A LOT has been going on while I have been lollygagging across the Pond in England….as you will see below.
The last couple of days of September saw more of that “great weather/lousy banding” phenomenon but on the 30th, BANG!, the weather turned and the NE winds started a big flow of migrants. Nancy banded 158 on the first. And today we banded another 151. At Fern Hill today Janice got the first Orange-crowned and Pine Warblers of the season….and ahead of us at Ruthven (drat!!).
So bear with the hodge-podge below and try to feel the excitement of the movement of this huge mass of birds.
[But first….some pictures from the 26th:]
September 28 – Unsettled Weather
A light misty rain settled in just when the nets were opened today. It
continued throughout the morning, and when it showed no sign of letting up
we closed the nets further away from the banding lab. Just three net
lanes closest to the banding lab were left open with the hope that we
would have some birds to band for the educational program. Overall, a
slow day with only 23 birds handled.
Banded 15
1 Tufted Titmouse
1 Black-capped Chickadee
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
1 Gray-checked Thrush
1 Blue-headed Vireo
2 Nashville Warbler
3 Yellow-rumped Warbler
1 Black-throated Green
2 Blackpoll Warbler
1 Field Sparrow
1 White-throated Sparrow
ET’s: 24 spp.
September 29 – A Balmy Day
The warm weather continues with the winds from the south and temperatures
in the mid-twenties! Another day with intermittent showers, threatening
throughout the morning. Only the nets closest to the banding lab were
opened, and the rain held off until closing when it started to pour and
never let up. The bird of the day was the first Slate-colored Junco banded for the fall
season.
Banded 25
1 Swainson’s Thrush
1 Red-eyed Vireo
1 Magnolia Warbler
7 Yellow-rumped Warbler
4 Blackpoll Warbler
2 Chipping Sparrow
2 Field Sparrow
4 White-throated Sparrow
1 Slate-colored Junco
2 American Goldfinch
ET’s: 30 spp.
Nancy
September 30th; Nancy Is Run Off Her Feet:
Nancy was by herself today when the tide turned and she was inundated with migrants – and 50 students!! She did a great job ringing and flinging (banding but not taking measurements)`. 158 birds later (whew!) she was able to close up the nets.
Banded 158:
1 Downy Woodpecker
2 Brown Creepers
1 Winter Wren
15 Golden-crowned Kinglets
13 Ruby-crowned Kinglets
3 Swainson`s Thrushes
9 Cedar Waxwings
3 Nashville Warblers
3 Magnolia Warblers
7 Black-throated Blue Warblers
56 Yellow-rumped Warblers
1 Cape May Warbler
1 Black-throated Green Warbler
7 Western Palm Warblers
3 Blackpoll Warblers
1 Black and White Warbler
3 American Redstarts
1 Song Sparrow
1 Swamp Sparrow
21 White-throated Sparrows
6 American Goldfinches
ET`s: 33 spp.
October 1st; Banded 151:
1 Sharp-shinned Hawk
2 Eastern Phoebes
6 Brown Creepers
1 House Wren
10 Golden-crowned Kinglets
8 Ruby-crowned Kinglets
1 Swainson`s Thrush
1 Hermit Thrush (1st of the season)
1 American Robin
1 Blue-headed Vireo
2 Tennessee Warblers
2 Nashville Warblers
1 Magnolia Warbler
2 Black-throated Warblers
48 Yellow-rumped Warblers
4 Western Palm Warblers
3 Blackpoll Warblers
3 Song Sparrows
1 Swamp Sparrow
48 White-throated Sparrows
1 Eastern White-crowned Sparrow
3 Dark-eyed Juncos
1 American Goldfinch
ET`s: 47 spp.
Rick
Fern Hill October 1st:
It was another beautiful, blustery day at Fern Hill. The northerly winds continued to bring new migrants into the area. Diversity was high with 39 species observed throughout the morning, including five species of warblers (Tennessee, Orange-crowned, Pine Warbler and Common Yellowthroat), both Ruby and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Swainson’s and Gray-cheeked Thrush as well as four species of woodpecker (Downy, Hairy, Red-bellied Woodpecker and Yellow-shafted Flicker).
Banded 23
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
1 Gray-cheeked Thrush
1 Swainson’s Thrush
7 American Robins
1 Tennessee Warbler
1 Orange-crowned Warbler
1 Pine Warbler
2 Western Palm Warblers
1 Common Yellowthroat
1 Northern Cardinal
1 Song Sparrow
4 White-throated Sparrows
1 House Finch
ET: 39 spp.
Janice