David Brewer discussing the fine points of plumage/identification….ahh, those “confusing fall warblers”.
A foggy dawn gave way to stunning clear blue skies, bright sunshine and gentle southerly winds; the sort of conditions that are anathema to good banding at Ruthven. The pace of catching was slow (<20 birds per 100 net hours) - perfect for teaching new volunteers how to scribe or going over the nuances of aging and sexing with "rusty" banders. And here's an interesting fact/feat that is in some ways -some might say crucial ways – related to the banding program: for her son’s birthday Irene Fotheringham prepared the dessert table; she made 25 different types of cookies, 12 dozen of each!! She only brought 2 types this morning. But…the bar has been set – feel free to try and better it! (I will humbly volunteer myself to test, impartially, any attempts.)
Mary and Norm Pomfret did their weekly Wednesday butterful count and reported that they had seen 4 Monarch Butterflies, which doubles their total for the year.
Banded 19:
1 Mourning Dove
1 Eastern Wood Pewee
1 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
1 Least Flycatcher
1 Veery
1 American Robin
1 Gray Catbird
1 Cedar Waxwing
1 Warbling Vireo
3 Red-eyed Vireos
2 Black-throated Green Warblers
1 Common Yellowthroat
1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
1 Indigo Bunting
2 Chipping Sparrows
ET’s: 41 spp.
Photo Gallery (thanks to Bob Fotheringham):
Red-tailed Hawk taking in the early morning sun. B. Fortheringham
Black-throated Green Warbler feeding its way south. B. Fotheringham
Eastern Wood Pewee, a sub-canopy aerial insectivore. -B. Fortheringham
Scarlet Tanager. B. Fotheringham
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. B. Fotheringham
Before the sun got up, there was a heavy dew which set off all the spider webs – exquisitely beautiful death-traps for insects. When outlined with dew, it’s amazing how much cubic space is covered with webs – a deadly gauntlet.
A beautiful death trap for unwary (or unlucky) insects. B. Fotheringham
B. Fotheringham
Exquisite. B. Fotheringham
Rick