October 27th

Half an inch of rain fell last evening in quite a violent thunderstorm, with many areas receiving hail and high wind gusts. But this morning dawned peacefully, with mostly grey skies and the occasional sunny moment.
It was steadily busy today with 99 birds banded. And if a Yellow-rump had not slipped through my clumsy hands as I was fishing out a bag, I would have made 100.

Banded 99:
1 Blue Jay
8 Golden-crowned Kinglets
5 Ruby-crowned Kinglets
2 Hermit Thrushes
18 American Robins
12 Cedar Waxwings
23 Yellow-Rumped Warblers
1 Fox Sparrow
2 Swamp Sparrows
2 White-throated Sparrows
3 Purple Finches
22 American Goldfinches

Retrapped 23:
1 Downy Woodpecker
2 Black capped Chickadee
1 Brown Creeper
2 Golden-crowned Kinglets
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
1 Hermit Thrush
3 Yellow-rumped Warblers
2 Swamp Sparrows
9 Dark-eyed Junco’s
1 American Goldfinch

Loretta

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October 26th

A very windy day with gusts to force 5 by just after noon. I managed to get a few of the more sheltered nets open, and, despite the adverse conditions, did not fare too badly. It was disconcerting however to have the Potter Trap at the front of the mansion blow over on several occasions….

There were large mixed flocks of American Robins, Cedar Waxwings, and Red-Winged Blackbirds foraging on grapes in sheltered areas and dips in the landscape, and these remained active all day. The wind did not seem to affect the Peregrine Falcon that was spotted moving down river low above the water but the adult Bald Eagle, which was higher up, was being thrown about the sky.

The oddest sighting of the day had to be the male Ring-Necked Pheasant found skulking in the shrubbery around Net 6. I have never seen one at Ruthven before and don’t recall them being mentioned in previous reports. The Ring-Necked Pheasant was introduced to North America as a game species but for the most part they haven’t really thrived in Ontario.

Banded: 27
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet 1
Golden-Crowned Kinglet 6
American Goldfinch 1
Brown Creeper 1
Yellow-Rumped Warbler 6
Hermit Thrush 2
Cedar Waxwing 3
American Robin 7

Retrapped: 15
Golden-Crowned Kinglet 3
American Goldfinch 1
Black-Capped Chickadee 1
Slate-Coloured Junco 7
Hermit Thrush 2
American Robin 1 (banded as an AHY in October 2004 and not encountered since)

33 species encountered.

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