September Week 1

7th September – way below par

Much the same weather as yesterday, resulting in even fewer birds. 2 Great Crested Flycatchers, Scarlet Tanager along with Blackpoll, Black and White, Ovenbird, Waterthrush and 4 Magnolia Warblers all helped towards the 26 birds banded.

Throughout the morning a second calendar year Bald Eagle was seen, as were 6+ Sharp-shinned Hawks and a Merlin. Over on the beach remains just one banded Least Sandpiper. As for the Giant Swallowtail caterpillar he has now passed the stage of looking like the perfect bird dropping and in growing into being a splendid creature.


Giant Swallowtail

6th September – they come, they go

The weather remained unfavourable with the wind now in the southeast and it was obvious that it was much quieter than yesterday. The nets brought us just 36 birds with the best being a Northern Waterthrush, 3 Black-throated Blue and 6 Blackpoll Warblers. Down in the swamp (now dry of course) lingers a banded Broad-winged Hawk as a Common Loon flew over.


Philadelphia Vireo

In the afternoon a trip to Traverse failed to find any warblers but there were still a group of 6 Philadelphia and 12 Red-eyed Vireos whilst a Whip-poor-will flushed from the edge of the trail.

5th September –warbler arrival

The day started of with a fresh easterly wind and cloudy conditions, not ideal for birds so we thought but how wrong could we be? It was very apparent whilst opening the nets that birds were present and the nets were filling up straight away. Four additions to the season came in quick succession with Brown Creeper, Philadelphia Vireo, 2 Northern Parula and a Blue Jay. The morning was definitely dominated by warblers with a total of 14 species being banded but the best once again falls to a Broad-winged Hawk, they have so much character! That’s four just one more to equal the record now! Days catch reached 98 birds.


Least Sandpiper

A walk around the shore found the 2 least Sandpipers still present as I headed up to Point Traverse. Once in the woods a discovery of a warbler flock added a further Myrtle and Black-throated Green Warbler to this mornings tally along with two more brightly coloured Philadelphia Vireos. At dusk 14 Blue-winged Teals shot over.

4th September – increasing numbers

Our days catch improves to 63 birds, well above average of 40 ish for this period. Most interesting were 2 Tennessee Warblers, 2 Northern Waterthrush, 2 Grey-cheeked Thrush and most numerous being 16 Swainson’s Thrush.

After a trip to Picton our return journey just after dusk was brightened up with a Whip-poor-will resting in the road.

3rd September – early surprise

I awoke on a calm clear morning to find a banding tick waiting for me in the banding lab! Thanks to Dave’s efforts over night he caught a Whip-poor-will just before sunrise. Shortly after the standard nets were opened with a reasonable catch including a Grey-cheeked Thrush that was new for the season. Most common birds today were 12+ Red-eyed Vireos, 9 Blackpoll and 3 Bay-breasted Warblers also in the wood were a couple of Scarlet Tanagers. At the feeders the late breeding Goldfinches finally brought their young whilst overhead an immature Bald Eagle floated by. Two Least Sandpipers still present.


Whip-poor-will

2nd September – 2 is better than 1

The weather was good again with a light northwest wind over night and clear skies for raptors moving. Not just as busy around the nets today but still a good selection with 13 species of warbler, Savannah Sparrow new for the fall and a milestone reached as Bobolinks passed 400 as their passage slows towards an end. The best round came near 10am but not for numbers as only 6 birds were collected but for quality as one was a Sharp-shinned Hawk and 2 were Broad-winged Hawks! Now we have caught three of these stunning birds with amazing character, which is quite astonishing so early in the season considering that in the last ten years only one was caught in 2002, 2004 and 5 in 2007.


Broad-winged Hawk

Overhead more raptors were noted with Red-tailed Hawk, 6 Broad-winged Hawks, 7 Northern Harriers, Bald Eagle, American Kestrel, Merlin and 16 Turkey Vultures. On the rocky beach remained the two Least Sandpipers, a single Spotted Sandpiper with the addition of a Semipalmated Plover.

1st September – migration starts

Northwest winds over night again resulted in the arrival of some birds with over 120 new birds banded. A record was broken with our 5th Mourning Warbler of the season and a cracking male as well. New birds banded for the season were an Eastern Pheobe, Blackpoll Warbler, 3 Bay-breasted Warblers (now I know why some fall warblers are confusing!),


Bay Breasted and Blackpoll Warbler

And finally Tennessee Warbler. As the sun started to warm up by noon raptors started to appear overhead but sadly banding prevents looking up at the sky so I tend to miss a large percentage. Here are some that I saw, 2 Broad-winged Hawks, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Northern Harrier, Bald Eagle, 7 Turkey Vulture and a Merlin. Back with the banding we managed to lure in 36 Barn Swallows and the most numerous warbler caught was 11 American Redstarts.

In the afternoon a look over on the rocky shore revealed two Least Sandpipers with shiny bands and 3 Spot Sands, as the sun set there was a single Nighthawk seen.

Today’s banding total brought us to 1040 birds for the season, 350 more than the best previous total from the last ten years by this stage so signs are good for a productive season.