Migration Timetables, Autumn

 Arrivals and Departures of Autumn Migration

An Autumn Wood, a good place to look for migratory birds.

Here is a listing of what birds pass through the Cape Fear Region during autumn migration. This is our busiest season for birdwatching and almost anything is possible from September through December. Check out the article on Autumn Migration to learn more. This list and  its times are based on the author's observations and applicable data from eBird.org. Since birds are highly mobile and food is a major factor in movements, timing may vary, and almost anything is possible. 

August

American Redstart 

I consider August the beginning of the Autumn bird circle as it is often the first month we begin to birds visit from other locations. Some of our summer residents such as Orchard Orioles, Purple Martins, and some of the flycatchers have already left our gardens and woodlands in July.  Others such as Indigo Buntings, Ruby Throated Hummingbirds, Grey Catbirds, and year-round residents like Brown Thrashers, cardinals, mockingbirds, and Carolina Wrens are finishing their last broods. 

Departures

• Orchard Oriole: July 15-Aug 1st
• Acadian Flycatcher: July 15+
• Protonotary Warbler: July 15-Aug 1st
• Least Terns, Common Terns and Black Skimmers leave nest colonies around Mid-August

Note:  Many breeding residents in local woodlands, parks, and gardens will also leave once their young mature, though you may see other groups of the same birds visit the area. Examples of this include most breeding warblers and vireos, Great Crested Flycatchers, Wood Pewees, Common Grackles, and Summer Tanagers.

Arrivals

• Mostly species from the region such as Summer Tanagers, Prairie Warblers, Common Yellowthroats, Chipping Sparrows. 
• At the sea, Sanderlings, and other sandpipers  
• American Redstarts may visit as soon as July (they could be expanding their nesting range eastward)

September

Broad Winged Hawk

September is the beginning of the first waves of autumn migrants in Southeastern North Carolina and is when you start to see birds from further north or inland. You will also find many familiar summer residents passing through as well as some birds that will linger on their territories well after other birds move on. Greenfield Lake, Airlie Gardens, Fort Fisher Recreation Area, and Burn't Mill Creek become busy corridors for birds. You will see a lot of different species in your gardens or at an urban park or dooryard. Tropical cyclones may blow in unusual species with cold fronts trigger waves of visitors (often on the first chilly morning in September).

Departures

• Great Crested Flycatcher: Mid-September
• Eastern Kingbird: Early to Mid-September
• Mississippi Kite: September 1st-15th 
• Purple Martins: September 15th  
• Most Least Terns, Common Terns, and Skimmers 

Note: At this point most if not  all summer residents should be off their territories if they are not overwintering. It is likely that any bird you see from this point onwards is from another area, even if that species nested in your garden or in area forests. The Painted Bunting may be an exception as these tend to overwinter readily, as do a handful of hummingbirds and catbirds. 

Arrivals

• Palm Warbler: Around September 15th
• American Redstart: As early as August 
• Yellow Warbler: Early September 
• Common Yellowthroat (Migrant): Increases from Sept 1st 
• Prairie Warbler (Migrants)
• Cape May Warbler: First reported in Late September 
• Willow, Least, Alder Flycatchers: Sept 1st onwards 
• Broad Winged Hawk: Some birds pass through in Sept
• American Goldfinches and Song Sparrows: Late Sempt 
•  Cliff (or Cave), Rough-Winged Swallows, or Sand Martin "Bank Swallows"
• Baltimore Oriole: Sept 20th or earlier  
• Sharp Shinned Hawk (Sept or Oct)
• Common Flicker (Sept 20th)

October

Northern Waterthrush at Greenfield Lake

October is the peak of autumn migration and is arguably the  best time to scan parks, woodlands, and  areas near wetlands for visitors. You can see almost anything from the entries above, as well as a broad range of woodland, wetland, and meadowland birds from other parts of North America. You may also see vagrant or out-of-range species like Spoonbills, Storks, Rufous Hummingbirds, Scissor-Tailed Flycatchers, or a Western Tanager. Most mornings bring new suprises although it can be a challenging task to separate a unique or unusual species amongst a flock of Redstarts, Palm Warblers or Chipping Sparrows. Shorebirds are even harder as they mostly look alike and are quiet. 

Departures

• Last Crested Flycatchers leave by October
• Most Wood Pewees and small flycatchers move through by Oct 15th 
• Warbler and Vireo flocks begin to decrease from October 20th onwards 
• At this point, most summer residents are gone 
• All swallows except Tree Swallows move on by Oct 15th
• Chimney Swifts are last seen in late Oct   
• Yellow Billed Cuckoo departs in late October with stragglers into Dec
• Green Heron: Oct 15-20th at the latest

Arrivals

• Most warblers including Black Throated Blue, Magnolia, Cape May Warblers peak 
• Black and White Warblers first appear 
• Northern Waterthrush 
• Veery, Swainson's and Grey-Cheeked Thrushes, first Hermit Thrush in Mid-Oct 
• Warbling, Philadelphia, and Blue Headed Vireos mix in to Red Eyed Vireos 
• House Wren (late Sept)
• Most likely time for Rufous Hummingbird sightings
• Yellow Rumped Warblers appear Oct 15-20 
• First winter sparrows appear around Oct 31st 
• Teal and Mallards are usually the first ducks to arrive 
• Cowbirds, Starlings, Red Winged Blackbirds and Grackles return (winter pop)
• Siskins and Goldfinches 
• Yellow Belled Sapsucker  
• Cedar Waxwing (often later in October)

November

Rusty Blackbirds  

By November, autumn migration is winding down and the last of the insectivorous birds are making their way through SE NC. Redstarts and Cape May Warblers give way to the ubiquitous Yellow Rumped Warbler, while vireos and thrushes leave once the magnolias and dogwoods have been stripped of their fruits. You can still see summer residents and migration into December and a few birds will stay with us all winter. This is when winter residents begin to settle in. Look for White Throated/Crowned Sparrows, or Baltimore Orioles at feeders, and scan flocks of chickadees for kinglets, Orange Crowned Warblers, or a treecreeper. 

Departures

• Most of the summer residents and migrating songbirds have moved further south 
• Grey Catbirds may stick around until November 30th 
• Summer Tanagers, Gnatcatchers, Parulas, Prairie Warblers may also linger
• Some Anhinga and Ospreys may stick around all winter

Arrivals

• Yellow Rumped Warblers become regular after Oct 31st 
• White Throated Sparrows 
• White Crowned Sparrow 
• Winter population of Chipping Sparrows (usually in large flocks)
• Juncos 
• Winter Wren 
• Brown Creeper
• Most Hermit Thrushes 
• Eastern Phoebe 
• Red Breasted Nuthatch during irruptions 
• Winter seagulls, cormorants, and waterfowl

December

Purple Finch

December is the end of Autumn Migration and most of our winter residents have now settled in to area hedgerows, woodlands, and gardens. After a bit of a lull in November, bird tables become busy and winter fruits lure in flocks of birds. Wax Myrtles and Bayberries will draw Yellow Rumped Warblers by the hundreds to coastal areas or in landscaped areas containing the shrub. While migration may be over, there are still birds passing through the region including waterfowl, and wintering raptors. Keep your eye out for large flocks of Tree Swallows just before dusk, and scan for new ducks, shorebirds, and seagulls at ponds and lakes. While it is possible for very late stragglers such as cuckoos, or gnatcatchers to persist into December, almost any summer resident seen at this point will probably overwinter. Summer Tanagers, Prairie Warblers, hummingbirds, and House Wrens often linger around, especially if bird tables or plant selections sustain them. 

Departures

Nearly all migratory waves of woodland birds have moved through the area at this point. Grey Catbirds are among the last songbirds to flow through hedgerows and woodlands. Anything seen after December will probably be here for the winter. Don't be surprised to find late stragglers like the birds listed directly below.

• Blue Grey Gnatcatcher 
• Northern Parula or Yellow Throated Warbler
• Wilson's Warbler 
• Black and White Warbler
• Prairie Warbler 
• House Wren 
• Cliff or Cave Swallow 
• Anhinga, Osprey, or Green Heron 
• Summer Tanager
• Yellow Billed Cuckoo

Arrivals

• Large groups of Turkey Vultures often pass through in November and December 
• Most ducks, geese, swans, and gulls do not arrive until December 
• Harriers, Short Eared Owls, SawHet Owl (if you can find them)
• Winter populations of American Robin 
• Rusty Blackbird 
• Fox Sparrow
• Purple Finch 
• Evening Grosbeaks, Crossbills and other rare surprises