There were lots of birders at Sandy Hook yesterday, perhaps inspired by the news of favorable weather for migration. I did not see many warblers (only 5 species), but it was clear that there was substantial movement last night. There were dozens of Yellow-rumped Warblers, particularly along the Fishermen's Trail near the hawk watch bunker. At Plum Island, the birds were changing over to a winter cast – Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, White-throated Sparrows, and my first Dark-eyed Junco of the fall. Out on the beaches, most of the Laughing Gulls have moved on, and large flocks of Herring Gulls, Ring-billed Gulls, and Great Black-backed Gulls are taking their place. Winter waterfowl are not present in significant numbers yet, but it is only a matter of time until they are.
The dry spit where they were resting cannot have been very wide, perhaps two feet, with water on both sides.
As I was watching and photographing the Sanderlings, five Black-bellied Plovers flew in to join them. The birds all cleared away when a wave (probably amplified by the wake of a passing boat) washed completely over their resting spot.