The winds have switched strongly from the south (30+ mph) and the southern migration has stalled out. Birds are much more frantic during the spring migration to reach prime breeding territories and lay a claim to a prime area. In the Fall, without this need, one waits for a nice tailwind.

Thus, I am finding some of the same birds in the countryside. While wild turkeys don’t migrate and seeing one or two used to be unusual, I saw over 250 turkeys feeding in fields bordering forests yesterday morning! Turkey Vultures are also now pushing south when favorable conditions are present.

Here are a few pics from the last two days …

Wild Turkeys Galore (Sax-Zim Bog)

Eastern Phoebe (Northstar Lake)

Turkey Vulture Drying Off from the Morning Ground Fog (Sax-Zim Bog)

Broad-Winged Hawks (Pine-Island State Forest)

Belted Kingfishers (Pine-Island State Forest)