Very early fall migrants

Fall migrants are being seen at this way-too-early date. Betsy Beneke, visitor services manager at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge an hour north of the metro area, emailed a report today (Wednesday morning). Near the refuge headquarters building she saw Yellow, Nashville, Black-and-white, Chestnut-sided, Tennessee and (she was pretty sure) Mourning warblers. With them was a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. From East Grand Forks, an observer reported a White-throated Sparrow in her yard. She said it was her earliest fall record, all other first fall sightings being in September.