Sorry about the lack of posts for a few days–the regular blog maintenance people were away.
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May 27th
Well, it seems the migration season is winding down. I was away for a week, and the diversity of birds at the park has been reduced a fair bit in that time (ET’s went from 64 species last time I was out to 55 species today). There are still a few migrants around, though, with Blackpolls still common in the park, and a few other (likely) migrant warblers observed/banded today–Wilson’s, Magnolia, Canada and Northern Parula. That said, the local breeders at Ruthven are pretty interesting birds, including both flavors of Cuckoo, Indigo Buntings (lots around now), both types of Oriole, Yellow-throated Vireo (at least 3 males singing in the park), Blue-winged and Brewster’s Warbler (could be Golden-winged around too), Tufted Titmouse, etc, etc… It is worth noting that many of these local breeders are now showing signs that they are in the midst of the breeding process–females have brood patches and males have cloacal protuberances. We also had a female Yellow Warbler today who seemed to be carrying eggs.
It threatened to rain all day today, but these threats ended up being empty, at least until I left the property around lunchtime.
Banded: 20
American Goldfinch 4
Wilson’s Warbler 1
Magnolia Warbler 1
Blackpoll Warbler 1
Northern Waterthrush 1
Canada Warbler 2
Yellow Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 1
Chipping Sparrow 1
Red-Eyed Vireo 1
Eastern Bluebird 1
Cedar Waxwing 3
Red-Winged Blackbird 2
Retrapped 7:
Gray Catbird 1
Yellow Warbler 4
Common Yellowthroat 1
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1
55 species recorded.
Jeff
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May 26th
Rather cold and windy this morning. On the bright side it kept the mosquitoes at bay. On the negative side the nets were pretty quiet and birding along the river flats was tough.
There are still a few late migrants around with Blackpoll Warblers being numerous.
Banded: 17
American Goldfinch 2
Magnolia Warbler 1
Eastern Wood Pewee 1
Blackpoll Warbler 1
Traill’s Flycatcher 1
Common Yellowthroat 1
Yellow Warbler 3
Mourning Warbler 1
Indigo Bunting 1
Grey Catbird 3
Baltimore Oriole 1
Rose-Breasted Grosbeak 1
Retrapped: 11
Yellow Warbler 4
House Wren 1
White-Breasted Nuthatch 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Grey Catbird 1
Baltimore Oriole 3
B
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May 25th
As we enter our last week of spring migration monitoring the flow of migrants has been reduced to a trickle. It was a quiet day, or at least would have been except for the pair of Northern Mockingbirds that have descended upon the property. An unusual sighting at Ruthven Park, they unleashed a wall of cacophonous sound and were generally entertaining.
An Alder Flycatcher was also heard, another species we don’t hear alder time. Hands up those who didn’t know what I was going to say in relation to Alder Flycatcher…
Banded: 15
“Brewster’s Warbler” 1
American Goldfinch 3
Eastern Wood Pewee 1
Common Yellowthroat 2
Chipping Sparrow 1
Yellow Warbler 2
Indigo Bunting 1
Red-Eyed Vireo 1
Baltimore Oriole 1
Blue Jay 1
Mourning Dove 1
Retrapped: 11
Yellow Warbler 4
House Wren 2
Grey Catbird 1
Brown-Headed Cowbird 1
Rose-Breasted Grosbeak 2
Blue Jay 1
57 species recorded.
B
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May 24th
Today was Invasive Species Awareness Day at Ruthven Park, held in recognition of the International Day of Biological Diversity. In honour of the occasion I attempted to restrict our captures to House Sparrows and European Starlings but I was sadly thwarted. Because of this failure I was called nasty names, poked with sharp sticks and denied access to any snacks. Ruthven Park staff can be harsh to those they deem unworthy.
The day started off well, with the season’s first Common Nighthawk being spotted flying over the valley, but quickly deteriorated when it started raining when all the nets were up. Thankfully the rain let up fairly quickly and allowed a trickle of late migrants to be brought in for the enjoyment of our visitors.
There was a fortunate occurrence when both Black-Billed and Yellow-Billed Cuckoos were caught at the same time allowing for a direct comparison. In the valley behind the station an American Woodcock was heard calling, probably the same one that was observed earlier in the week with young.
62 species were recorded during the day.
Banded: 27
Least Flycatcher 1
Chestnut-Sided Warbler 2
American Goldfinch 4
Blackpoll Warbler 2
Chipping Sparrow 2
Common Yellowthroat 1
Yellow Warbler 2
Indigo Bunting 1
Swainson’s Thrush 1
Grey Catbird 7
Baltimore Oriole 1
Red-Winged Blackbird 1
Black-Billed Cuckoo 1
Yellow-Billed Cuckoo 1
Retrapped: 16
American Goldfinch 3
Blackpoll Warbler 1
Yellow Warbler 5
Common Yellowthroat 1
Song Sparrow 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
White-Breasted Nuthatch 1
Grey Catbird 1
Baltimore Oriole 1
Rose-Breasted Grosbeak 1
B