September 15th – We’re Well Into It!

We’re about 25% through the Fall migration – it seems to be roaring by. I wonder how many people are actually even aware of this enormous biomass passing them by every night….We had quite a good day at both the Lowville site and the Farm site.

Hello All,
Today was a productive day at the Lowville station, last night we received some strong thunderstorms that peaked around 2300hrs, weaning off around 0200hrs. Migration was certainly in full swing after the storms dissipated. While opening, many thrushes and warblers were still making Night Flight Calls (NFC) as they descended back to earth. Warblers put on a great show with 15 Sp recorded, including 12 in the nets. The highlight was a Connecticut Warbler that flew into a net just as we walked by. Overall a great day. A big thanks to Rob Gill for building a picnic table for the site, a big improvement on the small plastic table currently used!

Banded 29:

Philadelphia Vireo – smaller than its larger cousin (Red-eyed Vireo) but just as feisty. -REVI


Philadelphia Vireo – 1
Yellow Bellied Flycatcher – 2
Veery – 1
Swainson’s Thrush – 2
American Robin – 1
Gray Catbird – 4
Magnolia Warbler – 1
Chestnut sided warbler – 1
Tennessee Warbler – 1
Nashville Warbler – 3
Blackpoll Warbler – 3

Male Black and White Warbler. -BGO


Black and White Warbler – 3

Female black-throated Blue Warbler. Note the white “handkerchief” on the wing – a defining characteristic that can be seen at a distance. (Although the one we caught this morning at the Farm was lacking this white patch indicating that it was a young one.) -BGO


Black throated Blue warbler – 1
Bay Breasted Warbler – 1

An adult male American Redstart. A juvenile male would be gray where this one is black. -BGO


American Redstart – 1

Note the complete white eye ring – Connecticut Warbler. -BGO


Connecticut Warbler – 1
Northern Waterthrush – 2

Wilson’s Warbler. -BGO


Total – 29

Ebird list – https://ebird.org/checklist/S94695118
Best,
Benjamin Oldfield

Resident handyperson, Rob Gill, with a picnic table he just built for the Lowville site. (He’ll be putting one in at the Farm tomorrow – so we can sit and eat baked goods in a civilized manner). -BGO


These picnic tables that Rob has so kindly (and proficiently!) constructed will be a wonderful addition to the two sites. They provide a good work counter that allows people to socially distance while they’re banding. And when the banding is done they will provide a platform for camaraderie and the snacking that goes with it. THANKS ROB!!

With all the rain of late, the Swamp (aka the Farm) makes for tough walking when doing rounds. But on a day like today you don’t seem to mind. There were small pockets of birds on the move all morning through the willows. Most of them were up high but enough came down to make it interesting.
Banded 30:
1 Eastern Wood Pewee
1 Traill’s flycatcher
2 Black-capped Chickadees
1 Swainson’s Thrush
3 Gray Catbird
1 Philadelphia Vireo
4 Red-eyed Vireos
2 Magnolia Warblers
1 Black-throated Blue Warbler
5 Blackpoll Warblers
2 American Redstarts
1 Ovenbird
3 Common Yellowthroats
1 Wilson’s Warbler
2 Song Sparrows

ET’s: 45 spp.
Rick

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