C498&ssl=1)
A Solitary Sandpiper was looking for a meal at Wooton’s Landing.
![Brown Thrasher 2019-35 Brown Thrasher 2019-35](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Brown-Thrasher-2019-35.jpg?resize=584%2C489&ssl=1)
This has been a good year for Brown Thrashers.
![Black and White Warbler 2019-1 Black and White Warbler 2019-1](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Black-and-White-Warbler-2019-1.jpg?resize=584%2C397&ssl=1)
A Black and White Warbler from Artemesia.
![Chimney Swift 2019-1 Chimney Swift 2019-1](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Chimney-Swift-2019-1.jpg?resize=584%2C539&ssl=1)
![Chimney Swift 2019-2 Chimney Swift 2019-2](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Chimney-Swift-2019-2.jpg?resize=584%2C474&ssl=1)
This is a Chimney Swift. I rarely try to photograph these erratic, fast avian missiles.
![Arctic Tern 2019-15 Arctic Tern 2019-15](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Arctic-Tern-2019-15.jpg?resize=584%2C506&ssl=1)
Arctic Tern from my trip to Seal Island.
![American Redstart 2019-2 American Redstart 2019-2](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/American-Redstart-2019-2.jpg?resize=584%2C433&ssl=1)
American Redstart from Terrapin.
![Wood Duck 2019-25 Wood Duck 2019-25](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Wood-Duck-2019-25.jpg?resize=584%2C441&ssl=1)
![Wood Duck 2019-33 Wood Duck 2019-33](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Wood-Duck-2019-33.jpg?resize=584%2C448&ssl=1)
Several Wood Ducks were cruising the shoreline at Artemesia.
![Eastern Box Turtle 15 Eastern Box Turtle 15](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Eastern-Box-Turtle-15.jpg?resize=584%2C472&ssl=1)
![Eastern Box Turtle 14 Eastern Box Turtle 14](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Eastern-Box-Turtle-14.jpg?resize=584%2C393&ssl=1)
I’ve seen a lot of Eastern Box Turtles lately.