There was a crisp, almost fall-like feel in the air at the start of the fifth MAPS session today. By far the best birds of the day were two male Scarlet Tanagers, an ASY and a HY, caught together in Net 4. Photos to follow.

The loudest thing at Ruthven this morning were not the hordes of motorcycles thundering their way down the highway towards Port Dover, but the three Yellow-Shafted Flickers that were all captured together. It is hard to overemphasize the shear volume of sound these creatures can generate, particularly as a trio, in the confined space of the banding station.

Banded:36
American Goldfinch 1
Black-Capped Chickadee 5
Common Yellowthroat 1
Yellow Warbler 1
Song Sparrow 4
Orchard Oriole 1
Scarlet Tanager 2
Grey Catbird 5
Baltimore Oriole 6
Wood Thrush 2
Rose-Breasted Grosbeak 2
American Robin 3
Yellow-Shafted Flicker 3 (pardon?)

Retrapped: 14
American Goldfinch 2
House Wren 1
Black-Capped Chickadee 4
Song Sparrow 3
Downy Woodpecker 1
Grey Catbird 1
Rose-Breasted Grosbeak 1
American Robin 1

A Common Nighthawk was observed along the river flats yesterday.

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