Metro Beach banding report - May 17-24, 2014

As we head into the latter half of May, the weather has improved, although warbler and thrush migration has not. It is an odd mix of the typical species for this time of year and some typically early species lingering later than normal. The higher than normal water levels in the marsh and swamp are reflected in the rail and shorebirds banded this spring. But on the negative side, much of the area is flooded enough to attract Mallards, and a female decided to try to land in one of the Willow nets, with disastrous results to the net; two huge holes. Late May also brings increasing numbers of flycatchers, including my favorites, the Empidonax, and this week we are off to a good start.

Highlights of the 51 birds banded on Saturday, May 17, and particularly of the 25 birds recaptured, included an adult female Ruby-throated Hummingbird that had originally been banded in spring 2013. Only a few hummingbirds are banded at this site in spring (10 times as many in the fall), and there is not a lot of suitable breeding habitat in the park, so having a returning bird is always a good thing.

After hatch-year female Ruby-throated Hummingbird

And I was hopeful that once again we would document the continuing presence of "Lucky" the Song Sparrow; wearing band number 2281-10323, which I have committed to memory since I've recaptured him more than 25 times since banding him as an after hatch-year in 2007, making him at least 7 years 11 months old. He turned up again today, in a net he is not often captured in, and ready to breed as evidenced  by his enlarged cloacal protuberance.

"Lucky", an after 8th year male Song Sparrow

I really enjoy Empidonax flycatchers because of the challenges they present, and today the first "Traill's" Flycatcher of the season was captured. In-hand (and after 30+ years of experience), separating these flycatchers has become fairly straightforward. Least Flycatchers are small, big-headed, with broad white eye rings and a fairly strong contrast between their gray heads and olive backs, and a dirty white throat. Yellow-bellied are very green and yellow overall, with yellow on the throat as well as the belly. Acadians are at the northern edge of their range in our area so are rarely banded, and are also more greenish. Willow and Alder are brownish-olive on the back with a slightly more grayish crown, and typically with narrow and indistinct pale buffy eye rings. They typically show gleaming white throats contrasting with a pale grayish wash across the upper breast.

After hatch-year "Traill's" Flycatcher

Distinguishing Willow from Alder (formerly lumped as one species, "Traill's" Flycatcher) is up to the measurements and proportions. After taking a number of measurements, and comparing them to an established source on a scatter plot, up to 50% of them will key out to one species or the other. Unfortunately, today's flycatcher was in the overlap zone so had to be left as Traill's.

For those who prefer their birds brilliant and iridescent (include me among those), we banded a beautiful male Indigo Bunting today as well; a species captured infrequently here.

After second-year male Indigo Bunting

Interesting birds observed but not banded today included both Sora and Virginia Rails calling near the field nets, and the first Marsh Wren in the banding area this spring. Warblers observed or heard (in small numbers), but not banded included Tennessee, Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Blue, Yellow-rumped, Blackpoll, American Redstart, and Wilson's. A Scarlet Tanager was high in the trees for part of the day.

Highlights of the 46 birds banded on Thursday, May 22 included not one, but TWO Spotted Sandpipers, bringing the total this spring up to three, and the total for the station's entire history to four as the first ever was banded here last spring. These two today provided an excellent opportunity to compare second-year to after second-year, and male to female. Sexing Spotted Sandpipers is done by evaluating the size and number of black spots on the underparts; the males having smaller and fewer spots, the females more and larger. The male below was also a second-year bird, which can be determined by the retained barred coverts that have a white tip, black subterminal band, and white band above that.

Second-year male Spotted Sandpiper

These coverts on the after second-year female below are not retained juvenile type, but are retained basic types, with a white tip and black subterminal band, and no white band above that. Of course, given that my entire life experience with this species in-hand consists of four individuals, I'd be happy to be corrected.

After second-year female Spotted Sandpiper

The portrait below shows the large spots of the female.

After second-year female Spotted Sandpiper

And a wonderful Empidonax surprise today, among the total of 5 today, was an Acadian Flycatcher, only the 3rd banded here since 2004. They are larger than most Empids, with a robust bill, and a narrow, clean, complete eye ring that is tinged yellow, with olive upperparts and whitish throat.

After hatch-year Acadian Flycatcher

After hatch-year Acadian Flycatcher

After hatch-year Acadian Flycatcher

Surprisingly late was a female Ruby-crowned Kinglet; the latest ever here was on 23 May 2006.

After hatch-year female Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Another late bird was the first (!) Palm Warbler of the spring, a rather worn individual that may have been a female. This ties the record late spring date for the species here, set in 2006.

Second-year Palm Warbler

The first Wilson's Warblers of the spring, six of them, put this species into the position of second most numerous migrant warbler this spring, after the 10 Northern Waterthrushes banded so far. Of course there have been more of the two breeding species, Yellow Warbler and Common Yellowthroat, banded this spring.

After hatch-year male Wilson's Warbler

Among the 13 Yellow Warblers recaptured today were two originally banded in 2008. Interesting birds observed but not banded included a calling Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and a number of newly arrived flycatchers including Eastern Wood-Pewee as well as singing Least, Willow, and Great Crested flycatchers. Additional warblers in the banding area were an interesting mix of early and late species: Tennessee, Nashville, Blackburnian, Blackpoll, and Black-and-white.

Highlights of the 47 birds banded on Saturday, May 24 included a Red-bellied Woodpecker, a species infrequently banded here.

After second-year male Red-bellied Woodpecker

After second-year male Red-bellied Woodpecker

Not really a highlight, but an oddity perhaps, was the 5 European Starlings captured today. Last week, there were also 5 starlings, all of them males as determined by the blue bases of their lower mandibles. Today's birds were all females, including this individual with an unusually pale eye color, perhaps indicating it was a second-year.

After hatch-year female European Starling

Most of the sparrow migration occurs in April (and seems to have bypassed us this spring), so a Savannah Sparrow was a bit of a surprise today, and only the 8th here since 2004 and 9th since 1989. There is very little breeding habitat for the species anywhere in the park, so this may be a late migrant.

After hatch-year Savannah Sparrow

After hatch-year Savannah Sparrow

After hatch-year Savannah Sparrow

Interesting birds observed but not banded included a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher that made a brief appearance, and called, next to the banding station, and singing Red-eyed Vireo and Swainson's Thrush. Unbanded warblers included Tennessee, Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Canada, and several American Redstarts.

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Banding Data
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SATURDAY, May 17, 2014
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:09
Time Open (E.S.T.): 6:00
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 13:00
Hours Open: 7.00
No. of Nets: 5.0-14.0
Net Hours: 91.00
Temperature (F): 46-59
Cloud Cover: 100-80%
Wind: NW-S @ 3-5-7 mph
Barometer: 30.07-30.15
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 51 (plus 25 recaptured, 2 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 29
Capture Rate: 85.7 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 9.50 hours, 5:00-14:30): Marie McGee (5.0 hrs), Tom Schlack (5.0 hrs), Jeff Silence, Blanche Wicke.

Mourning Dove - 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)
Downy Woodpecker - 1
[Northern Flicker - 1 recaptured]
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 1
[Warbling Vireo - 1 recaptured]
Tree Swallow - 2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 1
House Wren - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
Veery - 1
Swainson's Thrush - 2
[Hermit Thrush - 1 recaptured, rather late]
[American Robin - 1 recaptured]
Gray Catbird - 2
European Starling - 1
Yellow Warbler - 7 (plus 5 recaptured)
Magnolia Warbler - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 4
[Song Sparrow - 4 recaptured]
Lincoln's Sparrow - 2
Swamp Sparrow - 9 (plus 1 recaptured)
White-throated Sparrow - 1
Indigo Bunting - 1
Red-winged Blackbird - 3 (plus 2 recaptured, 2 released unbanded)
Common Grackle - 1
Baltimore Oriole - 1 (2 recaptured)
House Finch - 1
American Goldfinch - 3 (plus 5 recaptured)

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THURSDAY, May 22, 2014
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:04
Time Open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 13:00
Hours Open: 7.25
No. of Nets: 4.0-10.0
Net Hours: 66.50
Temperature (F): 55-72
Cloud Cover: 10-80%
Wind: NW-WNW @ 5-7-12 mph
Barometer: 29.93-30.04
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 46 (plus 23 recaptured, 2 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 26
Capture Rate: 106.8 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 10.0 hours, 5:00-15:00): John Bieganowski (5.0 hrs), Marie McGee, Tom Schlack (5.5 hrs).

Spotted Sandpiper - 2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 2
Acadian Flycatcher - 1
Alder Flycatcher - 1
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Least Flycatcher - 1
Warbling Vireo - 1
[Black-capped Chickadee - 1 recaptured]
House Wren - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
Swainson's Thrush - 1
American Robin - 1
European Starling - 1
Yellow Warbler - 3 (plus 13 recaptured)
Magnolia Warbler - 1
Palm Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 5 (plus 1 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
Wilson's Warbler - 6

Song Sparrow - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1
[Swamp Sparrow - 1 recaptured]
Red-winged Blackbird - 1 (plus 1 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
Common Grackle - 2
Brown-headed Cowbird - 1
Baltimore Oriole - 2
American Goldfinch - 5 (plus 3 recaptured)

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SATURDAY, May 24, 2014
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:03
Time Open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 13:15
Hours Open: 7.50
No. of Nets: 5.0-13.0
Net Hours: 91.50
Temperature (F): 50-75
Cloud Cover: 10-40%
Wind: SW-SSE @ 1-3-5 mph
Barometer: 30.22-30.22
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 47 (plus 25 recaptured, 3 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 20
Capture Rate: 82.0 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 10.0 hours, 5:00-15:00): Edie Schmitz, Tom Schlack (5.0 hrs), Sarah Toner, Blanche Wicke.

Mourning Dove - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1
Downy Woodpecker - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
[Warbling Vireo - 1 recaptured]
American Robin - 3
European Starling - 5
[Yellow Warbler - 5 recaptured]
Magnolia Warbler - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 2
[Wilson's Warbler - 1 recaptured]
Savannah Sparrow - 1
[Song Sparrow -4 recaptured]
Lincoln's Sparrow - 3
Swamp Sparrow - 2
Red-winged Blackbird - 10 (plus 4 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
Common Grackle - 8 (plus 1 recaptured, 2 released unbanded)
Baltimore Oriole - 1
American Goldfinch - 5 (plus 6 recaptured)

Metro Beach banding report - May 3-11, 2014

A busy schedule has prevented me from posting an update earlier, so this report is for four days: Saturday May 3, Friday May 9, Saturday May 10, and Sunday May 11. The park's "migration festival" on May 10 was a success, with good weather and good numbers of visitors making the trip down to the banding area. Banding in the first part of May saw temperatures increasing, though still cooler than normal. Migrants began showing up throughout the region, though the banding area did not have the warbler diversity of many nearby areas. Except for having to take down the nets in heavy rain one afternoon, the rainy conditions prevalent throughout early May were mostly avoided on the other days.

Highlights of the 26 birds banded on Saturday, May 3 were sparse, and included the first Blue Jay and Common Grackles of the spring; both sporting their iridescent plumages of course.

Second-year Blue Jay

After second-year male Common Grackle

Interesting birds observed but not banded included both Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal in a pond out in the field, attesting to the higher water levels this year, as well as multiple Virginia Rails and Sora. Two Solitary Sandpipers were also out in the vicinity of the Field Nets, and a somewhat late female Rusty Blackbird gave good views at the banding station near where we park along the road.

Highlights of the 69 birds banded on Friday, May 9 included the second Spotted Sandpiper ever banded at the station; the first was banded in spring 2013. This individual was sexed as female based on the size, density, and number of black spots on the breast.

After hatch-year female Spotted Sandpiper

After hatch-year female Spotted Sandpiper

On the same net run, another shorebird was captured, a Wilson's Snipe, which was also only the second ever at the station, with the first banded in spring 1991.

Second-year female Wilson's Snipe

Second-year female Wilson's Snipe

Second-year female Wilson's Snipe

This bird was aged as second-year based on mixed ages of median and lesser coverts, and was sexed as female based on the pattern and length of the outermost tail feather.

Second-year female Wilson's Snipe

Volunteer, Annie Crary, was responsible for flushing the snipe into the net, and was happy to have her photo taken with her prize catch.

Annie Crary with Wilson's Snipe

A bit overdue, the first thrushes of the spring other than Hermit were captured today, including a single Veery and a lone Swainson's Thrush.

After hatch-year Veery

After hatch-year Swainson's Thrush

Rather tardy were two Northern Waterthrushes, the only migrant warblers banded today. Good numbers of Yellow Warblers have arrived, and the first Common Yellowthroats of the spring were also banded.

After hatch-year Northern Waterthrush

Second-year male Common Yellowthroat

Interesting birds observed but not banded included a flyover Green Heron, continuing good numbers of Sora and Virginia Rails, Great Crested Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Wood Thrush, and single individuals of several warbler species: Nashville, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Yellow-rumped, Palm, and American Redstart.

Highlights of the 49 birds banded on Saturday, May 10 included a stunning after second-year male Magnolia Warbler.

After second-year male Magnolia Warbler

After second-year male Magnolia Warbler

The first Lincoln's Sparrow of the spring was banded today, and the Baltimore Orioles have discovered the hummingbird feeders and are being captured more frequently, including some from previous years.

After hatch-year Lincoln's Sparrow

After second-year male Baltimore Oriole

After second-year male Baltimore Oriole

Interesting birds observed but not banded included flyover Green Heron and Turkey Vulture, two circling and calling Sandhill Cranes (rare here), and a few warblers including: Northern Parula, Chestnut-sided, Bay-breasted, Black-and-white, American Redstart, and a stunning Canada right next to the banding station.

Highlights of the 52 birds banded on Sunday, May 11 included only the fourth Virginia Rail ever banded at the station; the first two were in 1992 and the third was in 1998.

After hatch-year Virginia Rail

After hatch-year Virginia Rail

After hatch-year Virginia Rail

Audio luring over the past couple of weeks has brought both Virginia Rail and Sora close to the nets, but not in them. This morning, Virginia Rails were seen in a clump of shrubs between the Field Edge and Field Nets, so the audio lure was set up there. That alone did not catch the rail, but posting a volunteer (Jacob Charlebois) nearby to watch what the birds did allowed one bird to be tracked until it walked into the center of the "U" in the field, where it was captured. Of course Jacob got to pose with "his" rail for photos.

Jacob Charlebois with Virginia Rail

Another unusual capture was only the station's 5th ever Eastern Kingbird, a feisty adult male.

After hatch-year male Eastern Kingbird

After hatch-year male Eastern Kingbird

Today was the best day so far for songbird migrants, including the first Warbling Vireo, Nashville Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and American Redstart.

After hatch-year Warbling Vireo

After hatch-year female Nashville Warbler

Second-year male Chesnut-sided Warbler

Second-year female Yellow-rumped Warbler

After second-year male American Redstart

And some highlights don't come in the form of rarities or colorful species, but in recapturing individuals banded long ago. This past week there were nearly as many Yellow Warblers returning from previous years, including some 4-5 years old, as were newly banded. Even older was a male Song Sparrow banded as a hatch-year in 2008, making him 6 years old this summer.

Sixth-year male Song Sparrow

Interesting birds observed but not banded included an American Woodcock flushed from near the Field Nets in the early morning, and a few different warblers from previously: Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, and Ovenbird. A Scarlet Tanager was a nice sight also.

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SATURDAY, May 3, 2014
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:25
Time Open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 12:45
Hours Open: 6.00
No. of Nets: 5.0-14.0
Net Hours: 77.00
Temperature (F): 48-57
Cloud Cover: 70-100%
Wind: SSW-W @ 5-10-12 mph
Barometer: 29.77-29.70
Precipitation: Intermittent light rain, 11:45-12:45
No. Banded: 26 (plus 10 recaptured, 2 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 9
Capture Rate: 49.4 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 9.5 hours, 5:00-14:30): Jacob Charlebois, Steve Mangas, Blanche Wicke

Blue Jay - 1
House Wren - 1
Hermit Thrush - 1
American Robin - 4

[Song Sparrow -2 recaptured]
Swamp Sparrow - 7 (plus 1 recaptured)
Red-winged Blackbird - 8 (plus 2 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
Common Grackle - 4 (plus 1 released unbanded)
[American Goldfinch - 5 recaptured]

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FRIDAY, May 9, 2014
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:17
Time Open (E.S.T.): 6:00
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 12:15
Hours Open: 6.25
No. of Nets: 5.0-14.0
Net Hours: 79.25
Temperature (F): 57-66
Cloud Cover: 20-100%
Wind: S-SW @ 7-10-12 mph
Barometer: 29.91-29.81
Precipitation: Rain at 12:30
No. Banded: 69 (plus 31 recaptured, 3 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 19
Capture Rate: 130.0 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 9.5 hours, 5:00-14:30): Annie Crary (6.5 hrs), Dave Lancaster, Judi Wade

SPOTTED SANDPIPER - 1
WILSON'S SNIPE - 1
Mourning Dove - 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1
Blue Jay - 6 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Tree Swallow - 1
Black-capped Chickadee - 1
Veery - 1
Swainson's Thrush - 1
American Robin - 1
Yellow Warbler - 10 (plus 10 recaptured)
Northern Waterthrush - 2
Common Yellowthroat - 3 (plus 3 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
Song Sparrow -2 (plus 1 recaptured)
Swamp Sparrow - 8
White-throated Sparrow - 1
Red-winged Blackbird - 17 (plus 4 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
Baltimore Oriole - 4 (plus 5 recaptured)
American Goldfinch - 7 (plus 8 recaptured)

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SATURDAY, May 10, 2014
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:16
Time Open (E.S.T.): 6:00
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 13:00
Hours Open: 7.00
No. of Nets: 5.0-14.0
Net Hours: 91.00
Temperature (F): 54-73
Cloud Cover: 20-40%
Wind: SW-WNW @ 5-7-12 mph
Barometer: 29.92-29.50
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 49 (plus 12 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 16
Capture Rate: 68.1 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 10.0 hours, 5:00-15:00): John Bieganowski (3.5 hrs), Jacob Charlebois, Jean Gramlich, Dave Lancaster (3.5 hrs), Steve Mangas, Marie McGee (5.0 hrs)

Blue Jay - 1
Tree Swallow - 1
American Robin - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
European Starling - 2
Yellow Warbler - 5 (plus 5 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
Magnolia Warbler - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 3
Common Yellowthroat - 7 (plus 2 recaptured)
Song Sparrow - 1
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1
Swamp Sparrow - 8
Northern Cardinal - 1
Red-winged Blackbird - 6
Common Grackle - 1
Baltimore Oriole - 3 (plus 2 recaptured)
American Goldfinch - 7 (plus 2 recaptured)

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SUNDAY, May 11, 2014
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:15
Time Open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 13:00
Hours Open: 7.25
No. of Nets: 5.0-14.0
Net Hours: 92.25
Temperature (F): 48-73
Cloud Cover: 10-100-70%
Wind: Calm-SE @ 0-5-7 mph
Barometer: 30.01-30.09
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 52 (plus 23 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 24
Capture Rate: 82.4 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 9.5 hours, 5:00-14:30): Jacob Charlebois, Michelle Serreyn (2.25 hrs), Sarah Toner, Blanche Wicke

VIRGINIA RAIL - 1
[Mourning Dove - 1]
Northern Flicker - 1
EASTERN KINGBIRD - 1
Warbling Vireo - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)

[American Robin - 1 recaptured]
Gray Catbird - 2
Nashville Warbler - 1
Yellow Warbler - 7 (plus 6 recaptured)
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1
Magnolia Warbler - 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 2
American Redstart - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 4
Common Yellowthroat - 4 (plus 2 recaptured)
Song Sparrow -1 (plus 4 recaptured)
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1
Swamp Sparrow - 4 (plus 1 recaptured)
Northern Cardinal -1
Red-winged Blackbird - 9 (plus 1 recaptured)
Common Grackle - 1 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Brown-headed Cowbird - 1
Baltimore Oriole - 2 (plus 3 recaptured)
American Goldfinch - 5 (plus 3 recaptured)

Metro Beach banding station report - April 23 & 27, 2014

For the first time, every banding day in the month of April started out with temperatures in the 30s. The two banding days covered here did reach into the 50s by the time we closed the nets. Hopefully we'll see a warming trend soon! Only one banding day was possible the third week of April because that's all the volunteers I could convince to come out, so the first day of the next week is included here also. Overall, captures were rather low for the entire month of April. We'll see what happens once the warblers arrive.

Highlights of the 25 birds banded on Wednesday, April 23 included the third Northern Flicker of the spring, this one a male, as can be clearly seen by its black whisker.

After hatch-year male Northern Flicker

After hatch-year male Northern Flicker

The first swallow of the spring was captured today. But despite there being considerable Tree Swallow activity around the nest box near the Field Nets, the first swallow banded was a Northern Rough-winged.

Second-year male Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Second-year male Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Although they have been in the banding area for at least two weeks, the first Winter Wren of the spring was captured today. It could certainly be the last since very few have been banded in the first week of May here.

After hatch-year Winter Wren

After hatch-year Winter Wren

Not much of a highlight, but still a beautiful bird up close, was the European Starling; this one a male distinguished by the light blue at the base of its yellow bill. Normally I don't band starlings, but the previous bander here did, so to follow the protocol I band them here.

After hatch-year male European Starling

After hatch-year male European Starling

Interesting birds observed but not banded included a calling Pied-billed Grebe in the marsh to the north, calling Virginia Rails and Sora, an Eastern Phoebe, the lingering Louisiana Waterthrush, and a Rusty Blackbird.

Highlights of the 39 birds banded on Sunday, April 27 included the second swallow of the season, this time the expected Tree Swallow. In addition, another already banded Tree Swallow was captured, that one a male that had been banded in spring of 2013.

After hatch-year male Tree Swallow

None were heard singing in the banding area today, or any day prior, so it was nice to have the season's first House Wren today as a sign that the migration was progressing...slowly.

After hatch-year House Wren

After hatch-year House Wren

Overwintering White-throated Sparrows are sometimes caught in early April. That did not happen this year, but they are almost always quite worn and dull. It was clear that the two caught today were the first migrants from farther south as they were in very fresh, bright plumage, one white-striped morph and one tan-striped morph. Both birds were aged second-year based on molt limits, and were sexed as male by wing chord (>74mm), so the differences seen below are due to each being a different color morph.

Second-year male White-throated Sparrow (Tan)

Second-year male White-throated Sparrow (White)

Second-year male White-throated Sparrow (White)

And a common species that we don't catch very often was a single House Finch.

After hatch-year male House Finch

And I'll end with a gratuitous portrait of the same White-throated Sparrow, to show off its bright colors.

Second-year male White-throated Sparrow (White)

Interesting birds observed but not banded included a flyover Common Loon, calling Sora and Virginia Rails, a calling Common Gallinule in the marsh north of the banding area, a briefly heard calling Solitary Sandpiper, two flyover Forster's Terns, three species of warbler; Nashville, Yellow, and the still lingering Louisiana Waterthrush, and a female Rusty Blackbird that gave good views most of the day.

It is also a great relief to have an insect highlight, as insects are finally now becoming active. You know it was a long winter when you're happy to see bugs! This half-inch beetle was found out near the Field Nets, and brought back to the station to be photographed. It is a species that I've seen several times when looking for salamanders. They like to hide under logs so are not often seen. And before now they have been too fast for me to get photos. This one had to be restrained in the ziploc bag that I keep my parking permit in...and an attempt to photograph it outside the bag failed as it flew off almost immediately.

Red Flat Bark Beetle (Cucujus clavipes)

Red Flat Bark Beetle (Cucujus clavipes)

============================
Banding Data
--------------------------------------
WEDNESDAY, April 23, 2014
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:39
Time Open (E.S.T.): 6:00
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 13:00
Hours Open: 7.00
No. of Nets: 5.0-14.0
Net Hours: 91.00
Temperature (F): 39-54
Cloud Cover: 100-20%
Wind: NW @ 12-7 mph
Barometer: 29.36 - 29.45
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 25 (plus 11 recaptured, 2 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 13
Capture Rate: 41.8 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 10.00 hours, 5:00-15:00): Steve Mangas, Tom Schlack (5.5 hrs), Sue Wright

Downy Woodpecker -1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Northern Flicker - 1
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 1
Winter Wren - 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
Hermit Thrush - 2
American Robin - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
European Starling - 1 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Song Sparrow - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)
Swamp Sparrow - 4 (plus 1 recaptured)
Red-winged Blackbird - 8 (plus 3 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
[Brown-headed Cowbird - 1 recaptured]
[American Goldfinch - 3 recaptured]

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SUNDAY, April 27, 2014
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:33
Time Open (E.S.T.): 6:00
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 13:00
Hours Open: 7.00
No. of Nets: 5.0-14.0
Net Hours: 91.00
Temperature (F): 34-57
Cloud Cover: 50-80%
Wind: NE-SE @ 3-5 mph
Barometer: 29.51 - 29.50
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 39 (plus 7 recaptured, 3 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 11
Capture Rate: 53.8 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 9.5 hours, 5:00-14:30): Annie Crary, Jacob Charlebois, Kathy McDonald, Blanche Wicke

[Downy Woodpecker - 1 recaptured]
Tree Swallow - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
House Wren - 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
Hermit Thrush - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)
Song Sparrow -3 (plus 1 recaptured)
Swamp Sparrow - 10 (plus 1 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
White-throated Sparrow - 2
Red-winged Blackbird - 14 (plus 1 recaptured, 2 released unbanded)
House Finch - 1
American Goldfinch - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)