Storm delivers just rain, no birds

Double crested Cormorants, Winsor Dam, June 8, 2013

Double crested Cormorants, Winsor Dam, June 8, 2013

Winsor Dam as another shower moves in, June 8, 2013

Winsor Dam as the clouds start to break up, June 8, 2013

 

Winsor Dam at dawn in rain, June 8, 2013

It appears that the remnants of Tropical Storm Andrea did not bring us any unusual birds. Not the optimal time of year or track for a storm to bring us any number of unusual birds. Although I spent several hours this morning trying to find something storm related at Quabbin Park I had no luck. The rain and wind were still going strong when I got there around 5:20 and continued for the next couple hours before trailing off to just drizzle and then eventually some partial sunshine. The winds shifted from NNE to N to NW and finally west during this time period. The temperatures were actually a little chilly first thing with a reading of 54 with a strong wind.

I know some others out looking in other areas of the Connecticut Valley didn't have any luck either. Reports from the coast of New England were also unproductive for anything beyond the expected seabirds.

It does appears the storm did displace some birds but much further to our south with frigatebirds noted along the North Carolina outer banks.  After browsing through a number of other list serves I couldn't come up with anything else storm related.  Looks like we will have to wait for another storm later in the season to deliver us some hurricane related birds.

The rain arrives

Winsor Dam at dawn (Canada Geese on right), June 7, 2013

The effects of Tropical Storm Andrea have started to arrive here with heavy rain being the main event.  Occasional showers started last night and continued through early morning before turning into a steady rain.  We should end up with at least a few inches of rain from the storm as it moves north and passes to our south.  Before work I made a quick stop at Winsor Dam before the heavy rain started to take a quick look around.  Nothing out of the ordinary, just a Common Loon and a couple of vocal Bald Eagles at and near the nest.

 

Winsor Dam in the evening during rain, June 7, 2013

Late in the day I stopped back by Winsor Dam a few times to see if I could find anything noteworthy related to the storm so far.  No luck but the very heavy rain made viewing difficult.  The only notable birds included a cormorant, a Common Loon and an adult Bald Eagle carrying a very large fish to the nest.

I will be there at first light tomorrow to try once again to find something storm related.  I urge anyone else with the ability (and drive) to get up early and check out their local patch of water or flooded field for something related to the storm.  There may be nothing but you could find something really good.  You will never know until you try.

Tropical Storm Andrea forms




Projected path of Tropical Storm Andrea

The hurricane season is only five days old and the first tropical system has developed and will likely have at least some impact on the northeast.  The minimal tropical storm is projected to pass over Florida and then travel up the east coast staying offshore and becoming an extra tropical system.  The impact will primarily be heavy rain with some wind.  What will the storm bring as far as birds are concerned?  I would predict the most likely birds to show up related to the storm would be terns, unusual gulls or shorebirds (including phalaropes?).  The chance is also there for other southern species to be moved north.  I will certainly be out looking for something unusual and would encourage everyone to keep an eye out on bodies of water, flooded fields or even in your backyard for something unusual....and of course letting me know about it!

Here is a link to some additional information as it relates to this storm and the birding potential:
http://birdcast.info/forecast/hurricane-season-2013-tropical-storm-andrea/

I also heard about a Lawrence's Warbler found by Bob Z at Quabbin Park today (at Hank's Meadow).  I was out of the area for work so I was unable to try to chase that hybrid down but if anyone else is around that area it would be worth trying for it.