There was a great deal of activity in and over Ruthven Park just before dawn. The flight call of thrushes could be heard overhead in the dark, and the odd querulous “pssst” could be heard from the sheltering shrubbery. It seems the White-Throated Sparrows had arrived.

As dawn broke warblers could be seen flitting too and fro amongst the treetops. And, if portents were needed, a couple of immature Bald Eagles were seen flying low and slow over the parking lot. Even more remarkable was the arrival of Jake (our co-op student) without his attendant rain cloud.

Anyways, the day was indeed a good one with a total of 54 species being encountered. Fifteen of these were warblers, including the season’s first Yellow-Rumped Warblers sneaking in as I was leaving in late afternoon.

Also new for the season was Red-Breasted Nuthatch.

Fall migration seems to have begun in earnest.

Banded:45
American Goldfinch 5
Magnolia Warbler 3
Tennessee Warbler 3
Blackburnian Warbler 1
Northern Parula 1
Black-Throated Blue Warbler 3
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet 1
American Redstart 1
Wilson’s Warbler 1
Nashville Warbler 2
Chestnut-Sided Warbler 1
Canada Warbler 1
House Wren 1
Black-and-White Warbler 2
Bay-Breasted Warbler 1
Swainson’s Thrush 4
White-Throated Sparrow 5
Grey-Cheeked Thrush 2
Downy Woodpecker 1
Grey Catbird 5
American Robin 1

Retrapped: 9
Black-Capped Chickadee 2
Swainson’s Thrush 1
Song Sparrow 3
Grey-Cheeked Thrush 1
Grey Catbird 2

B