Early morning mist. -W. Andrus
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).
First Ruby-crowned Kinglet of the season – a female. -B. Oldfield
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 was checking to see if there were any early Saw-whet Owls around Saturday night…..and so was this Flying Squirrel. -N. Furber
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.
Night flyer: Flying Squirrel checking out an owl net. -N. Furber
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
Gray-cheeked Thrush – my favourite; a REAL long-distance migrant, spending the winter in South America. -M. Gibson
1 Gray-cheeked Thrush
4 Swainson’s Thrushes
Gray Catbird…..we won’t see these much longer. -L. Oldfield
2 Gray Catbirds
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler
2 Blackpoll Warblers
2 Common Yellowthroats
1 Song Sparrow
Grayson releasing a White-throated Sparrow – a bird that is just starting to show up in good numbers. -W. Andrus
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
Just a hint of brown on the flanks indicates that this is a Bay-breasted Warbler. -N. Furber
1 Bay-breasted Warbler
Young male Scarlet Tanager (note the black secondary coverts). -N. Furber
1 Scarlet Tanager
2 White-throated Sparrows
ET’s: 34 spp.
Photo Gallery:
Even young children can be taught how to correctly hold a bird. -L. Oldfield
Releasing a House Wren. -L. Oldfield
…and a Gray Catbird. -L. Oldfield
GO JAYS!!!! -M. Gibson
Rhapsody in Blue – the colour-co-ordinated volunteer group on Sunday….in keeping with the GO JAYS motif.
Lisa checking out a thrush while Samuel scribes. -M. Gibson
Hungry Garter Snake!! -M. Gibson
Soaring the friendly skies……migrating Turkey Vulture. -M. Gibson
A field of webs – you wonder how insects survive having to run a gauntlet like this. -M. Gibson
Male Eastern Bluebird. -W. Andrus
A female White-breasted Nuthatch peeks out from behind a tree. -W. Andrus
This will be a common sight over the next three weeks: birds going after grapes. -R Camasta
Yellow-rumped Warblers were common on Sunday. -R. Camasta
Philadelphia Vireo in the willows just outside the banding lab. -R. Camasta
Female Rose-breasted Grosbeak. -R. Camasta
With the warm weather, snakes are still on the prowl….but not for much longer -L. Oldfield
The Pied Piper……. -L. Oldfield
Spectators of all ages are curious about extracting birds. -L. Oldfield
“Net 4 on the left……Net 5 on the right.” -L. Oldfield