October 17th

A fairly quiet day but one with an ominous tone. Despite the summer-like weather, with the temperature hitting 22C for a brief period before the rain started, another harbinger of winter made an appearance. A trio of Evening Grosbeaks descended upon the feeders and caused a ruckus. I’m not sure that this species has been previously banded at Ruthven because I could not find any prior records.

For the connoisseur, the bite of the Evening Grosbeak is much more unpleasant than that of the Rose-Breasted Grosbeak or Northern Cardinal.

Banded: 68
American Goldfinch 18
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet 8
Brown Creeper 1
Golden-Crowned Kinglet 2
American Tree Sparrow 2
Black-Capped Chickadee 3
Winter Wren 1
Field Sparrow 1
Slate-Coloured Junco 6
Eastern Phoebe 1
Purple Finch 6
House Finch 2
Hermit Thrush 2
Song Sparrow 5
White-Throated Sparrow 5
Eastern White-Crowned Sparrow 2
Fox Sparrow 1
Evening Grosbeak 2

Retrapped: 19
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet 2
American Goldfinch 2
Slate-Coloured Junco 1
Chipping Sparrow 1
Eastern White-Crowned Sparrow 6
White-Throated Sparrow 2
Hermit Thrush 2
Song Sparrow 1
White-Breasted Nuthatch 2

B

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October 16th

Another dull day overcast day with no wind… perfect for banding. But, there was not a lot of new birds around the park today.

Banded 36:
4 Black-capped Chickadees
4 Ruby-crowned Kinglets
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler
1 Chipping Sparrow
1 Song Sparrow
2 White-throated Sparrows
6 Eastern White-crowned Sparrows
7 Slate Coloured Junco’s
10 American Goldfinches

Retrapped 23:
1 Hairy Woodpecker
1 Black-capped Chickadee
2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets
1 Hermit Thrush
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler
2 Song Sparrows
4 Eastern White-crowned Sparrows
6 Slate Coloured Juncos
5 American Goldfinches

Loretta