Date: 10/04/2021
Number: 350
Went outside thinking migration almost over and I arrived home late last night so I didn't look and to my surprise something caught my eye...the largest group of the year warming their wings for today's flight. As usual all of them on same side of trees (due to last night's breese) and strategically to catch the sun early. Seems like a long season this year
[Additional information contributed by observer, added by Journey North, 10/04/21]:
Usually I notice them every year like clockwork from sept 10thish thru the 20thish but this year keeps surprising me. I went outside and literally the largest group of the year was here at prob 350ish... I find it very interesting they fly so far and find it so cool some stop here at night to rest. They usually are all settled in here from 530 to dark depending on week now days shorter but some push it right to the last min. They stay in several trees here at night but mainly the shorter shrubbery ones im honestly not sure what they are. We have birch and oak and walnut that a few will rarely settle into but the ones they like are like a small hard maple we have and 3 small trees that bloom once a year in spring on east side of driveway of the double row. They never seem to land on any of the many plants we have here ever..straight from tree to departure in am. Also they always all come in at night to same side east or west...they know where everyone else lands or do it for the wind...some kind of flash their wings to signal i believe....So surprising to see the largest group here this am I got home late last night from soccer tourney in STL but there are prob 250 to 350 here large tighter clusters cant believe it numbers have declined last couple weeks some nights 12 some 27 some 60....I literally count w a flashlight so I can estimate groups which I did this am pretty well.
Heyworth, IL
Latitude: 40.3 Longitude: -88.9
Observed by: mike
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