It’s the time of the migration when the switch is being made from long-distance to short-distance migrants: you tend to get a few of each – the stragglers that still have to get down to Central and South America and the vanguard of the horde that goes to the mid-central and southern States. Take the 25th for example: we banded a Gray-cheeked Thrush and a Blackpoll Warbler; both species winter in South America. At the same time we caught 12 White-throated Sparrows – a bird that winters in the central States (in fact, a few might even spend the cold months at Ruthven).
On the 25th we had 4 “new” species for the Fall season: Pileated Woodpecker (despite Dorothy SMith not being present!?), Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, and Rusty Blackbird.
Nancy opened a few nets Saturday night to see if there were any early Northern Saw-whet Owls moving through. There weren’t…..but a curious Flying Squirrel checked out one of the nets.
Rain today (26th) made for a short day. But again, there was an interesting mix of migrants.
Over the weekend there were some excellent photographers at Ruthven. I have posted a lot of their photos in the “Photo Gallery” but just didn’t have room for all of them (unfortunately).
September 25th; Banded 33:
1 Eastern Phoebe
1 Blue Jay
3 Black-capped Chickadee
1 Brown Creeper
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
1 Gray-cheeked Thrush
4 Swainson’s Thrushes
2 Gray Catbirds
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler
2 Blackpoll Warblers
2 Common Yellowthroats
1 Song Sparrow
12 White-throated Sparrows
1 American Goldfinches
ET’s: 43 spp.
September 26th; Banded 16:
1 Downy Woodpecker
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
3 Swainson’s Thrushes
1 Gray Catbird
3 Red-eyed Vireos
2 Black-throated Warblers
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler
1 Bay-breasted Warbler
1 Scarlet Tanager
2 White-throated Sparrows
ET’s: 34 spp.
Photo Gallery:
