While I thoroughly enjoyed working with the teens Saturday morning, I did arrive home not quite feeling that I’d really had my bird fix given I hardly handled any birds that morning.  As I watched out my back window and say an Eastern Phoebe and some Yellow-rumps flitting about, I decided there were still a few good net hours before I headed out to my neighbour’s Hootenanny scheduled for later that afternoon.  These are my neighbours who let me set up nets on their property. Feel free to google Hootenanny.  I was open from 2:30-4pm and caught a few good birds in that time, including a new first for my area, a Magnolia Warbler and my first Ruby-crowned Kinglet for the fall.

Banded:
Ruby-crowned Kinglet -1
Magnolia Warbler – 1
American Goldfinch – 1
Black-capped Chickadee – 1
Myrtle Warbler – 2
Song Sparrow – 1

Recaps:
Black-capped Chickadee – 5

Total: 12 (7 Banded, 5 recaps)

Bonfire at the Hootenanny

Sunday the rainy weather put a halt to any early morning birding, but I was able to open in the early afternoon for about 2 hours with some really fantastic results!  A new bird for my area was a Cape May Warbler!  I’ve had them in my backyard before around the oriole feeder in the spring, but not in a net.

Banded:
Chipping Sparrows – 2
House Wren – 1
Warbling Vireo – 1
Myrtle Warbler – 1
Cape May Warbler – 1
House Finch – 1
Song Sparrow – 1
Blue Jay – 1

Recaps:
Black-capped Chickadee – 4
Downy Woodpecker – 1
Song Sparrow – 1

Total: 15 (9 banded, 6 recaps)

Winter Wren/House Wren – ok, so Liam is telling me that in spite of the size difference, colour and short tail in comparison to the bird I had earlier this week, that this is another House Wren.  I’ll get a WIWR yet this fall!

Cape May Warbler