Birdwalk Highlights for 10/31: Wolfe's Neck Center, Freeport.

A wonderfully diverse fall outing featured lingering migrants and constant vismig, resulting in a well-rounded morning list.

Beginning and ending at the cove, we were pleasantly surprised by 8 lingering SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS. 37 LAUGHING GULLS was a good tally for the late date, with growing numbers of waterfowl today including 83 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS and 23 MALLARDS. A GREAT BLUE HERON and a BONAPARTE'S GULL were also noted.

Overhead, we had at least tow TURKEY VULTURES and a BALD EAGLE, one COMMON RAVEN, and a quick glimpse of a RED-TAILED HAWK, but it was the visible migration of passerines that stole the show today. From the start, occasional flocks of blackbirds were on the move, providing tallies of 230 COMMON GRACKLES, 85 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, and a single BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD, with an additional 340 mixed blackbirds in large flocks that were just too distant to sort through. This blackbird movement was punctuated by the occassional flock of PINE SISKINS which amounted to a total of 62 birds. Later, a group of 4 AMERICAN PIPITS whizzed by.

While the sparrow fields here continue to be devoid of birds this fall, we ended up teasing out a total of a mere 6 SONG and 4 SAVANNAH SPARROWS from the edges. One RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER called from the woods, but we enjoyed exceptional views of two CAROLINA WRENS.

While bird of the day honors goes to the truant "WESTERN" PALM WARBLER that was very cooperative, offering long and close views as it foraged on the ground, EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were another highlight as widespread groups and singles in flight amounted to a goodly total of 37!