May 24th – Some Surprises….Still!

The first Mourning Warbler of the year.   -N. Furber
The first Mourning Warbler of the year. -N. Furber

Female Bay-breasted Warbler.  -N. Furber
Female Bay-breasted Warbler. -N. Furber

Just when you think it’s all over, the Fat Lady has sung, she throws you a curve and sends birds your way.
The Ruthven crew banded 47 birds of 21 species; 12 of those species were warblers, including the first Mourning Warbler of the year. Check out the list below.
Nice male Wilson's Warbler.  -N. Furber
Nice male Wilson’s Warbler. -N. Furber

Note the blue wash of this older female Indigo Bunting - a younger bird wouldn't be quite so blue.   -W. Andrus
Note the blue wash of this older female Indigo Bunting – a younger bird wouldn’t be quite so blue. -W. Andrus

Oriole comparison: Baltimore on the left; Orchard right.   -N. Furber
Oriole comparison: Baltimore on the left; Orchard right. -N. Furber

Newcomer Max with his first banded bird: Yellow Warbler.   -W. Andrus
Newcomer Max with his first banded bird: Yellow Warbler. -W. Andrus

Easy to see how the Red-eyed Vireo got it's name.   -W. Andrus.
Easy to see how the Red-eyed Vireo got it’s name. -W. Andrus.

Banded 47:
1 Hairy Woodpecker
1 Traill’s flycatcher
1 Swainson’s Thrush
3 Gray Catbird
1 Cedar Waxwing
5 Yellow Warblers
2 Chestnut-sided Warblers
12 Magnolia Warblers
1 Black-throated Blue Warbler
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler
1 Bay-breasted Warbler
2 Canada Warblers
5 American Redstarts
2 Ovenbirds
1 Northern Waterthrush
1 Mourning Warbler
2 Wilson’s Warblers
1 Northern Cardinal
1 Indigo Bunting
1 Baltimore Oriole
2 Orchard Orioles

ET’s: 62 spp.

The Three Amigos, Kyleigh, Isabella, and Lauren, with a Barn Swallow.
The Three Amigos, Kyleigh, Isabella, and Lauren, with a Barn Swallow.

Fern Hill – Oakville:
At Fern Hill things weren’t nearly so dramatic, but we did a thorough count of birds around the school, within half a kilometer and turned up 44 species including Bobolinks and a Scarlet Tanager. We also got to see a Barn Swallow close up – it was chasing another male and didn’t see the net. As well we had a very interesting retrap: an American Goldfinch that had been banded May 10th at Fern Hill Burlington!!
It's not often you get a Barn Swallow in your net.  -K. Paveley
It’s not often you get a Barn Swallow in your net. -K. Paveley

Banded 13:
1 Barn Swallow
1 Blue Jay
1 Gray Catbird
1 European Starling
1 Yellow Warbler
1 Common Yellowthroat
2 Song Sparrows
5 American Goldfinches
Katherine with the travelling goldfinch. This bird was banded on May 10th at Fern Hill BURLINGTON!
Katherine with the travelling goldfinch. This bird was banded on May 10th at Fern Hill BURLINGTON!

Katherine teaching the SK's about fat loads and muscle mass at the back of the bandingmobile.
Katherine teaching the SK’s about fat loads and muscle mass at the back of the bandingmobile.

ET’s: 44 spp.

Rick

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