This is some beautiful weather we’re having, isn’t it!? It’s also great weather if you’re a migrating bird. However, it’s not the best if you’re a birder looking for migrants. Simply put, it’s too nice out!

Lots of birds were on the move Monday and Tuesday nights on calm winds and clear skies. Both my 10 minutes of nightly listening, and my morning reviews of the radar confirm this. However, it seems most birds are simply passing right overhead.

What’s great about a month like September is that anywhere you go – backyard, local patch or birding hotspot – there will be some migrants of some sort around. But, in weather this good for flying, we don’t expect to see large numbers or concentrations of birds. When the going’s good, the birds get going!

Early morning over Wood Island, Biddeford Pool.

On Tuesday, Jeannette and I spent the morning around Biddeford Pool. Between East Point, the neighborhood, and the beach, I really don’t think we could have seen fewer birds! The Pool itself, as viewed from behind Hattie’s Deli was a bit more productive, with a peppering of shorebirds, including a fly-over American Golden-Plover and a tardy Whimbrel. Hill’s Beach hosted some more shorebirds, led by about 100 Semipalmated Plovers and 29 Sanderling. But, shorebird migration is definitely winding down.

Our biggest find of the day, actually, was our lunch – at the Saco Island Deli. It was our first time in – I’ve been looking to stop by at lunchtime for a while, however, to check it out. I ordered a sandwich entitled, “Jersey Joe.” Well, my name ain’t Joe, but this sandwhich was clearly meant for me: a PILE of good meat (a half-pound I believe) on good bread - and the slaw was excellent. Clearly, these folks know how a great deli sandwich is supposed to be made! In my book, this place gets added right up there with the best sandwiches in the state. A very big find - making up for the lack of birds today.

Actually, our best bird of the day came in the afternoon while walking Sasha at Tryon Mountian in Pownal, another place that we have been meaning to check out for a while. The quarry area – with some deep pools – looks good for spring migrants, but today, we enjoyed a Yellow-billed Cuckoo (very uncommon in the state, and the first that I have seen all year) in a small patch of regenerating Paper Birch.

My Wednesday morning visit to Hedgehog Mountain Park was also very quiet, with just a handful of warblers in the woods. Sparrows are definitely increasing, however, and I did enjoy 2 Lincoln’s Sparrows here. A handful of warblers were also in our yard, but nothing to write home about.

Overnight, a light southerly wind and low clouds resulted in very little movement. However, a morning walk at Florida Lake Park was actually fairly productive. A dozen Yellow-rumped Warblers, and one each “Western” and “Yellow” Palm Warblers signified the changing season. I was quite happy to see 7 Rusty Blackbirds here this morning, as I had not seen a single individual of this precipitously declining species all year!

By the way, there was a very interesting article in last Sunday’s Boston Globe about “How bird brains are shaking up science.” Check it out.

Meanwhile, here’s hoping for a little bit of “weather” to make things interesting!