Blue Jays

[mac1958]

Blue Jays by the hundreds going through McLaughlin Bay Reserve this morning. The strong wind from the west was keeping them low, just below the tree tops, and some were only a couple of meters above the ground. It was hard to get any work done today.

[Howieh]

Blue Jays by the hundreds going through McLaughlin Bay Reserve this morning. The strong wind from the west was keeping them low, just below the tree tops, and some were only a couple of meters above the ground. It was hard to get any work done today.

Are you telling us you chose bird watching over chores? for shame! Well, ok, I just mowed my lawn - told my wife it was 'cause it looked awful but I really did it so my migratory sparrows (white crowned, white throated, etc) can't hide in the long grass when they spend a couple of weeks in the yard on their way south for the winter.

[mac1958]

I work at the reserve.  I kept getting interrupted from work looking up at the jays coming over.
Today was  totally different .  A few small flocks came over but were also later in the morning before I saw any.
Does anyone have any knowledge of why they would fly in more difficult conditions like yesterday and only a fraction of the numbers went over on a nice sunny calm day?

[thouc]

Nice and sunny, no rush to go anywhere. Cold and windy, better get moving... North winds would also give tail winds going south. Generally there is much less bird activity during the nice, sunny fall days when it's pleasant to be out.