October 19th – Slowing Down?

There was a different feel to the day – right from the start you could tell there weren’t as many birds around – fewer “chip” notes; less visible migration/movement early on (e.g., Red-winged Blackbirds, American Robins and Cedar Waxwings); and a lot fewer sparrows along the edges. Oh well, we can use the more “relaxed” pace to catch up and get back on track. Taking the time to do more than just scan the skies for raptors or the forest edges for finches, I noticed how bare the forest was looking. Most of the trees have lost their leaves (and our nets caught most of them….). We’re well into Fall; the variety of birds is diminishing and soon the numbers of them will diminish as well. It’s been some time since we’ve seen a long-distance migrant. The influx of Juncos and the recent arrival of American Tree Sparrows remind us that Winter is not that far off…and then the Snow Buntings arrive!!!

Banded 61:
1 Mourning Dove
5 Black-capped Chickadees
5 Golden-crowned Kinglets
2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets
3 Hermit Thrushes
2 American Robins
7 Cedar Waxwings
6 Myrtle Warblers
1 Chipping Sparrow
1 Fox Sparrow
4 Song Sparrows
12 White-throated Sparrows
9 Dark-eyed Juncos
2 Purple Finches
1 House Finch

Retrapped 27:
1 Mourning Dove
1 Eastern Tufted Titmouse
2 Black-capped Chickadees
2 White-breasted Nuthatches
1 Brown Creeper
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
4 Hermit Thrushes
1 Northern Cardinal
1 Song Sparrow
8 White-throated Sparrows
3 Dark-eyed Juncos
1 House Finch
1 American Goldfinch

ET’s: 40 spp.
Rick

2 thoughts on “October 19th – Slowing Down?

  1. Hello Rick, haven’t been by, Billy was in BC. We have some pics for you to help us identify. Happy Birding today.. hope you get to band a rare one today!

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