Sparrows have moved in. This Song Sparrow was foraging in the adjacent soybean field. -CR
Last night was perfect for migration – no wind, clear skies – and it seems it went on in full force. After a few days of mediocre catches both sites – Lowville and the Farm – banded good numbers. Sparrows are starting to make their presence felt. Interestingly, at the Farm, where we hadn’t even seen any Swamp Sparrows for a couple of weeks despite the fact that they bred there in good numbers, they were everywhere. Most were young birds, possibly checking out the area as a nesting destination next Spring.
Swamp Sparrow -CR
Lowville; Banded 55:
1 Northern Flicker
5 Black-capped Chickadees
1 Winter Wren
4 Golden-crowned Kinglets
4 Ruby-crowned Kinglets
3 Swainson’s Thrushes
3 Hermit thrushes
1 American Robin
1 Gray Catbird
7 Song Sparrows
13 White-throated Sparrows
7 Nashville Warblers
1 Tennessee Warbler
1 Black-throated Blue Warbler
1 Blackpoll Warbler
2 Common Yellowthroats
The Farm; Banded 63:
The 1st Yellow-bellied Sapsucker of the season. -CR
1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
1 Downy Woodpecker
1 Blue Jay
1 Brown Creeper
6 Golden-crowned Kinglets
4 Ruby-crowned Kinglets
1 American Robin
2 Gray Catbirds
3 American Goldfinches
5 Song Sparrows
We hadn’t seen Swamp Sparrows for several weeks but today they were around in force. This is a young one. -CR
10 Swamp Sparrows
9 White-throated Sparrows
Young male Red-winged Blackbirds. This species tends to move around in same-sex flocks. All the birds we caught today were males. -CR
An older male Red-winged blackbird letting me know it isn’t happy. -CR
12 Red-winged Blackbirds
1 Nashville Warbler
3 Myrtle Warblers
3 Common Yellowthroats
There are at least 2 pairs of Sandhill Cranes that have nested in the immediate area. -CR
Sandhill Crane bugling from the neighbouring field. -CR
White-breasted Nuthatch checking out the bark. -CR
ET’s: 29 spp.
Rick