August 28th & 29th – Drawing Down – Haldimand Bird Observatory

Olive-sided Flycatcher (same one as yesterday or a new one?). -ECG

Summer doesn’t seem to be in much of a hurry to leave. We’re enjoyed pretty nice weather for the past two days – although the cloud and light sprinkle first thing this morning was nice. This change had a noticeable effect on the number of species seen/encountered today: we went from 48 species yesterday to 59 today (including a Common Nighthawk, Eastern Screech Owl, and Mourning Warbler). The most interesting sighting, though, has been an Olive-sided Flycatcher both days – whether it is the same bird or two different birds is anyone’s guess but, either way, it is a nice bird to see.

Bobolinks continue to be on the move; we banded another 8 in these two days.

August 28th; Banded 21:

You can teach an old dog new tricks! Here I am banding my first Ruby-throated Hummingbird. -NRF

1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird
1 Traill’s Flycatcher
2 Black-capped Chickadees
2 House Wrens
2 Warbling Vireos
1 Red-eyed Vireo

An adult Yellow-throated Vireo, which is just completing its moult – no wonder they’ve been so quiet lately: lying low while going through this energy-consuming process. -A. Morgen

1 Yellow-throated Vireo
1 Black-throated Green Warbler
2 Canada Warblers
1 American Redstart

Note the black secondary coverts – this young Scarlet Tanager is a male. -A. Morgen

2 Scarlet Tanagers
1 Song Sparrow

We are continuing to catch Bobolinks. -A. Morgen

1 Bobolink
3 Baltimore Orioles

This brilliant male Baltimore Oriole, which was just finishing a complete moult, was caught in the same net with two juveniles. It won’t be long before these birds are on their way South. -A. Morgen

ET’s: 48 spp.

August 29th; Banded 25:
2 Eastern Wood-Pewees
1 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
1 Veery
1 American Robin
1 Gray Catbird
1 Cedar Waxwing
3 Red-eyed Vireos