The BIG surprise today was the discovery of a Nelson’s Sparrow by Sam Lewis. He was going down to the River to do a count when he came across it just past the wetland along the trail. It’s a first for us. It would be nice to be able to spend more time just sitting and watching in that wild area between the wetland and the river. Who knows what else might turn up?
We’ve enjoyed two more busy days with a plethora of sparrows. The prairie meadow is filled with them and you can watch, as you walk along the edge, the birds rising up out of it only to drop down again to another feeding spot. We’re banding a lot of “new” sparrows but also recapturing many already-banded sparrows as they stay to feed and fatten in readiness for a southward jaunt.
October 10th; Banded 65:
1 Downy Woodpecker
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
1 Brown Creeper
1 Hermit Thrush
1 American Goldfinch
1 Dark-eyed Junco
2 Savannah Sparrows
16 White-throated Sparrows
22 Song Sparrows
16 Swamp Sparrows
2 Red-winged Blackbirds
1 Common Yellowthroat
October 11th; Banded 61
6 Ruby-crowned Kinglets
2 Hermit Thrushes
1 House Sparrow
3 Purple Finches
1 American Goldfinch
1 Dark-eyed Junco
1 Eastern White-crowned Sparrow
5 White-throated Sparrows
23 Song Sparrows
17 Swamp Sparrows
1 Northern Cardinal
