The weather front that ultimately ended in rain this afternoon brought with it a number of migrants that made for a busy time in the banding lab. Although it was not possible to perform a census, a respectable total of 61 species were still encountered. Flocks of Yellow and Magnolia Warblers were in evidence while the mewing of Grey Catbirds was ever-present. New species for the year were Tennessee Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, and Black-Billed Cuckoo. Even a few late Common Loons were observed first thing in the morning.
Visitor / Bander interaction reached an all time high today at Ruthven Park as I was hand fed chocolates in an effort to bribe me to keep me producing colourful migrants from the bags twitching on the hooks. I encourage everyone to emulate this latest development.
Banded: 86
Magnolia Warbler 9
Nashville Warbler 3
American Goldfinch 5
American Redstart 1
Wilson’s Warbler 1
Chestnut-Sided Warbler 1
Blue-Winged Warbler 1
Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher 1
Yellow Warbler 14
Yellow-Rumped Warbler 2
House Wren 1
Common Yellowthroat 3
Chipping Sparrow 1
Least Flycatcher 1
Lincoln’s Sparrow 3
Swamp Sparrow 1
White-Throated Sparrow 2
Veery 1
Eastern White-Crowned Sparrow 4
Song Sparrow 1
Orchard Oriole 1
Eastern Bluebird 1 (a male in magnificent colour – sorry Roswitha – just a few days late)
Grey Catbird 10
Brown-Headed Cowbird 2
Baltimore Oriole 9
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Rose-Breasted Grosbeak 5
Black-Billed Cuckoo 1
Retrapped: 35
American Goldfinch 1
Yellow Warbler 8
Chipping Sparrow 2
House Wren 1
Common Yellowthroat 1
Tree Swallow 1
Brown-Headed Cowbird 7
Eastern Bluebird 1
Song Sparrow 2
White-Breasted Nuthatch 1 (an interesting recapture – originally banded as an ASY-M in April 2003, this bird had not been seen at Ruthven since May 14th, 2003 – 5 years to the day!)
Orchard Oriole 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Baltimore Oriole 4 (one was banded as an SY-F in May 2004)
Grey Catbird 1
Rose-Breasted Grosbeak 2
Red-Winged Blackbird 1 (banded as an ASY-M in May 2002 this at least 8 year old bird had not been encountered since).
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