Michigan Hummingbird Guy

Metro Beach banding report - The final day, November 4, 2011

2011-11-06T21:43:00.003-05:00

I managed to convince three volunteers to try to band one more day at Metro Beach, luring them with the possibility of catching an owl early in the morning. Unfortunately, we did not succeed in catching an owl, and the number of birds banded was not high, but we had a really nice day to be out, considering it was early November in Michigan! White-tailed Deer have been less of a problem than in some recent fall seasons, but today they finished destroying a net that I'd turned upside down so the holes they made were at the top, making new holes in it; and they also ran through an adjacent net, ripping out the bottom entirely.

After reading the highlights and totals from this week, continue reading for a basic summary of the season.

Highlights of the 26 birds banded on Friday, November 4 included only the second Tufted Titmouse this fall.

Hatch-year Tufted Titmouse

This species is very uncommon in the banding area, and only a few are found in the park year-round. They can become quite secretive, especially in summer, as evidenced by the fact that the park bird checklist does not indicate that they are a breeding species. But having banded hatch-year birds over the past three years is certainly proof that this non-migratory species does breed in the park.

Hatch-year Tufted Titmouse

A small number of kinglets was still present in the park, with both species banded. Numbers of kinglets banded this fall were quite low, for reasons unknown.

Hatch-year male Golden-crowned Kinglet

The only Ruby-crowned Kinglet of the day was the last bird banded this season.

Hatch-year male Ruby-crowned Kinglet

As expected, the selection of birds banded included a wintery mix, starting with a good number of American Tree Sparrows. The bi-colored bill shows up well in the photo below.

Hatch-year American Tree Sparrow

One Fox Sparrow was still lingering in the banding area, which they may do through November but few if any will remain through the winter.

Hatch-year Fox Sparrow

Of course, Dark-eyed Juncos are the classic winter bird, although they have been in the banding area for almost a month already.

Hatch-year female Dark-eyed Junco

Song Sparrows have not gotten a lot of attention in this blog. They are common as a nesting species, and quite a few over-winter every year, and we typically band well over 100 in a fall season, as we did this year.

Hatch-year Song Sparrow

An adult male House Finch was the 11th banded this fall, the most since 1993 but short of the record of 16 in fall 1991.

After hatch-year male House Finch

And we did very well with American Goldfinches this fall, with more than 400 banded being just short of last year's record. This photo shows a hatch-year female quite well, with her dull (not shiny dark) blackish wings and blurry dull whitish tail spots.

Hatch-year female American Goldfinch

Interesting birds observed but not banded included a soaring Sharp-shinned Hawk, three Red-tailed Hawks, calling Eastern Screech-Owl and Great Horned Owl when it was still dark, and a flyover Belted Kingfisher. Perhaps the most interesting bird observed today occurred during a mid-morning net check. While we were out at the Field Nets, the half-dozen Mourning Doves in the dead tree in the center of the array suddenly flushed away, being replaced by a similar-sized gray bird. A Northern Shrike!

Banding could not have been done today without the help of three dependable volunteers, John Bieganowski, Dave Lancaster, and Tom Schlack.

============================
Banding Data
-------------------------------------
FRIDAY, November 4, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 7:09
Time Open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 12:15
Hours Open: 6.50
No. of Nets: 5.00-13.50
Net Hours: 81.25
Temperature (F): 37-52
Cloud Cover: 80-0%
Wind: NE @ 1-3-5 mph
Barometer: 30.26-30.41
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 26 (plus 3 recaptured)
No. of Species: 13
Capture Rate: 35.7 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 9.0 hours, 5:00-14:00): John Bieganowski (6.0 hrs), Dave Lancaster, Tom Schlack.

Tufted Titmouse - 1
[Brown Creeper - 1 recaptured]
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
American Robin - 3
American Tree Sparrow - 7 (plus 1 recaptured)
Fox Sparrow - 1
Song Sparrow - 2
Swamp Sparrow - 2
Dark-eyed Junco - 2
[Red-winged Blackbird - 1 recaptured]
House Finch - 1
American Goldfinch - 4

============================
2011 Fall Banding Totals
-------------------------------------
First Banding Day: 7 August
Last Banding Day: 4 November
Total Banding Days: 25
Total Banding Hours: 169.25
Total Net Hours: 2057.375
Total Banded: 2115 (plus 302 recaptured and 53 released unbanded)
Total Species Banded: 79
Overall Capture Rate: 120.1 per 100 net hours

Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 1
Eastern Screech-Owl - 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 158
Downy Woodpecker - 9
Northern Flicker - 2
Olive-sided Flycatcher - 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 8
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - 2
Alder Flycatcher - 3
Willow Flycatcher - 6
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 4
Least Flycatcher - 11
Eastern Phoebe - 1
Great Crested Flycatcher - 1
Eastern Kingbird - 1
Blue-headed Vireo - 2
Warbling Vireo - 19
Philadelphia Vireo - 6
Red-eyed Vireo - 11
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 2
Black-capped Chickadee - 13
Tufted Titmouse - 2
White-breasted Nuthatch - 1
Brown Creeper - 27
Carolina Wren - 1
House Wren - 5
Winter Wren - 8
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 19
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 23
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1
Veery - 2
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 19
Swainson's Thrush - 25
Hermit Thrush - 50
Wood Thrush - 1
American Robin - 27
Gray Catbird - 29
Cedar Waxwing - 11
Tennessee Warbler - 34
Orange-crowned Warbler - 4
Nashville Warbler - 129
Northern Parula - 2
Yellow Warbler - 15
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 8
Magnolia Warbler - 51
Cape May Warbler - 3
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 34
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 58
Black-throated Green Warbler - 2
Blackburnian Warbler - 1
Palm Warbler - 5
Bay-breasted Warbler - 3
Blackpoll Warbler - 10
Black-and-white Warbler - 4
American Redstart - 18
Ovenbird - 13
Northern Waterthrush - 6
Mourning Warbler - 3
Common Yellowthroat - 53
Wilson's Warbler - 20
Canada Warbler - 2
Northern Cardinal - 8
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 3
Indigo Bunting - 6
Eastern Towhee - 1
American Tree Sparrow - 12
Field Sparrow - 2
Fox Sparrow - 15
Song Sparrow - 170
Lincoln's Sparrow - 12
Swamp Sparrow - 96
White-throated Sparrow - 240
White-crowned Sparrow - 32
Dark-eyed Junco - 4
Red-winged Blackbird - 56
Brown-headed Cowbird - 1
Baltimore Oriole - 10
House Finch - 11
American Goldfinch - 445

Watch for the detailed fall summary at the end of the year at the Metro Beach Banding web page.

Metro Beach banding report - October 24 & 29, 2011

2011-10-30T13:53:00.000-04:00

The weather forecast for this week was little or no rain, but as has happened pretty much every week since banding started, it turned into a fairly wet week. The rain on Monday, October 24 was confined to a little in the morning that delayed opening only about 15 minutes and another brief period with a "trace" mid-day. On Saturday, October 29, skies were fairly clear but they became overcast quickly. We didn't have any nets open before it rained Saturday, but we ended up taking them down in rain, and perhaps even sleet. We may band one more day next week, but this week is the "official" end of the fall banding season at Metro Beach Metro Park. Next week's blog will include a brief summary of the fall banding totals.

Highlights of the 148 birds banded on Monday, October 24 included yet another first for the station, and a personal first as well, a handsome Yellow-billed Cuckoo. It is the 112th species at the station since 2004, and the 78th species this fall (previous record was 77 species in 2008). This species is very rare in Michigan after about September 15, and almost completely unexpected after October 1.

Hatch-year Yellow-billed Cuckoo

This species can usually be aged in the field quite easily, as hatch-year birds have a bright yellow eye ring. It is also interesting to see that the bill is half black, just like the Black-billed Cuckoo's (see the banding report for May 28 in this blog) but with yellow on the lower mandible instead of blue-gray.

Hatch-year Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Cuckoos have a zygodactylus arrangement of toes on their feet, similar to woodpeckers, and it was interesting to observe this closely. Vocalizations of birds in-hand are often quite different from anything heard in the field. In the 1990s, I tape recorded quite a few of these, including Black-billed Cuckoo which gives an eerie sound very similar to what this Yellow-billed gave. It is perhaps appropriate this week before Halloween, so if you want to listen, click here.

Zygodactylus toe arrangement of Yellow-billed Cuckoo

One species that has been captured in low numbers this fall, and has been absent in our nets for some time, was Winter Wren. Four banded today brought us into a more normal range (though low) for a season's total.

Hatch-year Winter Wren

And another species also absent for some time is Orange-crowned Warbler; all three for the season were banded on only one day early in October. So today's was a welcome sight.

Hatch-year male Orange-crowned Warbler

The single-season record here for Nashville Warblers was broken quite some time ago, but they just keep coming, including this fairly late individual today.

Hatch-year male Nashville Warbler

It was another good day for White-throated Sparrows, with the 76 banded today being the second best day ever, after last week's 96. Swamp Sparrows also continued their strong movement, somewhat late, with another 15 today bringing the season's total to nearly 100.

Hatch-year Swamp Sparrow

Interesting birds observed, but not banded today included a Wilson's Snipe flushing away from the Field Nets when we went out there in the dark to set them up, and at least 3 Eastern Phoebes out in the field/marsh as well. A Purple Finch was singing north of the road for part of the day. I am starting to wonder where all the Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are. I have not seen any, anywhere, yet this fall. Perhaps it is just my bad luck?

Highlights of the 28 birds banded on Saturday, October 29 included two Brown Creepers, which brought the season's total to a record 26. One of the birds showed a pattern that might be considered "adult", as the outer primary covert doesn't really have a buffy "spot" but rather an almost hourglass-shaped buffy area that runs along the shaft.

Brown Creeper (age and sex unknown)

The 79th species for the fall was much more expected; American Tree Sparrow, with 5 today.

Hatch-year American Tree Sparrow

This offers perhaps one last reminder about not relying on just a single field mark to identify birds. In the photo above, the "stickpin" breast spot is not visible because of the angle, so other characters would need to be relied upon. The rufous crown is pretty conspicuous, and some birders might think this is a Chipping Sparrow, but that species does not keep its rufous crown into winter, and there are a couple other better field marks visible here. The eyebrow is gray, not white as in Chipping, and the bill most notably is bi-colored; black on top, yellow below. The bill of Chipping Sparrow is black in summer, and pinkish in winter. Field Sparrow also shows a very dull rufous crown even in winter, lacks a "stickpin", but has a fairly prominent eye ring and, most importantly, a pink bill.

Hatch-year American Tree Sparrow

And sometimes the dependable "stickpin" field mark isn't so dependable. It might be quite faint, as on this individual, or might be absent altogether! Check the bill color!

Interesting birds observed, but not banded today included a Wilson's Snipe again in the early morning out in the field. Surprising at mid-morning was an American Woodcock that came whizzing/whirring over the road about 20 feet up...with a Cooper's Hawk about 10 yards behind it. The outcome of this chase is unknown. A Merlin flew out over the field briefly, but was not seen again. The audio lure for saw-whet owls did not succeed today, but did get at least one Eastern Screech-Owl calling until well after sunrise. The pair of Great Horned Owls was also spontaneously calling this morning. A single Marsh Wren was still giving its twanging call note out near the Field Nets. It has been dissapointing that there have been so many of these around this fall, but we have not caught a single one. Five Horned Larks and eight American Pipits flew over at one point, and there were a couple of Yellow-rumped Warblers still in the area.

Once again, banding could not have been done this week without the help of dedicated volunteers, including John Bieganowski, Stevie Kuroda, Dave Lancaster, Jeremy Miller, Tom Schlack, Judi Wade, and Bruce Watson. Thank you!

============================
Banding Data
-------------------------------------
MONDAY, October 24, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 6:55
Time Open (E.S.T.): 6:00
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 13:15
Hours Open: 7.25
No. of Nets: 5.00-13.50
Net Hours: 92.625
Temperature (F): 50-63
Cloud Cover: 100-20%
Wind: W @ 3-5-10 mph
Barometer: 29.89-29.97
Precipitation: Trace
No. Banded: 148 (plus 21 recaptured and 4 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 18
Capture Rate: 186.8 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 10.0 hours, 5:00-15:00): Dave Lancaster, Jeremy Miller, Tom Schlack.

YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO - 1
[Black-capped Chickadee - 1 recaptured]
Brown Creeper - 7
Winter Wren - 4
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
Hermit Thrush - 7 (plus 1 recaptured)
Orange-crowned Warbler - 1
Nashville Warbler - 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1
Fox Sparrow - 5 (plus 1 recaptured)
Song Sparrow - 15 (plus 3 recaptured)
[Lincoln's Sparrow - 1 recaptured]
Swamp Sparrow - 15 (plus 3 recaptured)
White-throated Sparrow - 76 (plus 7 recaptured and 4 released unbanded)
White-crowned Sparrow - 2 (plus 3 recaptured)
[Northern Cardinal - 1 recaptured]
American Goldfinch - 9

-------------------------------------
SATURDAY, October 29, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 7:01
Time Open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 12:30
Hours Open: 6.75
No. of Nets: 5.00-13.50
Net Hours: 86.75
Temperature (F): 37-50 (down to 41 during takedown)
Cloud Cover: 25-100%
Wind: Calm-S @ 0-5-7 mph
Barometer: 30.11-30.14
Precipitation: Rain at close
No. Banded: 28 (plus 10 recaptured and 1 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 12
Capture Rate: 45.0 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (total 9.5 hours; 5:00-14:30): John Bieganowski (3.0 hrs), Stevie Kuroda (2.0 hrs), Tom Schlack (6.5 hrs), Judi Wade (7.5 hrs), Bruce Watson (2.0 hrs).

[Downy Woodpecker - 1 recaptured]
Brown Creeper - 2
[Winter Wren - 1 released unbanded]
American Robin - 1
American Tree Sparrow - 5
Fox Sparrow - 4 (plus 1 recaptured)
[Song Sparrow - 1 recaptured]
[Lincoln's Sparrow - 1 recaptured]
Swamp Sparrow - 5 (plus 1 recaptured)
White-throated Sparrow - 2
[White-crowned Sparrow - 2 recaptured]
Red-winged Blackbird - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
American Goldfinch - 8 (plus 2 recaptured)

Metro Beach banding report - October 17 & 21, 2011

2011-10-23T14:04:00.000-04:00

It was another interesting week for banding at Metro Beach. Other than the two banding days on Monday (Oct 17) and Friday (Oct 21), it was pretty wet and windy. Monday's weather was quite nice for mid-October, and we captured a species that is the first ever banded at this station. Friday was a bit cooler, though not unseasonal, with just a trace of mist for a couple brief periods, and an all-time record number of birds banded for one day here (224).

Highlights of the 67 birds banded on Monday, October 17 had to include the first bird captured, an Eastern Screech-Owl, the first ever banded at Metro Beach, and the 111th species for the cumulative banding species list since 2004 (not including fledgling Great Horned Owls banded by another bander elsewhere in the park each year).

Hatch-year Eastern Screech-Owl

Since 2009, I have been setting up an audio-lure during late October since our start time at 6 a.m. (daylight time) allows 45-60 minutes before first light to attract owls. Our primary target is Northern Saw-whet Owls, which we've not captured yet; possibly because we're too late in the morning for them, and maybe too early in their migration. But we'll keep trying this year too. But this screech-owl was brought in with a screech-owl tape, and is our first success.

Hatch-year Eastern Screech-Owl

Three species of warbler were banded today; Nashville (1), Yellow-rumped (2), and Palm (2). One of the Palm Warblers had a fair bit of yellow on the underparts. I am not experienced enough with fall birds to say if it was the eastern (Yellow) subspecies, but a bird very similar to this one was posted to the Wing Island Bird Banding Station blog, where they have more experience with Yellow Palm Warblers as they're located on Cape Cod, Massachussetts.

Hatch-year (Yellow?) Palm Warbler

After being observed on surveys in the park last week, the first Fox Sparrows of the season were banded today.

Hatch-year Fox Sparrow

Likewise, Dark-eyed Juncos have been around for at least a week in small numbers, but the first of the season was banded today.

Hatch-year female Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco

Interesting birds observed but not banded included 3 Red-tailed Hawks, diving up and down, and screaming at each other, two Eastern Phoebes, 3 Winter Wrens, a Marsh Wren out near the Field Nets, a very late adult male American Redstart, and a flyover Pine Siskin. One frustration of the day was a male Eastern Towhee that was in the net on our last round before closing, but it got away before I was able to get to it. There were at least two towhees in the banding area all day today.

Highlights of the record 224 birds banded on Friday, October 21 included the second Blue-headed Vireo of the season and a very good total of 9 Brown Creepers (the record is 11 for one day). I am still measuring the length of the buffy tip on the outermost primary covert, and there does seem to be a correlation to those that I can age by skull as hatch-year with a small buffy tip. One bird today had the smallest buffy tips observed so far this season (almost nonexistent), as seen in the photo below. There do seem to be some intermediates though, with apparently more than two different patterns on these feathers.

Hatch-year Brown Creeper

Carolina Wrens are occasionally banded in small numbers at Metro Beach, as they do nest here although they move around a lot. But after a run of banding a few almost every spring and fall from 2005-2008, none has been banded since fall 2008...until today.

Hatch-year Carolina Wren

Today saw the best influx of kinglets so far this season, but numbers are still below average. Hermit Thrushes definitely contributed to the record number of birds banded today, although the 19 banded today is far from the one day record for the species of 72 set in October 2009.

Hatch-year Hermit Thrush

A Gray Catbird was somewhat late. A single Nashville Warbler was getting late, and 8 Yellow-rumped Warblers pushed the season total to nearly double the previous record of 33 set in fall 2010. The clear "bird of the day" was White-throated Sparrow. In a typical year, there is a big influx around October 5-10, but until now numbers have been far behind what is expected. Today's record of 96 (previous record was 68) put us up into the "normal" range, though the tardiness of this influx is notable.

After hatch-year White-throated Sparrow

The 11 White-crowned Sparrows today paled in comparison, but it was only one short of the record of 12 on October 7, 2007. The 26 Song Sparrows was also the highest so far this fall, but 9 short of the record, and the 22 Swamp Sparrows was a record, beating the 21 on April 27, 2007 and the fall record of 17 set in 2008 and 2009 (perhaps notably both these dates were three weeks earlier in the season).

And after hearing Eastern Towhees all day in the banding area (up to 6 may have been present), we caught one late in the day, bringing the species total for the season up to 77, which ties the record set in fall 2008.

Hatch-year female Eastern Towhee

Interesting birds observed but not banded included an American Woodcock flushed from the vicinity of the Swamp Nets while it was still dark, two flyover Eastern Bluebirds (very infrequent in this park), a calling Black-throated Blue Warbler, and a singing Purple Finch back in the swamp to the north of the banding area.

Banding could not have been done at all this week without the commitment and capabilities of Dave Lancaster and Tom Schlack, who came out on both days, and Marie McGee who came out for most of the day on Friday. Thank you!

============================
Banding Data
-------------------------------------
MONDAY, October 17, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 6:47
Time Open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 13:15
Hours Open: 7.50
No. of Nets: 5.00-13.50
Net Hours: 89.00
Temperature (F): 48-64
Cloud Cover: 0-10%
Wind: WSW @ 7-10-15 mph
Barometer: 29.76-29.76
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 67 (plus 17 recaptured and 2 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 20
Capture Rate: 96.6 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 10.0 hours, 5:00-15:00): Dave Lancaster, Tom Schlack.

EASTERN SCREECH-OWL - 1
Downy Woodpecker - 1
Black-capped Chickadee - 1 (plus 2 recaptured)
Brown Creeper - 6
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 2
Hermit Thrush - 8 (plus 1 recaptured)
American Robin - 2
Nashville Warbler - 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 2
Palm Warbler - 2
[Eastern Towhee - 1 released unbanded]
Fox Sparrow - 3
Song Sparrow - 4 (plus 5 recaptured)
Swamp Sparrow - 12 (plus 1 recaptured)
White-throated Sparrow - 15 (plus 1 released unbanded)
(Eastern) White-crowned Sparrow - 1 (plus 4 recaptured)
Dark-eyed Junco - 1
Northern Cardinal - 1
[Red-winged Blackbird - 3 recaptured]
American Goldfinch - 4 (plus 1 recaptured)

-------------------------------------
FRIDAY, October 21, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 6:51
Time Open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 12:45
Hours Open: 7.00
No. of Nets: 5.00-13.50
Net Hours: 88.25
Temperature (F): 45-50
Cloud Cover: 100-80-100%
Wind: W-WNW @ 7-10-12 mph
Barometer: 29.86-30.06
Precipitation: Trace
No. Banded: RECORD 224 (plus 14 recaptured and 3 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 21
Capture Rate: 273.1 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 11.0 hours; 5:00-16:00): Dave Lancaster, Marie McGee (7.25 hrs), Tom Schlack.

Downy Woodpecker - 1
Blue-headed Vireo - 1
[Black-capped Chickadee - 3 recaptured]
Brown Creeper - 9
Carolina Wren - 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 11
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 9
Hermit Thrush - 19 (plus 1 recaptured)
Gray Catbird - 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 8
Eastern Towhee - 1
Fox Sparrow - 2
Song Sparrow - 26
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1
Swamp Sparrow - 22 [record] (plus 1 recaptured)
White-throated Sparrow - 96 [record] (plus 3 released unbanded)
White-crowned Sparrow - 11 (plus 4 recaptured)
Dark-eyed Junco - 1
[Northern Cardinal - 1 recaptured]
American Goldfinch - 3 (plus 2 recaptured)

Metro Beach banding report - October 12 & 14, 2011

2011-10-16T10:24:00.005-04:00

This past week was rainy and windy, with a decrease in birds but still some interesting captures. On Wednesday, October 12, the strong winds were from the NE switching to SE, resulting in an exponential increase in leaves falling into the nets, but it did not affect the nets to the point of forcing the station to close. But the rain starting just before noon (EDT) did force us to close early. On Friday, October 12. rain in the morning delayed setting up for about an hour, while increasing winds did eventually force the station to close early as well. The large movements of White-throated Sparrows and Hermit Thrushes expected at this time of year seem to have passed us by, or haven't arrived yet.

Highlights of the 43 birds banded on Wednesday, October 12 included a flycatcher; an Eastern Phoebe. I don't normally catch very many phoebes in spring (max 7) or fall (max 5). I was hoping to show the all black bill of this species in the photo, but he just wouldn't keep his mouth shut! Normally, I work with a bird to get the photo I want for about a minute and, if I can't get it, release the bird.

Hatch-year Eastern Phoebe

It was easy to age this bird based on the "molt limit" visible in the greater secondary coverts. In the photo below, the arrows point to the brighter buffy juvenile coverts contrasting with the paler-tipped "first basic" coverts.

Hatch-year Eastern Phoebe

There were very few kinglets in the banding area, somewhat unexpected for this time of year, and only a few thrushes which included a somewhat late Gray-cheeked. Only four warbler species were in the banding area today, with singles of two species banded, Nashville and Black-throated Blue.

Hatch-year female Black-throated Blue Warbler

Sparrows dominated today, as they will for the remainder of the season. Not one, but two Field Sparrows were nice to see. This species isn't captured at this station every year, and this is the first time every with two in the same season, and only the 6th and 7th banded here since 2004 (plus 4 from 1990-1993).

Hatch-year Field Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow is in the highlights again this week partly because it appears to be a good season for them, and partly because of two special individuals captured today. There are about 5 subspecies of White-crowned Sparrow recognized, with the Eastern (subspecies leucophrys) the dominant form in our area. Along the southern shores of Hudson Bay and westward is another form, Gambell's (subspecies gambellii) that is a rare but annual migrant through Michigan (sometimes fairly common at Whitefish Point in the Upper Peninsula). I have banded a handful of hatch-year Gambell's over the years, and probably as many or more intergrades, but today was the first adult Gambell's I've ever banded anywhere.

After hatch-year "Gambell's" White-crowned Sparrow

The streaking on the back is more contrasting in Gambell's than in Eastern, but the main differences are on the head, as shown in the comparison photo below.

"Gambell's" (top) and "Eastern" (bottom)
White-crowned Sparrows (both AHY)

Most obviously, the black supraloral of Eastern is absent in Gambell's, and the bill is slightly paler. Right next to this adult Gambell's, in the same net run, was a clear-cut hatch-year Gambell's as well, shown below compared with a hatch-year Eastern.

"Gambell's" (top) and "Eastern" (bottom)
White-crowned Sparrows (both HY)

Interesting birds observed but not banded included a calling Great Horned Owl before dawn, a couple of Winter Wrens in the undergrowth, a somewhat late Common Yellowthroat, and two Dark-eyed Juncos.

Highlights of the 45 birds banded on Friday, October 14 included two Brown Creepers. As mentioned in last week's posting, there has been some discussion among North American banders with European ringers on ageing them by the pale buffy spots on their longest primary coverts (larger in adult Common Treecreeper, smaller in hatch-year). But ageing Brown Creepers by skull becomes tricky as after October 1 ossification can be completed, making it very difficult (or impossible) to age a bird as after hatch-year at this time. The wings of today's two birds are shown below. One was clearly a hatch-year with "incomplete" skull ossification (and small pCov spots), while the other had completed its skull ossification (and shows larger pCov spots).

Possible after hatch-year Brown Creeper

I also noticed two different colors of median secondary coverts on this apparent adult (above), which can be seen just below my finger. Is this a molt limit? Maybe this is actually a hatch-year bird and the larger primary covert spot is not indicative of age? No answers yet to these questions...

Hatch-year Brown Creeper

There was another influx of Yellow-rumped Warblers today (18 banded), bringing the season's total to 47, the highest since I restarted banding at this station in 2004, and the third highest ever (77 in fall 1991, 60 in spring 1996).

After hatch-year female
Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler

Banders in the northeastern U.S. and eastern Canada have noted much lower numbers this fall (so far anyway). In eastern Canada, a two-year cycle has been detected. The Yellow-rumps banded so far at Metro Beach have consisted of a larger than expected number of hatch-year birds, so perhaps there was a poor nesting season? Another possibility is that we've been having more northeasterly winds than is typical for this time of year, which may have pushed some of eastern birds into the Great Lakes instead? One hatch-year Yellow-rump banded today had a several deformed bill.

Hatch-year male Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler
with deformed bill (inset shows bill from below)

The only other warbler banded today was a Palm Warbler.

Hatch-year (Western) Palm Warbler

A non-avian highlight today was this small frog, found hopping across the trail. I believe it is a Striped Chorus Frog (Pseudacris triseriata), but I've never seen an orange one before! The field guides say they can be brown, which I suppose this one is brown, but it was more colorful than expected.

Striped Chorus Frog (Pseudacris triseriata)

Interesting birds observed today but not banded included a Turkey Vulture (this species has been unusually scarce in the park this year), at least 3 Winter Wrens, a somewhat late Swainson's Thrush, the first flock of Cedar Waxwings in the area since August, and an Eastern Towhee.

Banding could not have been done this week without the help of volunteers who have been most generous with their time: Jeremy Joswick, Dave Lancaster, Marie McGee, Tom Schlack, Jeff Silence, and Joan Tisdale.

============================
Banding Data
-------------------------------------
WEDNESDAY, October 12, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 6:41
Time Open (E.S.T.): 6:00
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 11:15 (rain forced early close)
Hours Open: 5.25
No. of Nets: 4.50-13.50
Net Hours: 65.125
Temperature (F): 61-61
Cloud Cover: 50-100%
Wind: NE-SE @ 3-5-12 mph
Barometer: 30.02-29.98
Precipitation: Trace (light rain after close)
No. Banded: 43 (plus 15 recaptured and 4 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 15
Capture Rate: 95.2 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 8.5 hours, 5:00-13:30): Jeremy Joswick, Jeff Silence, Joan Tisdale.

Eastern Phoebe - 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 3 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 1
Hermit Thrush - 5
Nashville Warbler - 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 1
Field Sparrow - 2
Song Sparrow - 8 (plus 6 recaptured)
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1 (plus 2 recaptured)
Swamp Sparrow - 4
White-throated Sparrow - 5 (plus 3 recaptured and 2 released unbanded)
(Eastern) White-crowned Sparrow - 6 (plus 2 recaptured and 1 released unbanded)
(Gambell's) White-crowned Sparrow - 2
[Northern Cardinal - 1 recaptured]
[Red-winged Blackbird - 1 recaptured]
American Goldfinch - 3

-------------------------------------
FRIDAY, October 14, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 6:43
Time Open (E.S.T.): 6:45 (rain delayed open)
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 12:45 (wind forced early close)
Hours Open: 6.00
No. of Nets: 4.50-13.50
Net Hours: 69.00
Temperature (F): 55-59
Cloud Cover: 100-70-100%
Wind: W @ 7-10-15 mph
Barometer: 29.38-29.43
Precipitation: Trace at close
No. Banded: 45 (plus 9 recaptured)
No. of Species: 15
Capture Rate: 78.3 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 9.5 hours; 5:00-14:30): Dave Lancaster, Marie McGee (7.25 hrs), Tom Schlack.

Downy Woodpecker - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
[Black-capped Chickadee - 1 recaptured]
Brown Creeper - 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 18
Palm Warbler - 1
Song Sparrow - 2
[Lincoln's Sparrow - 1 recaptured]
Swamp Sparrow - 3
White-throated Sparrow - 8 (plus 1 recaptured)
White-crowned Sparrow - 3 (plus 3 recaptured - one of them a HY Gambell's)
[Northern Cardinal - 1 recaptured]
[Red-winged Blackbird - 1 recaptured]
House Finch - 1
American Goldfinch - 3

Metro Beach banding report - October 2 & 7, 2011

2011-10-09T19:36:00.001-04:00

The weather on these first two banding days in October were quite different, weather-wise. On Sunday, October 2 it was cool and becoming windy while Friday October 7 was warmish, sunny, and almost windless. There were still a few warblers around, and sparrows started making a stronger showing.

Highlights of the 96 birds banded on Sunday, October 2 included two Eastern Wood-Pewees which were somewhat late, but not a record. Note the suggesting of a slight, narrow eye ring, confined mainly to the rear part of the eye on this individual, as well as the extensive dark coloration on the lower mandible. This is not too unusual in hatch-year Eastern Wood-Pewees.

Hatch-year Eastern Wood-Pewee

The first Hermit Thrushes of the season were banded today, and they came in strong with 4 banded.

Hatch-year Hermit Thrush

Six species of warbler were banded today, but dominating with 23 captured was Yellow-rumped. This is nearly double the highest day since 2004, but short of the one-day record of 31 on 6 October 1991.

After hatch-year female Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler

Among the 5 species of sparrows today was the first White-crowned Sparrow of the season, a hatch-year bird.

Hatch-year White-crowned Sparrow

Interesting birds observed but not banded today included a Wilson's Snipe heard giving its "scaip" alarm call as it flew off in the darkness near the Field Nets, a calling Great Horned Owl at dawn, and the first Rusty Blackbirds of the fall.

Highlights of the 68 birds banded on Friday, October 7 included four firsts for the season, all of them somewhat overdue. Perhaps the most stunning was the Blue-headed Vireo caught in the Field Nets.

After hatch-year Blue-headed Vireo

After being noted in the banding area for more than a week, we finally caught the first Brown Creeper of the fall.

Hatch-year Brown Creeper

There has been some discussion on bird banding forums, with interesting exchanges of information with European "ringers" who age their Common Treecreeper by the amount of white on the tip of the longest primary coverts. Creepers can be aged as hatch-year if their skulls show incomplete ossification, but after mid-October even a hatch-year may have a completely ossified skull; similar to the rapid ossification of kinglets. For comparative purposes, the spread wing of this individual is shown below which, even if you're not a bander you can enjoy the beauty of the markings. The white tip on the longest primary covert measured 2 mm in this individual. I wonder if something like this might be useful for sexing these birds eventually?

Hatch-year Brown Creeper

And after more than a week in the banding area, we finally caught the first Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets of the fall.

Hatch-year female Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Hatch-year male Golden-crowned Kinglet

And among increased numbers of sparrows, of 5 species again, were more White-crowned Sparrows including some crisply plumaged adults.

After hatch-year White-crowned Sparrow

One species was notable by its absence today; American Goldfinch, which has been banded every day this fall except the first day (August 7) and today. The peak of their migration is just past, but more should be banded throughout the month of October.

Interesting birds observed but not banded today included the continuing pair of Great Horned Owls, re-affirming their pair bond, an Eastern Phoebe out in the field, a fairly good migration of Blue Jays overhead, and a Carolina Wren that after staying well away from the banding area all fall, finally came into the middle of it, and even was watched right next to the road; but not captured. A Wood Thrush and Brown Thrasher teased us near the Swamp Nets in the morning but soon disappeared, while a few warblers were also observed including Black-throated Blue, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, and American Redstart.

I really appreciate the help of the following volunteers, who made banding this past week possible: Chris Charlebois, Mike Charlebois, Jacob Charlebois, Brandon Charlebois, Sandy Cohen, Karen Fenwick, Dave Lancaster, and Tom Schlack.

============================
Banding Data
-------------------------------------
SUNDAY, October 2, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 6:30
Time Open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 12:45
Hours Open: 7.00
No. of Nets: 4.50-13.50
Net Hours: 87.50
Temperature (F): 42-61
Cloud Cover: 30-10-100%
Wind: NW @ 5-7-20 mph
Barometer: 30.17-30.11
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 96 (plus 11 recaptured and 1 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 22
Capture Rate: 123.4 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 9.5 hours, 5:00-14:30): Chris Charlebois, Mike Charlebois (5.0 hrs), Jacob Charlebois, Brandon Charlebois, Sandy Cohen, Karen Fenwick.

Downy Woodpecker - 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 2
Black-capped Chickadee - 2
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 3
Swainson's Thrush - 2
Hermit Thrush - 4
American Robin - 1
Gray Catbird - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)
Nashville Warbler - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
[Magnolia Warbler - 1 recaptured]
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 23
Blackpoll Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 1
Ovenbird - 2
Song Sparrow - 6 (plus 3 recaptured)
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1
Swamp Sparrow - 8 (plus 1 recaptured)
White-throated Sparrow - 14 (plus 1 released unbanded)
White-crowned Sparrow - 1
Red-winged Blackbird - 7
American Goldfinch - 10 (plus 4 recaptured)

-------------------------------------
FRIDAY, October 7, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 6:35
Time Open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 12:30
Hours Open: 6.75
No. of Nets: 4.50-13.50
Net Hours: 86.375
Temperature (F): 50-73
Cloud Cover: 0%
Wind: Calm-S @ 0-3 mph
Barometer: 30.40-30.46
Precipitation: a.m. Fog
No. Banded: 68 (plus 6 recaptured and 2 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 18
Capture Rate: 88.0 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 9.0 hours; 5:00-14:00): Dave Lancaster, Tom Schlack.

Blue-headed Vireo - 1
[Black-capped Chickadee - 1 recaptured]
Brown Creeper - 1
Winter Wren - 3
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 6
Swainson's Thrush - 1
Hermit Thrush - 7
Nashville Warbler - 1 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Magnolia Warbler - 1
Palm Warbler - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 2
Song Sparrow - 10 (plus 2 recaptured)
Lincoln's Sparrow - 2
Swamp Sparrow - 2
White-throated Sparrow - 23
White-crowned Sparrow - 6 (plus 2 released unbanded)
[Northern Cardinal - 2 recaptured]

Metro Beach banding report - September 23-29, 2011

2011-09-30T21:57:00.000-04:00

The week of September 19-23 was scheduled by the Metro Park for the spraying of herbicide to control the invasive Common Reed (Phragmites australis), for the third fall season in a row. Despite being sprayed before, there was still some that had grown up adjacent to the banding area as can be seen in the photo below.

Common Reed (Phragmites australis)

The spraying was done on the 21st and 22nd, but unfortunately banding got rained out on Friday the 23rd. Thanks very much to Dave Lancaster and Tom Schlack for making the drive to the park and waiting it out for 3 hours for the rain that didn't stop; or even let up. Hopefully this will count toward their volunteer hours that the park tracks for all of us.

Banding was also scheduled for Friday the 24th and Sunday the 25th, and both of those days went off quite well, and we also banded later in the week on Thursday the 29th. Rain was threatening on all of these days, thanks to a stationary weather system that was the same one that rained us out on the 23rd, but other than some fog and some very wet vegetation to walk through in the mornings, we logged three very productive banding days with 96 banded on the 24th, 145 on the 25th, and 109 on the 29th. I have not made much mention of the American Goldfinches banded this fall as they're a common species usually banded in good numbers (700+ last fall). On the 24th we banded the 300th of the season and on the 29th we banded the 400th. Clearly late September is the peak of their migration.

Hatch-year male American Goldfinch

Highlights of the 96 birds banded on Saturday, September 24 included 12 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, a good total for late September. The hummingbird in the photo below has quite a lot of sticky white pollen on its forehead and base of the upper mandible, almost certainly from the abundant Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) in the banding area.

Hatch-year male Ruby-throated Humminbird

The thrush migration has been trickling along, with far fewer Swainson's Thrushes than would be expected by this time of year, but today the first two Gray-cheeked Thrushes of the season were banded.

Hatch-year Gray-cheeked Thrush

Today also saw the first White-throated Sparrow banded, although they've been in the area for at least a week. It was a near-record day for American Goldfinches, with 53 banded.

Hatch-year White-throated Sparrow

Interesting birds observed but not banded included a single Sharp-shinned Hawk and several Chimney Swifts flying overhead, as well as a Belted Kingfisher flyover which is a species not often seen in the banding area. Additional warbler species observed included Black-throated Blue and Blackpoll, but there were not a lot of warblers in the banding area today. A calling Rose-breasted Grosbeak teased us in the morning, but never found its way into the nets.

Highlights of the 145 birds banded on Sunday, September 25 included two more Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and the 6th Philadelphia Vireo of the season. A Tufted Titmouse was an unusual capture for the area as well. Thrushes had clearly come in overnight, as there were many more Gray-cheeked and Swainson's, highlighted by a single Wood Thrush.

Hatch-year Wood Thrush

Warblers were also much more in evidence today, with 12 species banded. This Tennessee Warbler was interesting. You might think it is one of the warblers with wing bars, and Tennessee isn't supposed to have them. Juvenile Tennessee Warblers do have pale tips on their coverts, which some individuals retain well into the fall, making them a little more confusing than normal.

Hatch-year Tennessee Warbler

Nashville Warblers were again the dominant warbler species, with 26 banded which was far from a one-day record but put thus season's total well past the previous record of 91 (in fall 2006).

Hatch-year female Nashville Warbler

And completing the trio of Oreothlypis (formerly Vermivora) warblers, the first three Orange-crowned Warblers of the fall were banded today. Compare the head pattern to the Tennessee Warbler above, and note the diagnostic bright yellow undertail coverts of this Orange-crowned.

Hatch-year male Orange-crowned Warbler

The number of Northern Parulas banded at this station each year ranges from 0-4, so it was nice to catch one today.

Hatch-year female Northern Parula

The first three Yellow-rumped Warblers of the season were right on time.

Hatch-year female Yellow-rumped Warbler

And the second Black-throated Green Warbler of the fall was a nice hatch-year male.

Hatch-year male Black-throated Green Warbler

Indigo Buntings are very infrequently banded at this station, typically 0-1 each year. So it was truly amazing to catch FIVE of them today.

Hatch-year male Indigo Bunting

After hatch-year female Indigo Bunting

Interesting birds observed but not banded included two fly-over American Golden-Plovers, a Blue-headed Vireo, a Brown Thrasher, and a Rose-breasted Grosbeak teasing us again as it did yesterday.

Highlights of the 109 birds banded on Thursday, September 29 included 2 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, which might be the last for the season unless we catch one next week, which is certainly possible. Both hummingbirds today were carrying considerable fat for migration, and both of them weighed more than 4 grams. Typically, without fat, they weigh about 3 grams.

After hatch-year female Ruby-throated Hummingbird

An Eastern Wood-Pewee was somewhat late, though not record late, and the season's first Winter Wren was banded today.

Hatch-year Winter Wren

And it was also nice to catch a hatch-year House Wren. Numbers have been way down this year, even in summer, with less than half normal numbers banded so far (usually about 20 banded each fall) and only a single hatch-year banded in August. This suggests a poor nesting season for this species, at least in the banding area.

Hatch-year House Wren

Gray Catbird is another species that has been captured in very low numbers so far, but today made up the difference with a record 14 banded! Many banding stations catch this many catbirds all the time, but for some reason this locale has fewer of them with an average of about 20 per fall season. Today's catbirds were likely all migrants, not locally nesting, as they were all carrying significant fat loads.

Hatch-year Gray Catbird

It was another pretty good thrush day, but with Gray-cheeks (6) significantly outnumbering Swainson's (2), which almost never happens. Warblers were everywhere in the banding area today, and while 47 individuals of 10 species found the nets, there were so many more in the area that this is actually a little disappointing. Captures did include another Northern Parula as well as a good number of Nashvilles (again), the best day so far this fall for Magnolias, and single Blackpoll, Black-and-white, and American Redstart.

With 3 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks calling in the trees as we opened the nets, I was prepared yet again to be taunted without a capture. But, at last, this hatch-year female found her way into the Field Nets.

Hatch-year female Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Note that the wing linings of female Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are yellow while the males are rosy-pink.

Hatch-year female Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Another Indigo Bunting added to the five on Sunday for a total of 6, twice the previous season record.

Interesting birds observed but not banded included a fly-over Black-bellied Plover, and 3 Brown Thrashers hanging around all day, sometimes even chasing each other and one sitting in plain view eating grapes off the vine. Additional warbler species observed included Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Green, Palm, and Bay-breasted.

Banding at this station is entirely dependent on volunteers coming out to help, and this week I appreciate very much the efforts of Terri Chapdelaine, the Charlebois family (Mike, Chris, and Jake), Stevie Kuroda, the Lau family (Harry, Rose, Tessa, and Ava), Dave Lancaster, Jeremy Miller, Tom Schlack, and Bruce Watson.

============================
Banding Data
-------------------------------------
SATURDAY, September 24, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 6:21
Time Open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 13:00
Hours Open: 7.25
No. of Nets: 4.50-13.50
Net Hours: 93.125
Temperature (F): 48-70
Cloud Cover: 0-80-20%
Wind: Calm-SSW @ 0-5-7 mph
Barometer: 30.08-30.11
Precipitation: a.m. Fog
No. Banded: 96 (plus 12 recaptured and 3 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 16
Capture Rate: 119.2 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 9.5 hours, 5:00-14:30): Terri Chapdelaine, Chris Charlebois, Jacob Charlebois, Ava Lau, Harry Lau, Rose Lau, Tessa Lau.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 12
Downy Woodpecker - 1
Black-capped Chickadee - 1 (plus 2 recaptured)
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 2
Swainson's Thrush - 1
Gray Catbird - 1
Nashville Warbler - 4
American Redstart - 2
Common Yellowthroat - 3 (plus 3 recaptured)
Song Sparrow - 8 (plus 6 recaptured)
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1
Swamp Sparrow - 1
White-throated Sparrow - 1
Northern Cardinal - 3
Red-winged Blackbird - 2
American Goldfinch - 53 (plus 1 recaptured and 3 released unbanded)

-------------------------------------
SUNDAY, September 25, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 6:22
Time Open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 13:15
Hours Open: 7.50
No. of Nets: 4.50-13.50
Net Hours: 94.25
Temperature (F): 58-72
Cloud Cover: 10-80-20%
Wind: ENE-SE @ 3-5 mph
Barometer: 30.11-30.02
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 145 (plus 12 recaptured and 2 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 25
Capture Rate: 168.7 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 10.5 hours, 5:00-15:30): Stevie Kuroda, Jeremy & Heather Miller (3.5 hrs), Bruce Watson.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 2
Philadelphia Vireo - 1
[Black-capped Chickadee - 1 recaptured]
Tufted Titmouse - 1
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 7 (plus 1 recaptured and 1 released unbanded)
Swainson's Thrush - 8
Wood Thrush - 1
Gray Catbird - 1
Tennessee Warbler - 8
Orange-crowned Warbler - 3
Nashville Warbler - 26 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Northern Parula - 1
Magnolia Warbler - 4
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 4
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 3
Black-throated Green Warbler - 1
Blackpoll Warbler - 1
Ovenbird - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
Common Yellowthroat - 4 (plus 2 recaptured)
Wilson's Warbler - 1
Song Sparrow - 6 (plus 3 recaptured)
Lincoln's Sparrow - 2
Swamp Sparrow - 6
Indigo Bunting - 5
American Goldfinch - 47 (plus 4 recaptured)

-------------------------------------
THURSDAY, September 29, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 6:27
Time Open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 12:30
Hours Open: 6.75
No. of Nets: 4.50-13.50
Net Hours: 86.375
Temperature (F): 55-64
Cloud Cover: 100-50-100%
Wind: SE-SW @ 1-3-12 mph
Barometer: 29.78-29.72
Precipitation: a.m. Fog
No. Banded: 109 (plus 17 recaptured and 4 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 27
Capture Rate: 162.1 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 9.5 hours, 5:00-14:30): Mike Charlebois (6.0 hrs), Dave Lancaster, Jeremy Miller, Tom Schlack.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Red-eyed Vireo - 1
Black-capped Chickadee - 1 (plus 2 recaptured]
House Wren - 1
Winter Wren - 1
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 6 (plus 1 recaptured)
Swainson's Thrush - 2
Gray Catbird - 14 (plus 1 recaptured)
Tennessee Warbler - 1
Nashville Warbler - 17 (plus 3 recaptured and 2 released unbanded)
Northern Parula - 1
Magnolia Warbler - 13
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 5 (plus 1 recaptured)
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 3
Blackpoll Warbler - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
American Redstart - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 4 (plus 1 recaptured)
Song Sparrow - 7 (plus 1 recaptured)
Lincoln's Sparrow - 2
Swamp Sparrow - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 1
Indigo Bunting - 1
Red-winged Blackbird - 6 (plus 1 released unbanded)
American Goldfinch - 22 (plus 7 recaptured)

Metro Beach banding report - September 14 & 17, 2011

2011-09-19T17:37:00.001-04:00

This past week saw a slight decline in the action with an average day on the 14th, and another upsurge on the 17th (10th best day ever). Warblers continue to move through in fairly good numbers, along with better than average numbers of flycatchers and vireos. Thrushes are still trickling through in lower than expected numbers. Sparrow migration officially began this week.

Highlights of the 55 birds banded on Wednesday, September 14 included 7 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and the season's first Lincoln's Sparrow, a migrant from farther north, which kicks off the sparrow migration season.

Hatch-year Lincoln's Sparrow

I have probably said this in every blog posting where I feature this species, but it is probably my favorite sparrow. It has a very beautiful, almost thrush-like song that unfortunately is not heard in the banding area as we're 100 miles south of the breeding range, but the subtle colors and fine markings are quite nice to behold.

A few warblers were banded today too, but nothing new. One highlight for me concerns a common species but an infrequently seen plumage at the banding station. This fall has been a good one for Red-winged Blackbirds as some years we don't even band 10 of them (over 100 in spring is more normal). We're up to 40+ so far this fall, though most have been striped juveniles and adult females. This bird was an adult male in the middle of molting. The fresh feathers on the head and back reminded me of a Rusty Blackbird.

After second-year male Red-winged Blackbird

The completely red shoulders suggest to me that this was an after second-year, but the pale-fringed secondary coverts, secondaries, and tertials suggest that it might be a second-year bird.

After second-year male Red-winged Blackbird

But in the wing, the older, browner secondaries don't seem to have any pale edging so this is almost certainly an after second-year bird. The brown fringes on the head will likely wear off over the winter and by spring this bird will be all black, as expected on an after second-year. I'm willling to be corrected on this by anyone with more expertise on blackbird molt.

Interesting birds observed but not banded included the pair of Great Horned Owls calling to each other before dawn, two different Northern Harriers overhead as well as no less than SIX migrating Sharp-shinned Hawks. One of them, an immature male, was heard rustling from the cattails near the banding station before it burst out from ground level, and circled immediately back into the swamp woods. A very odd behavior, even for a Sharp-shinned Hawk. I'm more used to Cooper's Hawks running along the ground into brushpiles after birds, but haven't experienced anything like this with a Sharp-shinned before.

Highlights of the 164 birds banded on Saturday, September 17 included another day with a record-tying 30 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds! This brings the total this fall to 142, well over the previous season record of 92. The pattern today was definitely segregated with hatch-year males dominating in the early morning to mid-morning, and hatch-year females dominating in late morning to early afternoon.

Hatch-year male Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Some of the hummers today may have been recently hatched, as they has somewhat short bills (especially the males), and would exhibit an in-hand posture resembling begging behavior while in the nest. The bird in the photo above is starting to do this, where they point their bills straight up, and sometimes even make begging calls. Some of the hummers today had a good amount of fat on them, so were definitely in good condition for migration. Some weighed more than 4 grams (about 3 grams is normal without fat).

The only flycatchers today were the first two Yellow-bellied Flycatchers of the fall. They are as easily identified as Least Flycatchers. Yellow-bellieds have yellow on the throat and belly (almost all Empids have some yellow on their bellies), a large head, more greenish upperparts, and a broad, complete pale yellowish eye ring. They also seem to have a more orange lower mandible than the other eastern Empids.

Hatch-year Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

It was also a great day for Philadelphia Vireos. Last week I was happy when we caught two in one day, but today we had three! Since 2004, I have not had more than one in any fall season. These were all out in the Field Nets, where once again we removed Glossy Buckthorn and the dogwoods are coming back very nicely.

Hatch-year Philadelphia Vireo

A total of 66 warblers of 9 species was banded today, but Nashville Warblers dominated with 41. This is just 7 short of the all-time one-day record for the species here. So, although more American Goldfinches were banded today (the 1000th bird of the season banded today was probably a goldfinch), we still thought of this as the "bird du jour".

After hatch-year female Nashville Warbler

Among the warblers banded today was a first of the season, Blackburnian Warbler. Normally, we only band a few Blackburnians at this station, and when we do it is usually during the last half of August. So the one today, though the first of the season, was one of the later ones to be banded here.

Hatch-year female Blackburnian Warbler

Another Lincoln's Sparrow today reinforced the beginning of sparrow migration.

Interesting birds observed today but not banded included a single "kettle" of 100+ Broad-winged Hawks that came from the east and headed southwest just when the overcast broke up around noon. A Northern Harrier flushed about 80 Red-winged Blackbirds out of the dead ash tree in the center of the Field Nets, and a Brown Creeper was heard calling briefly, the first to arrive this fall. The pair of Great Horned Owls were calling to each other again, and a Carolina Wren sang from a far corner of the banding area while a Marsh Wren gave its twanging call from the cattails, closer to the nets.

Banding could not have been conducted this week without the help of very capable volunteers including Mike Charlebois, Jacob Charlebois, Terri Chapdelaine, Jean Gramlich, Stevie Kuroda, Judi Wade, and Bruce Watson. Thank you!

============================
Banding Data
-------------------------------------
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 6:10
Time Open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 12:45
Hours Open: 7.00
No. of Nets: 4.50-13.50
Net Hours: 87.50
Temperature (F): 54-70
Cloud Cover: 20-50%
Wind: NW @ 1-3-5 mph
Barometer: 30.03-30.05
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 55 (plus 10 recaptured and 2 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 16
Capture Rate: 76.6 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 9.5 hours, 5:00-14:30): Mike Charlebois, Tom Schlack, Judi Wade.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 7
House Wren - 1
Swainson's Thrush - 2
Tennessee Warbler - 2
Nashville Warbler - 5
Magnolia Warbler - 3
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 1
Ovenbird - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 3 (plus 4 recaptured)
Song Sparrow - 7 (plus 2 recaptured)
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1
Swamp Sparrow - 1
Red-winged Blackbird - 2
American Goldfinch - 17 (plus 4 recaptured and 2 released unbanded)

-------------------------------------
SATURDAY, September 17, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 6:14
Time Open (E.S.T.): 6:00
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 13:30
Hours Open: 7.50
No. of Nets: 4.50-13.50
Net Hours: 91.75
Temperature (F): 53-63
Cloud Cover: 100-50%
Wind: ENE @ 5-10 mph
Barometer: 30.41-30.41
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 164 (plus 10 recaptured and 3 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 22
Capture Rate: 192.9 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 5:00-15:00): Jacob Charlebois (3.5 hrs), Mike Charlebois (3.5 hrs), Terri Chapdelaine (10.0 hrs), Jean Gramlich (10.0 hrs), Stevie Kuroda (3.5 hrs), Bruce Watson (3.5 hrs).

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 30 (tied last weeks record!) (plus 2 released unbanded)
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - 2
Philadelphia Vireo - 3
Black-capped Chickadee - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
House Wren - 1
Swainson's Thrush - 1
Gray Catbird - 2
Tennessee Warbler - 1
Nashville Warbler - 41 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1
Magnolia Warbler - 7
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 4 (plus 1 recaptured)
Blackburnian Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 7 (plus 3 recaptured)
Wilson's Warbler - 3
Song Sparrow - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1
Swamp Sparrow - 4
Northern Cardinal - 1
Red-winged Blackbird - 2
American Goldfinch - 46 (plus 4 recaptured)
American Goldfinch - 30 (plus 4 recaptured)

Metro Beach banding report - week of September 5-10, 2011

2011-09-12T22:58:00.002-04:00

Banding last week was definitely affected by the passing of Tropical Storm Lee, which sent a spiraling arm of rain from New England west across southern Ontario into southern Michigan lasting for several days. It was a very odd weather pattern for this time of year. On Thursday, and to a lesser extent on Friday, conditions in the banding area resembled a classing spring "fallout" with warblers everywhere. It seemed to me that perhaps some migrants that would normally be moving east of us may have been pushed west, and those coming from the north ran into the wall of rain and had to land. Rain prevented banding on Thursday but Friday was the 8th best banding day ever at Metro Beach even though due to a shortage of volunteers we set up 9.5 nets instead of 13.5 nets. A third day of banding was conducted this week, on Saturday September 10th in support of a "Monarchs and Hummingbirds" program put on by the park's nature center, which also turned out to be very successful, once the rain stopped and allowed us to set the station up.

THE WARBLERS HAVE ARRIVED!!! Most years there is a significant migration of songbirds, especially warblers, between the 8th and 12th of September. Some totals from this period in past fall seasons include 179 (Sep 8, 2010), 83 (Sep 8, 2008), 79 (Sep 9, 2007), and 177 (Sep 10, 2006). This week nicely followed that pattern.

Highlights of the 92 birds banded on Monday, September 5 (Labor Day) included 8 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, an Eastern Wood-Pewee, and 2 Red-eyed Vireos (less scarce this year than most). Most often, hatch-year Red-eyed Vireos are captured in fall, which show brown eyes, but one of today's birds was an adult.

After hatch-year Red-eyed Vireo

The 3rd Cape May Warbler of the season (the most since before 2004) was a nice capture but it was too busy at the time to take photos. The first Palm Warbler of the season was caught at a more convenient moment.

Hatch-year Palm Warbler

Three more Blackpoll Warblers were captured today and the first Bay-breasted Warbler of the season as well.

After hatch-year female Bay-breasted Warbler

If you look carefully at the photo above, you may see that the bird's feet are gray, not yellow as they are in Blackpoll Warbler. This field mark is touted as a good distinguishing character to tell the two species apart, but often the feet are difficult to see, resulting in many of these warblers going down into birders' field notebooks as "Baypoll". Having both species in-hand today presents another good reminder that it isn't a good idea to rely on just one field mark. Look back at the photo of the Palm Warbler above. They have yellow feet too! As do Magnolia, Black-thoated Blue, Cape May, and other warbler species not very similar to Blackpoll. The composite photo below shows a view often experienced by birders, but the ID information present in "warbler butts" is often ignored.

Hatch-year Blackpoll (left) and Bay-breasted (right) Warblers

Overall coloration can be helpful clue in telling these two "most confusinng fall warblers" apart. Both species are greenish on the upperparts, but Blackpoll tends to be pale yellow while Bay-breasted tends to be buffy. On the undertail coverts, shown here, Bay-breasted is still buffy but Blackpoll is typically bright white. Also note that these coverts are longer on the Blackpoll, giving it a somewhat shorter-tailed appearance from below. There are also differences in the shape and size of the white spots on the tail feathers, but they'd have to hold very still to assess that, and they rarely do!

Another first for the fall was two Black-and-white Warblers, presenting no identification challenges.

Hatch-year male Black-and-white Warbler

Interesting birds observed but not banded included a flyover Solitary Sandpiper, a singing Warbling Vireo, and a Blackburnian Warbler.

Highlights of the 169 birds banded on Friday, September 9 included a single day record of 30 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (previous record was 27 on September 10, 2006. It was also a good day for Least Flycatchers, with 8 banded.

Hatch-year Least Flycatcher

It is always nice to have an easy flycatcher to identify for a change. The Least's broad, bright white eye ring with a pointed extension behind (teardrop) on a grayish head can be confused with no other Empidonax species at this locale. A species that is typically caught in low numbers is the Black-throated Green Warbler. Since we missed it entirely in spring, it was nice to catch the first one of the fall today.

Hatch-year male Black-throated Green Warbler

Arriving a little later than expected were the first migrant Ovenbirds of the fall season.

Hatch-year Ovenbird

Mourning Warblers are an infrequently captured, early migrant, so it was nice to band two more today. Compare the lack of any breast markings on this hatch-year female with the hatch-year male posted here two weeks ago. Note also the narrow whitish eye arcs, not present on spring birds, and not completely encircling the eye (as in Connecticut which also has a larger bill).

Hatch-year female Mourning Warbler

The last highlight, and the last bird of the day, was another Rose-breasted Grosbeak. The pink wing linings clearly indicate that this is a male.

Hatch-year male Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Two weeks ago, another Rose-beasted Grosbeak presented an interesting study of molt. This bird's molt was interesting as well, though thanks to an email exchange with Peter Pyle (author of the bander's ID guide), it is not as confusing. Clearly, with all brown primaries and secondaries, it is a hatch-year bird. It has molted its greater secondary coverts but I'm not sure what the proper terminology would be for this limited molt (post-juvenal? pre-basic?).

Hatch-year male Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Interesting birds observed but not banded included a calling Great Horned Owl before dawn, a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, a singing Carolina Wren (they've moved away from the banding area the past couple years, but are still in the park), a calling Wood Thrush, and a Canada Warbler.

Highlights of the 62 birds banded on Saturday, September 10, after we waited in the car for the heavy rain to stop, included 10 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. This was very appropriate as this was the "Monarchs and Hummingbirds" program day, with events at the nature center and one of the staff shuttling visitors the quarter mile down to the banding area so they could see hummingbirds being banded up close. As luck would have it, the season's 100th Ruby-throated Hummingbird was banded today, followed by 5 more that brought the season total to a record 105 (previous record was 94 in 2007.

100th Ruby-throated Hummingbird (hatch-year male) of season

Few hummingbirds nest in the park, so at this season it is mostly migrants passing through. The habitat is ideal for them to stop over during their diurnal movements to refuel on the abundand Spotted Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis), also known as Touch-me-not. The blooms were only moderately abundant during August but since the beginning of September there has been a burst of flowers providing the best display I've ever seen here.

Spotted Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)

Each flower is tubular, and perfectly configured to deposit pollen on the foreheads of hummingbirds, making them an important pollinator of Jewelweed.

Spotted Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)

In addition to focusing on hummingbirds for the public event, other birds were banded too, with the main highlight being two Philadelphia Vireos. Only three have been banded since 2004, one each in fall 2008, 2009, and 2010, while a total of 48 were banded between 1989-2000 (44 in fall).

Hatch-year Philadelphia Vireo

Having a "bussed in" audience allowed me to get all worked up explaining things like molt in one of the commonest species (200+ banded so far this fall) like the American Goldfinch I'm holding below.

Allen Chartier with American Goldfinch

Of course I enjoy talking about migrants more, and the importance of the banding area at Metro Beach as a resting and refueling stop for species like this Ovenbird. I was probably wondering where my reading glasses went about a minute after this photo was taken...

Allen Chartier with Ovenbird

The banding volunteers (Joan and Tom) were eager to share their field guides with visitors so that they could learn how to use field marks to identify birds.

Magnolia Warbler helping with field guide ID

Of course a highlight for the participants, "kids" of all ages, was the opportunity to release a banded bird.

Sebastian Bartley releasing a Black-throated Blue Warbler

Hannah Bartley releasing an American Goldfinch

Rose Armstrong releasing an American Goldfinch

Sebastian Bartley releasing Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Banding on these three days could not have been conducted without the outstanding assistance of several volunteers: Stevie Kuroda, Kathy McDonald, Tom Schlack, Joan Tisdale, Judi Wade, and Bruce Watson. Thank you!

I would also like to thank Lee Bartley for allowing me to use several of her photos on this blog. And thank you to Hannah and Sebastian Bartley, and Rose Armstrong, for giving me permission to use photos of them on this blog.

============================
Banding Data
-------------------------------------
MONDAY, September 5, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 6:01
Time Open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 13:00
Hours Open: 7.25
No. of Nets: 4.50-13.50
Net Hours: 90.625
Temperature (F): 60-63
Cloud Cover: 70-100%
Wind: N @ 7-10-20 mph
Barometer: 29.96-30.07
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 92 (plus 12 recaptured and 4 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 22
Capture Rate: 119.2 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 9.5 hours, 5:00-14:30): Stevie Kuroda, Tom Schlack, Bruce Watson.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 8 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Downy Woodpecker - 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Red-eyed Vireo - 2
Black-capped Chickadee - 3
Swainson's Thrush - 2
Tennessee Warbler - 1
Nashville Warbler - 2
Magnolia Warbler - 2
Cape May Warbler - 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 2
Palm Warbler - 1
Bay-breasted Warbler - 1
Blackpoll Warbler - 3
Black-and-white Warbler - 2
American Redstart - 4
Northern Waterthrush - 2
Common Yellowthroat - 2 (plus 1 recaptured and 1 released unbanded)
Song Sparrow - 1
[Northern Cardinal - 2 recaptured]
Red-winged Blackbird - 6
American Goldfinch - 45 (plus 9 recaptured and 1 released unbanded)

-------------------------------------
FRIDAY, September 9, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 6:05
Time Open (E.S.T.): 6:00
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 12:30
Hours Open: 6.50
No. of Nets: 3.50-9.50
Net Hours: 50.75
Temperature (F): 64-75
Cloud Cover: 100-60%
Wind: NE @ 3-5 mph
Barometer: 30.01-30.32
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 169 (plus 8 recaptured and 1 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 26
Capture Rate: 350.7 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 10.0 hours, 5:00-15:00): Kathy McDonald, Judi Wade (5.5 hours)

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 30 (record)
Willow Flycatcher - 1
["Traill's" Flycatcher - 1 recaptured]
Least Flyucatcher - 8
Red-eyed Vireo - 4
Black-capped Chickadee - 1
Gray Catbird - 1
Tennessee Warbler - 13 (plus 1 recaptured)
Nashville Warbler - 23 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 5
Magnolia Warbler - 10 (plus 1 recaptured)
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 5
Black-throated Green Warbler - 1
Bay-breasted Warbler - 2
Blackpoll Warbler - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 2
Ovenbird - 4
Mourning Warbler - 2
Common Yellowthroat - 4 (plus 1 recaptured)
Wilson's Warbler - 8
Song Sparrow - 4
Swamp Sparrow - 2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 1
Red-winged Blackbird - 5
House Finch - 1
American Goldfinch - 30 (plus 4 recaptured)

-------------------------------------
SATURDAY, September 10, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 6:06
Time Open (E.S.T.): 7:45 (rain delayed opening)
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 14:30
Hours Open: 6.75
No. of Nets: 4.50-13.50
Net Hours: 81.625
Temperature (F): 63-75
Cloud Cover: 100-40%
Wind: Calm-NE-SE @ 0-3-7 mph
Barometer: 30.06-30.07
Precipitation: Rain (5:00-7:30)
No. Banded: 62 (plus 14 recaptured and 4 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 15
Capture Rate: 98.0 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 11.0 hours, 5:00-16:00): Stevie Kuroda (2 hours), Tom Schlack, Joan Tisdale, Bruce Watson (2 hours).

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 10 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Philadelphia Vireo - 2
Red-eyed Vireo - 1
[Black-capped Chickadee - 1 recaptured]
Swainson's Thrush - 1
Nashville Warbler - 3
Magnolia Warbler - 4
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 6 (plus 1 recaptured)
Blackpoll Warbler- 2
Ovenbird - 4
[Common Yellowthroat - 2 recaptured]
Wilson's Warbler - 3
Red-winged Blackbird - 1 (plus 2 recaptured)
[House Finch - 1 recaptured]
American Goldfinch - 25 (plus 7 recaptured and 3 released unbanded)

Metro Beach banding report - August 29 & September 3, 2011

2011-09-04T12:12:00.001-04:00

The first month of fall banding at Metro Beach is now past us, and the first month just begun. Aside from the opening day, when we worked very hard and had little time to open the nets, the numbers banded on each day during August have been pretty good, with a total for the month of 398 banded. This compares favorably to the 279 in August 2010, 395 in August 2009, 428 in August 2008, 261 in August 2007 (included 76 on July 29), 186 in August 2006, and 163 in August 2005.

The warbler and thrush migrations have begun but are still just a trickle, and the flycatcher migration seemed to be in a pause this week, while sparrow migration is still a couple weeks from beginning (the number of juvenile Swamp Sparrows this August was down again for the second year in a row). Hummingbird migration should reach its peak this coming week.

Highlights of the 59 birds banded on Monday, August 29 included this hatch-year male Downy Woodpecker that was still young enough to be showing red on the top of the crown, which females also show at this age but are distinguishable by lacking red on the nape.

Hatch-year male Downy Woodpecker

Many birds leave the nest in a juvenile plumage that is molted before migration or winter; note the Common Yellowthroats with buffy throats and cinnamon wingbars mentioned in previous posts, and the spotty juvenile American Robins that pretty much everyone has seen by now. Downy Woodpeckers, in addition to molting the feathers on the head also molt their wing feathers. This individual still had its worn juvenile outer three primaries (p8-p10), while the 7th primary was in the process of being replaced.

Hatch-year male Downy Woodpecker

New warbler arrivals today included two Nashville Warblers.

Hatch-year female Nashville Warbler

Two male Black-throated Blue Warblers were also nice to see, in the Swamp Nets where we seem to catch a majority of them.

Hatch-year male Black-throated Blue Warbler

And the first Blackpoll Warbler of the season was right on time. The crown feathers are messed up on this individual because I was blowing them aside to check the skull ossification to determine its age. Sometimes I forget to "preen" the bird before taking a photo.

Hatch-year Blackpoll Warbler

Among resident species, there have been fairly good numbers of young Common Yellowthroats banded in the past month. Most of the hatch-year birds cannot be sexed, but the one below was clearly a male based on its mottled black cheeks.

Hatch-year male Common Yellowthroat

Interesting birds observed but not banded included two juvenile Cooper's Hawks circling together over the marsh, a flyover Caspian Tern, a single calling Great Horned Owl before dawn, a singing Carolina Wren, and Black-and-white and Wilson's Warblers. An insect also makes the list of highlights for today. Mottled Darners were only confirmed in Macomb County last fall, based on individuals caught in the mist nets. They were back again this year, with three of them caught (two released successfully). This species seems to be somewhat crepuscular as they're only around in the early morning, and in the more shady areas of the woods.

Mottled Darner (Aeshna clepsydra)

Highlights of the 70 birds banded on Saturday, September 3 included 12 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, including the 50th of the season. This is well ahead of the pace of the two best years for the species when 50 was reached on 10-Sep-06 and 9-Sep-07. In more recent years, the 50th hummingbird was banded on 8-Sep-08, 6-Sep-09, and 8-Sep-10. Perhaps 100 will be banded this fall for the first time at this locale?

Hatch-year male Ruby-throated Hummingbird

A Northern Flicker was only the second one for the fall, which is about average. Unfortunately, he wasn't terribly cooperative for photos. A resident species banded today that isn't banded very often, though perhaps with increasing frequency, is White-breasted Nuthatch.

After hatch-year female White-breasted Nuthatch

One of my favorite warblers to quiz (taunt?) banding volunteers and passing birders was captured today. See if you can tell what it is from the photo below before continuing.

This bird is a very good lesson in not relying on a single field mark to identify a species. There is quite a range of variation among individuals, some based on age and sex but not always. In this case, the primary field mark that birders would use for identification is almost entirely missing! Now what? Well, how many warblers have a dusky gray cheek with a narrow white line over the eye and a small white eye-arc below? Well, Yellow-rumped Warbler does, but that species has wing bars and tail spots, while this bird is very plain above and below. That leaves only female Black-throated Blue Warbler. The white spot at the base of the primaries can be much reduded (as here) or even missing entirely in some hatch-year females.

Four more Wilson's Warbler were captured today, including this hatch-year male. The amount of black in the crown varies, with some adult females showing as much as this young male. So it is important to age the bird first.

Hatch-year male Wilson's Warbler

It was nice to catch another Canada Warbler since we may be past the peak of their migration in this area. This individual was aged hatch-year based on incomplete skull ossification, and sexed as male based on the small black spots on the breast. Hatch-year females often have no spots on the breast, or dusky ones, not black.

Hatch-year male Canada Warbler

Interesting birds observed but not banded included the first calling Eastern Screech-Owl of the season (at around 9 a.m.!), along with a single Great Horned calling. Both Eastern Wood-Pewee and Warbling Vireo were singing near the Upland Nets today but perhaps won't be much longer. A Tufted Titmouse was calling in the area too; a species that is very irregular in the banding area, and one of the presumed summer resident Blue-gray Gnatcatchers was also heard calling today.

Banding could not have been conducted this week without the help of great volunteers, and I especially appreciate the last-minute volunteers who turned up on Saturday morning. It made taking down the nets in 90-degree temperatures much easier than it might have been. Thank you everyone!

============================
Banding Data
-------------------------------------
MONDAY, August 29, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:54
Time Open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 12:30
Hours Open: 6.75
No. of Nets: 4.50-13.50
Net Hours: 86.375
Temperature (F): 58-73
Cloud Cover: 50-25-60%
Wind: NW @ 1-3 mph
Barometer: 30.02-30.09
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 59 (plus 15 recaptured and 1 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 18
Capture Rate: 86.8 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 9.5 hours, 5:00-14:30): Dave Lancaster, Jeremy Miller, Joan Tisdale.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 10 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Downy Woodpecker - 1
[Willow Flycatcher - 2 recaptured]
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 1
Warbling Vireo - 2
Swainson's Thrush - 1
American Robin - 2
Gray Catbird - 3
Nashville Warbler - 2
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1
Magnolia Warbler - 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 2
Blackpoll Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 3
Common Yellowthroat - 3 (plus 4 recaptured)
Song Sparrow - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)
Red-winged Blackbird - 8 (plus 2 recaptured)
[Baltimore Oriole - 1 recaptured]
American Goldfinch - 15 (plus 5 recaptured)

-------------------------------------
SATURDAY, September 3, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:59
Time Open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 13:00
Hours Open: 7.25
No. of Nets: 4.50-13.50
Net Hours: 91.875
Temperature (F): 73-90
Cloud Cover: 90-20-50%
Wind: Calm-SE @ 0-3-7 mph
Barometer: 29.97-29.87
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 70 (plus 16 recaptured and 2 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 21
Capture Rate: 95.8 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 9.0 hours, 5:00-14:00): Mary Buchowski (6.5 hours), Terri Chapdelaine, Chris Charlebois, Jacob Charlebois, Steve Longstreth, Tom Schlack, Judi Wade (1 hour).

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 12
Downy Woodpecker - 1
Northern Flicker - 1
Black-capped Chickadee - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
White-breasted Nuthatch - 1
Veery - 1
Swainson's Thrush - 3
American Robin - 5
Tennessee Warbler - 1
Magnolia Warbler - 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 1
[Northern Waterthrush - 1 recaptured]
Common Yellowthroat - 3 (plus 5 recaptured)
Wilson's Warbler - 4
Canada Warbler - 1
Song Sparrow - 7 (plus 2 recaptured)
[Northern Cardinal - 1 recaptured]
Red-winged Blackbird - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
House Finch - 2
American Goldfinch - 21 (plus 5 recaptured and 2 released unbanded)

Metro Beach banding report - August 21 & 26, 2011

2011-08-28T20:27:00.001-04:00

As expected, songbird migration began in earnest this week, though there were fewer birds on the 21st than on the 26th. The 21st had some rain mid-morning, requiring the nets to be closed for an hour with thunderstorms moving in while we took the nets down. Weather on the 26th was ideal.

Highlights of birds banded on Sunday, August 21 included four Ruby-throated Hummingbirds plus one recaptured that was originally banded on August 10.

Hatch-year male Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Some flycatchers were present and captured, including two Willow Flycatchers that appeared to have recently fledged. But the surprise was the Least Flycatcher which was an adult female with the remnants of a brood patch, suggesting that the species nested in the park though none were detected over the summer except in early June one was found along the nature trail.

After hatch-year female Least Flycatcher

Two Willow Flycatchers that appeared to be recently fledged, with short tails and giving raspy begging calls in the hand, were banded today.

Hatch-year Willow Flycatcher

An unusually early migrant, as they do not nest in the park, was a Rose-breasted Grosbeak caught out in the Field Nets (a second grosbeak right next to this one escaped before it could be extracted from the nets). This species is not captured often at this station, so they're always a treat to see up close.

Second-year male Rose-breasted Grosbeak

As can be seen in the photo above, this bird was still heavily molting. Male Rose-breasted Grosbeaks molt into a duller, female-like winter plumage, which is why its head and back looks like a female. But it was clearly a male because it had a fair amount of red on its breast (and pink on the under-wing coverts).

Second-year male Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Determining this bird's age required a closer look at the flight feathers to assess its molt. The presence of a very worn, dull brown inner secondary that was a remaining juvenile feather was a good indication he was in his second-year.

Second-year male Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Interesting birds observed but not banded included a flyover Cooper's Hawk, a Great Crested Flycatcher out near the field nets (seen when we were closing them to wait out the rain), and a couple Tennessee Warblers.

Highlights of birds banded on Friday, August 26 included 14 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, the best day so far this fall. As is typical, most were hatch-year birds. Metro Beach probably hosts a couple breeding female hummingbirds, but in spring less than 10 are typically banded and they are not often seen during summer. In fall, between 50-90 have been banded in previous years, with the unusual age composition of approximately 90% hatch-years. As can be seen in the inset in the photo below, hatch-year birds show "corrugations" on the bill which look like small grooves; the bill smooths out by winter and no corrugations (or very few) are present on adults.

Hatch-year male Ruby-throated Hummingbird showing corrugations on bill (inset)

It was a great day for banding flycatchers. A nice surprise out in the Field Nets was only the second Olive-sided Flycatcher to be banded since 2004, and only the 4th ever, since 1989.

After hatch-year Olive-sided Flycatcher

That this is a long-distance Neotropical migrant, wintering in southern portions of the Amazon basin, can be seen by its long, pointed wings which are somewhat different from most of our flycatchers.

After hatch-year Olive-sided Flycatcher

It was also a good day for Empidonax flycatchers, among my favorite birds to band. Among the 7 individuals captured today was one Least, 3 Willows (including 2 recaptures of recently fledged young banded recently), and 3 Alders. Often, even after taking extensive measurements, some of these Willow/Alder Flycatchers ("Traill's"), they cannot be keyed out to species. Today, all of them keyed out, and the one in the photo below is an Alder Flycatcher based on those measurements. On-site, I had guessed that it was an Alder based on its brighter coloration and more complete, though narrow, eye ring among other characters. This probably only proves that I'm a good guesser, not that I can tell them apart without measuring them! Alders probably did not nest in the park this year, so this one was almost certainly a migrant.

Hatch-year Alder Flycatcher

Another large flycatcher, banded only occasionally here, dropped into the nets; a Great Crested Flycatcher.

After hatch-year Great Crested Flycatcher

Over the past two years, removal of invasive Autumn Olive from the banding area has been one habitat maintenance priority. In 2009, these trees provided berries for many Cedar Waxwings caught that year out in the Field Nets. This year, the dogwoods have regrown and are loaded with berries. Some waxwings have been caught this month, but I really believe that the record number of Warbling Vireos, and today's three Red-eyed Vireos, is because they may prefer dogwood to Autumn Olive. Time will tell, as the number of Red-eyed Vireos has been low for many years.

After hatch-year Red-eyed Vireo

The first migrant thrushes of the fall season were banded today, a little later than normal. Veery nests west and even south of Metro Beach, but there isn't enough appropriate habitat here, so today's bird was clearly a migrant.

Hatch-year Veery

This was followed by the season's first Swainson's Thrush. Adults have been banded here as early as the first week in August.

After hatch-year Swainson's Thrush

Eight species of warbler dropped into the nets today, plus one species recaptured from last week. These included the first Magnolia Warblers. There should be many more of these as their migration typically extends into the first week of October.

Hatch-year Magnolia Warbler

Cape May Warbler is one of the less frequent warbler species banded at Metro Beach, and in fact since 2004 only two have been banded here although it was nearly annual in small numbers from 1989-1999. Both were in the Field Nets (eating dogwood berries?) on the same net run, one a rather dull hatch-year female and the other a much brighter hatch-year male. This is one of the easier warblers to sex in the fall.

Hatch-year female Cape May Warbler

Hatch-year male Cape May Warbler

The first American Redstarts were banded today; like Magnolia Warblers, the migration of redstarts can extend into early October. Many birders would pass this individual off as a "female", but the orange on the flank patches indicates it is a hatch-year male.

Hatch-year male American Redstart

Mourning Warbler tends to be an early migrant, so capturing one today was expected. This individual is showing fairly prominent "eye arcs" that might lead some to think it is a rare vagrant, MacGillivray's Warbler, but the arcs are narrow and this bird is typical of many hatch-year Mourning Warblers. Not visible in this photo is the partly hidden blackish spots on the breast, indicating it is a male.

Hatch-year male Mourning Warbler

Another early migrant is the Canada Warbler, represented today by this adult female.

After hatch-year female Canada Warbler

And the first Wilson's Warblers are expected to arrive by late August.

Hatch-year male Wilson's Warbler

Following on a very good spring for Baltimore Orioles, it has been very good this fall as well with three banded today bringing the season's total to a record of 10.

After hatch-year male Baltimore Oriole

After hatch-year female Baltimore Oriole

Interesting birds observed but not banded included a Virginia Rail that almost got caught in the Field Nets, two Great Horned Owls calling to each other before sunrise, and a Blackburnian Warbler near the road.

Banding could not have been done on these two days without some very helpful, and cheerful (in the face of hordes of mosquitos) volunteer banding assistants, including Stevie Kurda, Dave Lancaster, Tom Schlack, and Bruce Watson. Also thanks to Jeff Silence for stopping by for an hour at a very helpful time in the morning on the 26th.

============================
Banding Data
-------------------------------------
SUNDAY, August 21, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time Open (E.S.T.): 6:00
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 14:00
Hours Open: 7.00 (closed due to rain from 8:30-9:30)
No. of Nets: 2.50-13.50
Net Hours: 82.00
Temperature (F): 66-75
Cloud Cover: 40-100-50%
Wind: SW-W @ 1-3-7 mph
Barometer: 29.95-29.92
Precipitation: Brief light rain in a.m., showers after close
No. Banded: 21 (plus 11 recaptured and 2 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 14
Capture Rate: 41.5 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 10.0 hours, 6:00-16:00): Stevie Kuroda, Bruce Watson.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 4 (plus 1 recaptured)
Willow Flycatcher - 2
Least Flycatcher - 1
American Robin - 2
Gray Catbird - 1
Yellow Warbler - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Northern Waterthrush - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
Song Sparrow - 3 (plus 5 recaptured and 1 released unbanded)
Swamp Sparrow - 1
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 1 (plus 1 released unbanded)
[Red-winged Blackbird - 1 recaptured]
House Finch - 1
American Goldfinch - 1 (plus 2 recaptured)

-------------------------------------
FRIDAY, August 26, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:50
Time Open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 13:15
Hours Open: 7.50
No. of Nets: 4.50-13.50
Net Hours: 91.75
Temperature (F): 61-77
Cloud Cover: 20-0%
Wind: NW-S @ 1-3-10 mph
Barometer: 30.09-30.10
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 80 (plus 20 recaptures)
No. of Species: 29
Capture Rate: 109.0 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 10.0 hours, 6:00-16:00): Dave Lancaster, Tom Schlack (plus Jeff Silence for 1 hour).

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 14
Downy Woodpecker - 1
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER - 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1
Alder Flycatcher - 3
Willow Flycatcher - 1 (plus 2 recaptured)
Least Flycatcher - 1
Great Crested Flycatcher - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 3
Black-capped Chickadee - 1
House Wren - 1
Veery - 1
Swainson's Thrush - 1
American Robin - 1
Tennessee Warbler - 1
Magnolia Warbler - 4
Cape May Warbler - 2
American Redstart - 2
[Northern Waterthrush - 1 recaptured]
Mourning Warbler - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 4 (plus 1 recaptured)
Wilson's Warbler - 1
Canada Warbler - 1
[Song Sparrow - 5 recaptured]
Swamp Sparrow - 2
[Northern Cardinal - 1 recaptured]
Red-winged Blackbird - 4 (plus 2 recaptured)
Baltimore Oriole - 3
House Finch - 1
American Goldfinch - 23 (plus 8 recaptured)

Metro Beach banding report - August 15 & 18, 2011

2011-08-20T21:11:00.000-04:00

The number of birds being banded this early in the season continues to be quite good, and this week the first migrant warblers arrived as expected, while juvenile birds of locally nesting species continue to be captured. A total of 81 birds was banded on the 18th while 70 were banded on the 15th. There were interesting birds on both days, so in that category we'll have to call it a draw.

Highlights of birds banded on Monday, August 15 included an excellent total, for so early in the season, of 9 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. As is typical for this locale in fall, the majority were hatch-year birds but two adults were banded including one female and the nice adult male below. The adult males won't be around much longer as they depart earlier than the females and immatures.

After hatch-year male Ruby-throated Hummingbird

An interesting recapture was a female Hairy Woodpecker. I could tell that the band wasn't very new, but was surprised when I got home and looked it up. She was banded by me at Metro Beach on May 23, 2004 as an after third year, making her an after TENTH year now! The top photo below is from this year. Luckily, I had photographed her in 2004 as well, and that photo is the bottom photo below.

Female Hairy Woodpecker, After TENTH Year in 2011

Female Hairy Woodpecker, After Third Year in 2004

It is shaping up to be a good year for Eastern Wood-Pewees. Two were banded today, and an adult (probably female based on the very extensive brood patch) was a returnee from 2010...the first ever returnee of her species at this banding station.

After hatch-year (female?) Eastern Wood-Pewee

Blue-gray Gnatcatchers are infrequently captured at Metro Beach, so this adult female (with brood patch) was nice to see. There have been a couple pairs in the park all summer.

After hatch-year female Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Continuing with last week's series of "baby pictures", we finally caught some American Robins today including mostly spotty juveniles like this one.

Hatch-year (juvenile) American Robin

The first migrant warbler of the fall season was banded today. Although they nest at a similar latitude on other nearby parts of Michigan, there is no breeding habitat for Northern Waterthrushes at Metro Beach so it is certain that this was a migrant. I have banded them as early as August 7 in other years so it isn't really unexpected by mid-August.

Hatch-year Northern Waterthrush

Interesting birds observed but not banded today included an adult Bald Eagle circling low over Point Rosa Marsh (over the Field Nets!), which headed off southeast into Lake St. Clair. And an Indigo Bunting was heard calling out in the field briefly in the morning.

Highlights of birds banded on Thursday, August 18 included two Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and a Northern Flicker. It was too busy (and too many mosquitos) to allow photos of these species today. But the Warbling Vireos, of which 3 were banded today, have earned another photospot because of the number banded to date this fall. The past several years has been rather poor for all vireo species compared with the 1989-1999 data. My suspicion has been a change in the plant species composition of the undergrowth. This year, after removing a bunch of Glossy Buckthorn from the area of the Field Nets, the Alternate-leaved Dogwood has come back strong with lots of berries, probably also thanks to a wet spring and summer. The result is that these 3 Warbling Vireos today bring the season total to 17. The previous record was 13 in fall 1992 and the most recent high was 9 in fall 2009. They're clearly feeding on these dogwood berries, as evidenced by the purple poop they leave behind on my hands!

Hatch-year Warbling Vireo

Cedar Waxwings also deserve additional mention as it is shaping up to be a good fall for them too, although it is still far short of a record season. In 2009 we captured quite a few in the Field Nets as they fed on the Glossy Buckthorn berries. This year, with the buckthorn gone and the dogwood flourishing, we caught 5 waxwings today. They're also deserving of a photospot just because they're such neat birds.

After hatch-year male Cedar Waxwing

A second species of migrant warbler was banded today, in the form of a half-dozen Tennessee Warblers, all caught in the Field Nets, and all of them hatch-year birds.

Hatch-year Tennessee Warbler

And a third migrant warbler species was a single Chestnut-sided Warbler, followed by the second Northern Waterthrush of the fall.

Hatch-year Chestnut-sided Warbler

House Finches are infrequently banded at Metro Beach, as they don't often spend time in the swamp woods and marsh edge habitat of the banding area. The two banded today, added to the two on the 15th, brings the season total to four, which is the most since 2004, but several fall seasons between 1989 and 1999 had more banded.

Hatch-year House Finch

Interesting birds observed but not banded included an adult female Northern Harrier circling over the swamp woods, and good numbers of swallows including Bank Swallow.

I'd like to thank the volunteers who came out and helped on these two days. It was great to have more than the minimum of two for each day, easing the workload for everyone. Thanks to Jean Gramlich, Dave Lancaster, Gisela Lendle-King, Tom Schlack, Joan Tisdale, and Judi Wade.

============================
Banding Data
-------------------------------------
MONDAY, August 15, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:39
Time Open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 12:45
Hours Open: 7.00
No. of Nets: 4.50-13.50
Net Hours: 87.50
Temperature (F): 64-75
Cloud Cover: 5-50-80%
Wind: NW @ 5-7-15 mph
Barometer: 29.93-29.96
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 70 (plus 12 recaptured and 3 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 17
Capture Rate: 97.1 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 9.5 hours, 6:00-15:30): Dave Lancaster, Tom Schlack, Judi Wade.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 9
[Hairy Woodpecker - 1 recaptured]
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
Willow Flycatcher - 1
Warbling Vireo - 6
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1
American Robin - 6
Cedar Waxwing - 4
Yellow Warbler - 6
Northern Waterthrush - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 4 (plus 3 recaptured)
Song Sparrow - 14 (plus 2 recaptured and 2 released unbanded)
Swamp Sparrow - 1 (plus 2 recaptured)
[Brown-headed Cowbird - 1 recaptured]
[Baltimore Oriole - 1 recaptured]
House Finch - 2
American Goldfinch - 13 (plus 1 recaptured and 1 released unbanded)

-------------------------------------
THURSDAY, August 18, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:42
Time Open (E.S.T.): 6:00
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 13:00
Hours Open: 7.00
No. of Nets: 4.50-13.50
Net Hours: 87.50
Temperature (F): 68-77
Cloud Cover: 20-100-20-80%
Wind: SW-SE @ 1-3-12 mph
Barometer: 30.04-29.98
Precipitation: Trace
No. Banded: 81 (plus 17 recaptures and 2 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 18
Capture Rate: 114.3 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 10.0 hours, 6:00-16:00): Jean Gramlich, Gisela Lendle-King, Joan Tisdale.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 2
Northern Flicker - 1
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 2
Warbling Vireo - 3
American Robin - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)
Gray Catbird - 2
Cedar Waxwing - 5
Tennessee Warbler - 6
Yellow Warbler - 5
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 3
Song Sparrow - 12 (plus 9 recaptured)
Northern Cardinal - 1
Red-winged Blackbird - 8 (plus 3 recaptured)
House Finch - 2
American Goldfinch - 24 (plus 4 recaptured)

Metro Beach - Fall Banding Season Begins!

2011-08-14T20:02:00.001-04:00

It has been a productive summer for banding hummingbirds, though with only one species there isn't much to blog about and photos would tend to get repetitive! Back in June, I promised that the spring banding report would be finished "soon". Well, that day has arrived, and the full report can be dowloaded as a PDF file at my Metro Beach Banding web page. Just scroll down to the Spring 2011 Banding Report link.

The Fall 2011 banding season began on Sunday, August 7, with three volunteers turning out to clear net lanes and see what we might band once everything was set up. This first day is always unpredictable, as there can be quite a lot of vegetion grown into the net lanes over the summer. As I'd been conducting surveys once a week all summer, I knew we were in for a lot of work. I really hate gas-powered garden implements...or gas-powered anything for that matter. But it was a real time saver that the park maintenance department loaned us a weed whacker. It saved time until it jammed before getting to the longest stretch out into the field, and although they were very helpful in getting it unjammed for me, and refilling the tank with gas, I hooked the gas cap on the inside of the back of my car and dumped all the gas out into the car. A week later it is still smelling like gas. So, we had to take turns using the manual weed whacker all the way out into the field. It was a long, hot morning, but we got the job done. Around noon we decided to put up six of the nets for a couple hours to see what we could catch. It was the heat of the day, so bird activity was low, and we only caught 3 birds. The first bird caught and banded for the Fall 2011 season was a species not banded in spring, in a family also not banded in spring, a Warbling Vireo.

Hatch-year Warbling Vireo

From the photo above, some might see a suggestion of dark lores, and some yellow on the underparts, and wonder if it might be an early migrant Philadelphia Vireo. Luckily, the diagnostic character of this bird was visible,and I've highlighted it in an inset (click on the photo to enlarge). In vireos, the 10th (outermost) primary is vestigial so is much shorter than the others. In Philadelphia Vireo, it does not extend past the primary coverts on the folded wing, while in Warbling Vireo it does extend past them. The other two birds banded today were a juvenile Common Yellowthroat and an adult female Swamp Sparrow with a fully developed brood patch.

One of the reasons for starting the fall banding season so early is to assess the nesting productivity in the banding area, so we look forward to catching lots of young birds of locally nesting species. Surveys through the summer saw parent birds with beaks crammed full of Mayflies (Ephemeroptera, often erroneously called "fish flies"), which this summer provided a better than average bounty for nesting birds.

Ephemeroptera (Mayflies) on Nature Center. 7 July 2011.

Elsewhere in the park, birds are also still attending young, but a large part of the park's area is taken up with a huge parking lot (see map here). In 30+ years of visiting this park, I have never seen so many beach-goers that this lot was close to even half full. For much of the year, this vast expanse of asphalt is as welcoming to life as the surface of the Moon. But from late summer into fall, gulls find portions attractive for loafing much of the day. And often there are interesting things mixed in, like a few Killdeer, and Caspian Terns with begging juveniles. The adult Caspian Terns try to ignore them at this age, mostly just running away from them as they squeal and beg.

The first full day of fall banding, Wednesday, August 10, was possibly the best opening day since I began here in 2004, with a total of 84 new birds banded and 10 recaptures. Last year's first full banding day netted only 21 birds, while other recent years have started with 40-50 birds on the first full day. Highlights included the first 6 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds of the season, all of them hatch-year birds. It is unclear if they all hatched locally or if they're the first migrants of the fall.

Hatch-year male Ruby-throated Hummingbird

It was a good day for flycatchers. The number of Eastern Wood-Pewees banded each year at Metro Beach varies greatly from zero to a few. This adult was a welcome first.

After hatch-year Eastern Wood-Pewee

Willow Flycatchers nested in the banding area this summer, so it wasn't surprising that a youngster was caught out in the Field Nets.

Hatch-year Willow Flycatcher

A Least Flycatcher was a bit of a surprise as they don't often nest in the park, and had been undetected here since early June. But the most interesting flycatcher was the Eastern Kingbird, which was only the second banded here since 2004 (the first was in spring 2009) and only the third ever.

Hatch-year Eastern Kingbird

Swallows are very difficult to catch in the banding area, as they usually forage above net height, and have excellent vision to avoid getting caught. And most swallows to date have been banded in spring, so the two Northern Rough-winged Swallows in the Field Nets were a real treat. Both were juveniles, as evidenced by the broad cinnamon edgings on their wing coverts.

Hatch-year female Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Of course the fleshy corners of the mouth were another giveaway that they were juveniles. They were both sexed as females based on the lack of "serrations" on the front of the outermost primary.

Hatch-year female Northern Rough-winged Swallow

An adult female Cedar Waxwing was a nice catch, as they aren't banded here every year. She had very limited black on the chin, and a fully developed brood patch.

After hatch-year female Cedar Waxwing

She was soon followed by a hatch-year Cedar Waxwing, easily identified by its streaky breast and short crest, but they cannot be sexed at this stage.

Hatch-year Cedar Waxwing

Yellow Warblers nest commonly in the banding area, but are very early migrants, so it is always interesting to see how many we can catch before they all depart. Typically, the peak of migration is the last week of July or the first week of August. There were a lot of them still around on opening day, but we couldn't get the nets up early enough to catch them. Today, we managed to catch three hatch-years, identified by their generally yellow coloration with a suggestion of an eye ring (somewhat like a Nashville Warbler) and yellow tail spots. Only those with chestnut streaks can be sexed as male; the remainder must be recorded as unknown.

Hatch-year Yellow Warbler

Another warbler that nests in the banding area, but doesn't depart as early, is the Common Yellowthroat. In early August, many are just out of the nest and wearing a briefly-held juvenile plumage that will confound even some experienced birders. The lack of yellow on the throat, along with cinnamon wing bars, are the most confusing characters, and are molted out into more expected patterns by late August. They cannot be sexed when in this juvenile plumage. The individual in the photo below had the shortest tail of all those banded today, but when it flew off it was very strong, just like it had a full-length tail.

Hatch-year (juv.) Common Yellowthroat

A pair of sparrow species also nest in the banding area, with the Song Sparrow being the most common. Both species leave the nest with a fairly nondescript streaked juvenile plumage that can be confused with the other nesting sparrow, the Swamp Sparrow. The hatch-year below has no rufous in its wing coverts and is developing the clear bold malar marks that identifies him as a Song Sparrow.

Hatch-year Song Sparrow

Some years I have resorted to checking the wing formula on some sparrows captured in early August, but that was not necessary on this juvenile Swamp Sparrow as it had a distinctive pattern on the crown and rufous in the wing coverts. It is, however, very similar to a Lincoln's Sparrow which does not nest in this area.

Hatch-year Swamp Sparrow

In keeping with the theme of young birds, this young male Northern Cardinal seems surprised that he blundered into our nets. The bill color is mostly yellow when in the nest and at fledging, but quickly becomes mostly dark gray, which then gradually turns orange through the fall.

Hatch-year male Northern Cardinal

Red-winged Blackbirds nest very commonly in the banding area, but are rarely caught in fall as they seem to only raise one brood and then depart the marshes during mid-July. They seem to prefer foraging in open areas, including agricultural fields, until they migrate south in October and November. It seems like they could raise a second brood in this time, but for some reason they do not. They're a remarkably successful species even so. The hatch-year below is a male, only identifiable by his size. Wing measurements are the most reliable means of sexing young Red-wings though birds that are not full grown can present banders with a puzzle, which I've solved in the past by using the bander's leg gage as a last resort, as males take a larger band size than females. How many birders would pass this individual off as a female?

Hatch-year male Red-winged Blackbird

After a very good spring, Baltimore Orioles were caught in surprising (near record in fact) numbers today. Some were hatch-year as expected, but some were adult females in heavy body molt as they prepare for their early southward migration. Most will be gone by Labor Day, and most years none are banded in fall at Metro Beach.

After hatch-year female Baltimore Oriole

And while some species like the orioles and Yellow Warblers are done nesting and well on their way south, some species like American Goldfinches are still feeding young in the nest (a male Common Yellowthroat was also seen today carrying a fat green caterpillar). Several short-tailed juveniles, like the one in the photo below, were captured and a few adult females with fully developed brood patches were also banded.

Hatch-year female American Goldfinch

Interesting birds observed today included Green Heron, Blue-winged Teal, an early Eastern Phoebe by the Field Nets, and two Blue-gray Gnatcatchers (present all summer).

I would like to thank Stevie, Joan, and Bruce for working so hard to clear net lanes on the 7th, and thanks to Tom, Joan, and Mike for helping process a lot of birds on the first full day on the 10th.

============================
Banding Data
-------------------------------------
SUNDAY, August 7, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:30
Time Open (E.S.T.): 11:15
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 13:45
Hours Open: 2.50
No. of Nets: 3.25-5.25
Net Hours: 12.125
Temperature (F): 72-82
Cloud Cover: 30-90%
Wind: WSW @ 1-3-7 mph
Barometer: 29.77-29.75
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 3 (plus 1 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 4
Capture Rate: 33.0 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 8.0 hours, 8:00-16:00): Stevie Kuroda, Joan Tisdale, Bruce Watson.

Warbling Vireo - 1
[American Robin - 1 released unbanded]
Common Yellowthroat - 1
Swamp Sparrow - 1

-------------------------------------
WEDNESDAY, August 10, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:33
Time Open (E.S.T.): 6:00
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 13:45
Hours Open: 7.75
No. of Nets: 4.50-13.50
Net Hours: 96.375
Temperature (F): 66-73
Cloud Cover: 5-70-40%
Wind: WSW-WNW @ 5-7-15 mph
Barometer: 29.70-29.79
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 84 (plus 10 recaptures and 2 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 18
Capture Rate: 99.6 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 10.5 hours, 6:00-16:30): Mike Charlebois, Tom Schlack, Joan Tisdale.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 6
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1
Willow Flycatcher - 1
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 1
Least Flycatcher - 1
EASTERN KINGBIRD - 1
Warbling Vireo - 7
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 2
House Wren - 1
[American Robin - 1 released unbanded]
Cedar Waxwing - 2
Yellow Warbler - 3
Common Yellowthroat - 4 (plus 2 recaptured)
Song Sparrow - 22 (plus 1 recaptured and 1 released unbanded)
Swamp Sparrow - 1 (plus 2 recaptured)
Northern Cardinal - 2
Red-winged Blackbird - 2
Brown-headed Cowbird - 1
Baltimore Oriole - 7 (plus 1 recaptured)
American Goldfinch - 19 (plus 4 recaptured)

Metro Beach Spring 2011 Banding Summary

2011-06-16T19:28:00.000-04:00

By most measures, coverage this spring was down. The 15 days was the lowest since 2004 (target is 18), the 99.5 hours was the second lowest, and the 1022.9 net hours was the third lowest. The number of days with rain this spring was certainly a factor, as well as a low turnout of volunteers which may have been related to the weather. Yet, the 728 birds banded was the third highest since 2004 and the capture rate of 100.4 per 100 net hours was the highest (on a par with the 1989-1999 average). Among the 60 species banded (about average) were some highlights including Black-billed Cuckoo, Acadian Flycatcher, Marsh Wren, Yellow-breasted Chat, Field Sparrow, and Rusty Blackbird. Species totals are shown below, with the number, or species, in parentheses being the number of banded individuals returning from previous years. A full report providing context and comparisons will be posted online later this summer (go to: www.amazilia.net/MetroBeachBanding/)

Black-billed Cuckoo - 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 6 (1)
Downy Woodpecker - 9 (4)
(Hairy Woodpecker - 1)
Northern Flicker - 2
Acadian Flycatcher - 1
Alder Flycatcher - 1
Willow Flycatcher - 2 (2)
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 1
Least Flycatcher - 1
Eastern Phoebe - 3
Blue Jay - 3
Tree Swallow - 3
Black-capped Chickadee - 4 (2)
Tufted Titmouse - 2
(White-breasted Nuthatch - 1)
Brown Creeper - 21
House Wren - 5 (1)
Winter Wren - 3
Marsh Wren - 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 15
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 7
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1
Veery - 7
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 3
Wwainson's Thrush - 10
Hermit Thrush - 13
Wood Thrush - 1
American Robin - 28 (3)
Gray Catbird - 7 (2)
European Starling - 4
Blue-winged Warbler - 1
Yellow Warbler - 30 (14)
Magnolia Warbler - 9
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 11
Palm Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 1
Ovenbird - 7
Northern Waterthrush - 17
Mourning Warbler - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 24 (11)
Wilson's Warbler - 5
Canada Warbler - 2
Yellow-breasted Chat - 1
Northern Cardinal - 4 (1)
Eastern Towhee - 2
American Tree Sparrow - 23 (1)
Field Sparrow - 1
Fox Sparrow - 8
Song Sparrow - 16 (10)
Lincoln's Sparrow - 17
Swamp Sparrow - 72 (3)
White-throated Sparrow - 66 (1)
White-crowned Sparrow - 3
Dark-eyed Junco - 1
Red-winged Blackbird - 96 (20)
Rusty Blackbird - 1
Common Grackle - 33
Brown-headed Cowbird - 5 (2)
Baltimore Oriole - 13 (8)
House Finch - 1
American Goldfinch - 89 (33)

Metro Beach banding report - June 2 & 4, 2011

2011-06-08T11:04:00.001-04:00

The first week of June is typically the last week of spring migration. The scarcity of migrants in the banding area definitely signalled the end of spring migration for this year. At least the rainy trend did not plague us this week and we got two full days of banding in, though a White-tailed Deer destroyed a brand new net on Thursday so our setup was one net short on Saturday.

Highlights of the 44 birds banded on Thursday, June 2 included two Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, plus a returning female banded in August 2010. This is only the second time since 2004 that a Ruby-throated Hummingbird has been recaptured in a different year; the first was in 2008 of a bird banded in August 2007 as an adult. This year's returnee was a hatch-year when banded, which is more unusual because of the high mortality rate of hatch year birds.

AHY-F Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

AHY-F Ruby-throated Hummingbird spread tail.

The swamp woods transitioning to herbaceous wetland and cattail marsh, with scattered dogwood patches is more favorable for nesting Willow Flycatchers but Alder has been noted here in summer as well. The bird in the photo below keyed out to Alder, based on several measurements, but it is unknown if it was a migrant or a bird that could remain to nest.

AHY-U Alder Flycatcher

Willow and Alder Flycatchers (known as "Traill's" before they were split many years ago, and sometimes humorously called "Walder" Flycatchers) tend to be brownish-olive on the upperparts with not much greenish tones, and a slightly grayer head. Both also have very clean white throats, where Least and Acadian tend to have grayish-white throats and Yellow-bellied always has yellow on the throat. Least tends to have a broad bright white eyering, and greener back and grayer head, while Acadian is more olive above and Yellow-bellied is brighter olive above. Some "Traill's" Flycatchers show a slight difference in coloration of the two wing bars, as this bird does. Alder's sometimes seem to have a more prominent, clean, complete eyering like the bird above, but there is much overlap making visual ID extremely challenging.

In most years, the last week of banding in early June produces the first hatch-year birds of the year, in the form of juvenile American Robins. The bird in the photo below had fully grown wing and tail feathers and was likely mostly independent of its parents.

HY-U American Robin

Yellow Warblers are usually fairly easy to determine the sex in spring, but in fall the young birds are mostly left unsexed. An individual recaptured today had been banded last August as a hatch-year of unknown sex, and when recaptured about 10 days ago I called it a male based on the chestnut streaks on the breast as can be seen in the photo below.

SY-F Yellow Warbler

But as the caption above indicates, this bird had to be called a female today when recaptured because she had a prominent brood patch, and a very clear egg forming in her abdomen! It is known that some females can show chestnut streaks, but I didn't expect it in a second-year bird. Perhaps two springs ago, there was a Yellow Warbler singing near the banding area that completely lacked chestnut streaks so it was either an unusually "dull" male, or a very unusual female that was singing. The lesson is that probably no "rules" in nature are 100%.

Bill deformities are fairly rare in birds, as they often prevent the bird from surviving very long. The Red-winged Blackbird in the photo below has apparently found a way to cope with its deformity as it was an after second-year bird, having survived at least 18 months from hatching.

ASY-M Red-winged Blackbird

Baltimore Orioles have been banded in record numbers this spring (13), in addition to record numbers of returning birds (8) being captured. It has been a joy handling so many of these beautiful birds this spring.

ASY-M Baltimore Oriole

Interesting birds observed but not banded included a Spotted Sandpiper out in a wet area near the Field Nets, a single Marsh Wren in the cattails, two Blue-gray Gnatcatchers (only occasionally nest here), a lingering Hermit Thrush that has been in the Swamp Nets area for about a week or so, and two singing American Redstarts (probably don't nest here).

Highlights of the 26 birds banded on Saturday June 4 included another Ruby-throated Hummingbird; this one had a slight bill deformity with the lower mandible slightly longer than the upper, and slightly upturned.

AHY-F Ruby-throated Hummingbird

The Hermit Thrush that has been lingering around the Swamp Nets for nearly two weeks was finally captured today, in the Willow Net adjacent to the swamp. Normally, this species departs for more northerly breeding areas by mid-May, so it is suspected that this individual might not be healthy. The abdomen may have shown the possible presence of an internal parasite, but I have no experience with such things so cannot be sure what I was looking at (and photos were not taken of the abdomen).

SY-U Hermit Thrush

The lone Baltimore Oriole banded today was the 13th of the season, and was a second-year male. It isn't very easy to age this bird from the photo below, but the flight feathers, especially the tail, made the age quite obvious.

SY-M Baltimore Oriole

Note the adult tail feathers in the center of this bird's tail, as well as a single adult-type male outer left (bottom) tail feather. The remaining tail feathers are juvenile-type, confirming this as a second-year male. Adult females show tails similar to juveniles, and some older individuals can show fairly extensive black hoods.

SY-M Baltimore Oriole

Interesting birds observed but not banded included a Pied-billed Grebe calling from north of the road, which has been determined is a bird at least 200 yards away so technically not in the banding area but certainly audible from there. Wood Ducks and a Green Heron flew over, and both Willow and Alder Flycatchers were heard singing in the area; Alder from the shrub-swamp north of the road, Willow from the more open area south of the road. Two Marsh Wrens were singing from the cattails near the Field Nets, and a single Blue-gray Gnatcatcher continued calling near the Upland Nets.

Banding could not have been conducted this week without the help of very dedicated volunteers including John Bieganowski, Dave Lancaster, Jerry McHale, Jeremy Miller, and Tom Schlack. Also, special thanks to volunteer Larry McCullough who provided a cart on the last day greatly reducing the time and effort required to take everything down. Thank you everyone!

============================
Banding Data
-------------------------------------
THURSDAY, June 2, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 4:58
Time Open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 13:30
Hours Open: 7.75
No. of Nets: 4.25-13.25
Net Hours: 96.938
Temperature (F): 54-66
Cloud Cover: 5%
Wind: NW @ 5-7-12 mph
Barometer: 30.24-30.30
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 44 (plus 36 recaptured and 3 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 16
Capture Rate: 85.6 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 10.0 hours, 6:00-16:00): John Bieganowski, Dave Lancaster, Jeremy Miller, Tom Schlack.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
Downy Woodpecker - 1
Alder Flycatcher - 1
Willow Flycatcher - 1
Black-capped Chickadee - 1
American Robin - 4 (plus 4 recaptured and 1 released unbanded)
Yellow Warbler - 2 (plus 9 recaptured)
Common Yellowthroat - 1 (plus 3 recaptured)
Song Sparrow - 2 (plus 4 recaptured)
Swamp Sparrow - 2
Northern Cardinal - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Red-winged Blackbird - 9 (plus 9 recaptured and 2 released unbanded)
Common Grackle - 7
Brown-headed Cowbird - 1
Baltimore Oriole - 2 (plus 3 recaptured)
American Goldfinch - 7 (plus 2 recaptured)

-------------------------------------
SATURDAY, June 4, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 4:57
Time Open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 12:45
Hours Open: 7.00
No. of Nets: 4.25-12.25
Net Hours: 79.25
Temperature (F): 63-84
Cloud Cover: 80-100%
Wind: S @ 3-5-7 mph
Barometer: 30.12-29.98
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 26 (plus 26 recaptures)
No. of Species: 15
Capture Rate: 65.6 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 9.5 hours, 6:00-15:30): Larry McCullough (2 hrs), Jerry McHale, Tom Schlack.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1
Downy Woodpecker - 1 (plus 2 recaptured)
[Willow Flycatcher - 2 recaptured]
Hermit Thrush - 1
American Robin - 2 (plus 2 recaptured)
[Gray Catbird - 2 recaptured]
Yellow Warbler - 1 (plus 4 recaptured)
Common Yellowthroat - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Song Sparrow - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
[Swamp Sparrow - recaptured]
Northern Cardinal - 1
Red-winged Blackbird - 5 (plus 4 recaptured)
Common Grackle - 6
Baltimore Oriole - 1
American Goldfinch - 5 (plus 7 recaptured)

Metro Beach banding report - May 28, 2011

2011-05-30T20:32:00.001-04:00

Another frustrating week, with lots of rain. Banding was scheduled for Thursday, May 26 but in a rare move, I canceled ahead of time because the weather prediction looked so bad it didn't look like it would be worth it for the volunteers to drive all that way only to be rained out. Unfortunately (!), the rain didn't materialize until afternoon so a perfectly good banding day was missed. We were able to get out on Saturday, May 28 though the morning started with intermittent light rain and fog, though not enough to force nets closed, and changing to overcast skies for the day. It was a welcome change from recent weeks to be able to open all the nets, and for a full day of banding.

Highlights of the 54 birds banded on Saturday, May 28 included the first Black-billed Cuckoo banded here since fall 1996, and only the 8th ever. Most have been banded in fall, so this was only the third in spring. Black-billed Cuckoos are rare migrants at Metro Beach, but I've been seeing or hearing them annually for several years. The way this bird held its tail in the air while being photographed was odd.

ASY-U Black-billed Cuckoo

It is a little difficult to see in the photo below, but the inside of the mouth was absolutely black.

ASY-U Black-billed Cuckoo

This was my first cuckoo banded in Michigan; all the others were Black-billed banded in Ontario in the fall, so it was nice to see one with a bright red eye ring.

ASY-U Black-billed Cuckoo

It was also interesting to note that the base of the lower mandible was bluish-gray, not black. Blue-billed Cuckoo???

ASY-U Black-billed Cuckoo

Among a few more Swainson's Thrushes today were the season's first Gray-cheeked Thrushes.

SY-U Gray-cheeked Thrush

Even in-hand the cheeks of this species aren't very gray. In fact, the cheeks of the Veery seem to be nearly as gray to me.

SY-U Gray-cheeked Thrush

A sign of the advanced stage of the spring migration was this female Canada Warbler. Canadas tend to migrate later, and males before females.

SY-F Canada Warbler

There were also good numbers of Wilson's Warbler in the area today, a few of which were banded. And it was another interesting day for Baltimore Orioles, with two more banded and among the four recaptured were individuals that were 3-4 years old. And, this week I received notice of a female Baltimore Oriole banded at Metro Beach in spring 2005 that was found dead (killed by a cat) east of Cleveland, Ohio on May 18, 2011. The high number of recaptures today was probably a record for a single day, and provided excellent information on returning birds that breed at and near Point Rosa Marsh, including one female Yellow Warbler that was banded in 2005 as a second-year.

Interesting birds observed but not banded included two Green Herons, at least two Eastern Wood-Pewees, at least three Yellow-bellied Flycatchers, a late lingering (probably breeding) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, a very late Hermit Thrush, and Blackburnian and Black-and-white Warblers along with a couple American Redstarts.

Thanks once again to Tom Schlack who has been out so many times this spring, and to Terri Chapdelaine for her very welcome experience with all aspects of the banding operation.

============================
Banding Data
-------------------------------------
SATURDAY, May 28, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:01
Time Open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 13:30
Hours Open: 7.75
No. of Nets: 4.25-13.25
Net Hours: 94.438
Temperature (F): 56-70
Cloud Cover: 100-80-100%
Wind: SSE @ 5-7-12 mph
Barometer: 29.93-29.93
Precipitation: Trace in early a.m., fog
No. Banded: 54 (plus 49 recaptured)
No. of Species: 20
Capture Rate: 109.1 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 11.5 hours, 6:00-17:30): Terri Chapdelaine, Tom Schlack.

Black-billed Cuckoo - 1
[Downy Woodpecker - 1 recaptured]
Willow Flycatcher - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 1
Blue Jay - 1
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 3
Swainson's Thrush - 2
American Robin - 2 (plus 2 recaptured)
European Starling - 1
Yellow Warbler - 6 (plus 12 recaptured)
Magnolia Warbler - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 4 (plus 5 recaptured)
Wilson's Warbler - 3
Canada Warbler - 1
Song Sparrow - 1 (plus 3 recaptured)
[Swamp Sparrow - 2 recaptured]
Red-winged Blackbird - 10 (plus 7 recaptured)
Common Grackle - 5
[Brown-headed Cowbird - 1 recaptured]
Baltimore Oriole - 2 (plus 4 recaptured)
American Goldfinch - 9 (plus 11 recaptured)

Metro Beach banding report - May 14 & 19, 2011

2011-05-22T22:01:00.003-04:00

This past week was a difficult one, with many rain days presenting challenges for scheduling volunteers, a continuing shortage of volunteer interest, and worst of all four new nets destroyed by two groups of unsupervised school children, while the station was in operation.

Saturday, May 14 was the second banding day of the previous week. Intermittent trace precipitation turned to actual rain just after noon, forcing yet another early closure. The next week only allowed one day of banding, Thursday May 19, partly due to few volunteers and partly due to rain. Since April 1, 70% of all days in southeastern Michigan have had rain. On Thursday only one volunteer could help, so we only set up 9.25 nets instead of the usual 13.25, and started late due to rain and fog early. Unfortunately, by 11 a.m. four of these nets had been completely destroyed, including net poles knocked down, by two school groups. One group that was caught in the act claimed it was accidental and involved only one net, while the other group was not caught and destruction of those three nets was clearly intentional with my "Do Not Enter" signs pulled out and thrown into the weeds, all nets and net poles down on the ground, and very large holes in all of them. Luckily, no birds were in the nets during this destruction, and we continued with only 5.25 nets until the normal closing time. Help from Nature Center staff, Chris Becher and Julie Champion, and volunteer Larry McCullough, was greatly appreciated as it was a lot of work getting the destroyed nets picked clean of debris and packed away.

Highlights of the 76 birds banded on Saturday, May 14 included an Acadian Flycatcher. It was surprising that this was the first Empidonax banded here this spring as the species is typically a later migrant, and is very uncommon at this site (we're near the northern limit of its breeding range). In fact, this was only the 11th ever banded here and only the second since 2004.

AHY-U Acadian Flycatcher

Today was the first real influx of Swainson's Thrushes, with three banded.

AHY-U Swainson's Thrush

There were a few warblers banded, including Magnolia, Yellow-rumped, American Redstart, and Northern Waterthrush, but the majority today were Yellows. It was also a good day for Baltimore Orioles.

SY-M Baltimore Oriole

Five were banded and an additional five were recaptured, including one that had originally been banded at Long Point Bird Observatory, Ontario, in May 2007. Even more interesting is that this same individual was recaptured here at Metro Beach for the first time in 2008!

An unusual male Brown-headed Cowbird was also captured, showing a paler than normal head...a "blond-headed cowbird", almost certainly due to leucism.

Interesting birds observed but not banded included singing Warbling and Red-eyed Vireos, all 6 swallow species, and several warblers including Tennessee, Nashville, Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Green, Blackpoll, Black-and-white, Wilson's, and Canada.

Highlights of the 50 birds banded on Thursday, May 19 included a Ruby-throated Hummingbird, more Swainson's Thrushes, several Magnolia Warblers, and the season's first Mourning Warbler. This species tends to be a later migrant so its appearance mid-month was a little unexpected.

ASY-M Mourning Warbler

Another season first was another later migrant, a beautiful male Canada Warbler.

SY-M Canada Warbler

A more mundane season-first was a female House Finch, which is not often banded on our plot.

Interesting birds observed but not banded included a flyover Green Heron, an Eastern Wood-Pewee singing briefly, as well as a Willow Flycatcher newly arrived for the season. Also noted were Bue-headed Vireo, Northern Parula, Blackburnian, Bay-breasted, and Blackpoll Warblers.

Many thanks to the banding volunteers who helped out on these two days. This research could not be done without you. Mary Buchowski, Kathy McDonald, and Tom Schlack. And again, thanks to Larry McCullough, Chris Becher, and Julie Champion for helping with the damaged nets.

============================
Banding Data
-------------------------------------
SATURDAY, May 14, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:15
Time Open (E.S.T.): 6:00
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 11:30 (rain forced early close)
Hours Open: 5.50
No. of Nets: 4.25-13.25
Net Hours: 64.493
Temperature (F): 61-63
Cloud Cover: 100%
Wind: N @ 3-7 mph
Barometer: 29.69-29.71
Precipitation: Trace
No. Banded: 76 (plus 18 recaptured and 3 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 21
Capture Rate: 150.4 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 9.5 hours, 6:00-15:30): Mary Buchowski, Kathy McDonald (5 hrs), Tom Schlack.

[Downy Woodpecker - 1 released unbanded]
Acadian Flycatcher - 1
Least Flycatcher - 1
[House Wren - 1 recaptured]
Veery - 2
Swainson's Thrush - 3
American Robin - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Gray Catbird - 3
Yellow Warbler - 17 (plus 3 recaptured)
Magnolia Warbler - 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 3
Common Yellowthroat - 5 (plus 2 recaptured)
Lincoln's Sparrow - 5 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Swamp Sparrow - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)
Red-winged Blackbird - 13 (plus 2 recaptured)
Common Grackle - 2
Brown-headed Cowbird - 3
Baltimore Oriole - 5 (plus 5 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
American Goldfinch - 5 (plus 3 recaptured)

-------------------------------------
THURSDAY, May 19, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:08
Time Open (E.S.T.): 6:15
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 13:30
Hours Open: 7.25
No. of Nets: 4.00-9.25
Net Hours: 50.438 (4 nets down @ 10:00 E.S.T.)
Temperature (F): 53-68
Cloud Cover: 100-70%
Wind: Calm-WSW @ 0-3 mph
Barometer: 29.93-30.02
Precipitation: Fog and trace rain in a.m.
No. Banded: 50 (plus 28 recaptures and 5 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 26
Capture Rate: 164.6 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 11.0 hours, 6:00-17:00): Tom Schlack.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 2
[Willow Flycatcher - 1 recaptured]
[House Wren - 1 recaptured]
Veery - 2
Swainson's Thrush - 5
American Robin - 3 (plus 1 recaptured, 2 released unbanded)
Gray Catbird - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
European Starling - 1 (plus 1 released unbanded)
[Yellow Warbler - 4 recaptured]
Magnolia Warbler - 5
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 1
Ovenbird - 1 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Northern Waterthrush - 4
Mourning Warbler - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 6 (plus 4 recaptured)
Wilson's Warbler - 1
Canada Warbler - 1
[Song Sparrow - 1 recaptured]
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1
Swamp Sparrow - 2 (plus 5 recaptured)
[White-crowned Sparrow - 1 released unbanded]
Red-winged Blackbird - 2 (plus 4 recaptured)
Common Grackle - 1
Baltimore Oriole - 2 (plus 3 recaptured)
House Finch - 1
American Goldfinch - 8 (plus 3 recaptured)

Metro Beach banding report - May 6-8, 2011

2011-05-15T14:44:00.001-04:00

Another tardy banding report, but this time with a better excuse. The first week of May saw a huge influx of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, and it took much of my spare time to update my tracking web page. I suggest you take a look at my Michigan Hummingbird Arrival map.

Banding sessions at Metro Beach Metro Park were conducted on Friday May 6, Saturday May 7, and Sunday May 8, with good results on all days, though as has been typical of this spring, the weather wasn't fully cooperative. A total of 242 birds was banded over the three days. On Friday there was intermittent light rain, and a forced closure of 1.75 hours in late morning. Saturday was free of precipitation all day, though temperatures at the start were quite cool and only 9 (of 13) nets were set up due to a shortage of volunteer help. Sunday was similar to Saturday with no rain and a cool beginning.

Highlights of the 96 birds banded on Friday, May 6 included the first Veery of the spring; there were several in the banding area all day.

AHY-U Veery

Among 8 species of warblers captured today (plus an addtional 5 observed only), was an unusual Blue-winged Warbler. From 1989-2010 only 10 Blue-winged and 8 Golden-winged Warblers have been banded at this site, plus 2 classic "Brewster's", one in spring 1993 and one in spring 2006.

ASY-M Blue-winged Warbler

This bird had a suggestion of the black cheek patch, present in Golden-winged Warbler, as can be seen in the closeup of the bird's head below.

ASY-M Blue-winged Warbler

While it is easy to decide that a bird is a "classic" hybrid Brewster's or Lawrence's, other intermediate individuals make it more difficult to figure out not only what it is, but what to submit to the Banding Lab. There is a very similar illustration to this bird in The Sibley Guide to Birds, on page 428 at the bottom labeled "rare hybrid variant...". But Sibley's illustration shows a bird with yellow wing bars, whereas this bird had white. So, it would seem that this bird was mostly Blue-winged, and I plan to submit it to the BBL that way.

The season's first Black-throated Blue Warbler was a stunning male.

ASY-M Black-throated Blue Warbler

There were good numbers of Ovenbird and Northern Waterthrush in the park, with 5 of each banded today.

AHY-U Ovenbird

AHY-U Northern Waterthrush

The most interesting bird of the day, however, was an adult male Yellow-breasted Chat.

ASY-M Yellow-breasted Chat

This is only the 8th chat ever banded at this locale since 1989, and the first since 2005.

ASY-M Yellow-breasted Chat

The season's second Eastern Towhee, another second-year male, was the first time more than one towhee has ever been banded in a single season here.

SY-M Eastern Towhee

Yet another surprise was a Field Sparrow. Only four were banded between 1989-1999, and four more from 2004-2010, with equal numbers in spring and fall; thus this is only the 9th Field Sparrow ever banded here.

Today was also the peak day of the spring season for White-throated Sparrows.

Interesting birds observed but not banded included a calling Sora, a flyover Rock Pigeon (a species I've very rarely seen in the park), and Nashville, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Palm, and Black-and-white Warblers. Several Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Baltimore Orioles also eluded capture today.

Highlights of the 83 birds banded on Saturday, May 7 included the season's first Ruby-throated Hummingbirds; two adult males.

AHY-M Ruby-throated Hummingbird

A Wood Thrush, likely the male that had been heard singing yesterday and this morning, was also captured. Typically we band 0-2 of these each spring.

AHY-U Wood Thrush

The first Yellow Warblers were banded today, although two were recaptured yesterday and they were first seen in the area more than a week ago. Numbers of this species will build through the spring as it is a very common nesting bird locally.

ASY-M Yellow Warbler

It is always nice when the first Magnolia Warblers are banded, as it is my favorite warbler species.

SY-M Magnolia Warbler

Surprising was a nice male Wilson's Warbler, a bit earlier than expected.

AHY-M Wilson's Warbler

The Yellow-breasted Chat banded yesterday was recaptured again today. Lincoln's Sparrows made a strong showing today, after the first one was banded yesterday, with 8 today.

ASY-U Lincoln's Sparrow

It is always a nice surprise to find a White-crowned Sparrow in our nets, as they are not frequent in the tangles and swampy marsh edges of the banding area, instead preferring the lawns and nature center feeders in the park.

AHY-U White-crowned Sparrow

Interesting birds observed but not banded included a Least Bittern calling from the marsh just north of the banding road. This species nests most years elsewhere in the park, but this is the first time I've noted them in this particular area. A Solitary Sandpiper was flushed from the wet area between the Field Edge and Field nets, and the season's first Chimney Swift, Least Flycatcher, Great Crested Flycatcher, and Eastern Kingbird were also noted. Early in the day, a Golden-winged Warbler was singing near several of the nets, but avoided capture, as did Nashville Warbler, Northern Parula, Black-thorated Blue, Black-throated Green, Palm, and Black-and-white Warblers.

Highlights of the 63 birds banded on Sunday, May 8 included two Tree Swallows in the Upland nets, where they may decide to nest this year (a SY-F was captured yesterday in the Field nets where there is a nest box nearby).

AHY-M Tree Swallow

This photo (click on it to enlarge) shows the forward-facing feathers in front of the eyes that is characteristic of all swallows.

Somewhat late, it seems, was the season's first Palm Warbler, though we don't usually band very many of these...they are much more common about 100 yards to the south along the shoreline of Lake St. Clair during migration.

AHY-U Palm Warbler

Once again, the Yellow-breasted Chat that was banded on Friday was recaptured today in the Field nets where it was originally captured. And the first Baltimore Oriole of the season was banded today, although one was captured yesterday that had been banded here in a previous year.

ASY-F Baltimore Oriole

Interesting birds observed but not banded today included the Least Bittern, once again calling from north of the banding road. Both Virginia Rail and Sora were heard calling in the marsh out away from the Field nets, and the Solitary Sandpiper was again flushed from the same spot as yesterday. In early afternoon, after all the birding field trips had departed, a White-eyed Vireo began singing right next to our cars!

Banding can not be conducted at this site without the help of volunteers. I would especially like to thank Dave Lancaster and Tom Schlack for coming out on two days this weekend, and for saving the day on Saturday. Also, thank you to Mike and Sarah Matuszak for coming out again, after a chilling inaugural experience for them in early April.

============================
Banding Data
-------------------------------------
FRIDAY, May 6, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:22
Time Open (E.S.T.): 6:15
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 14:00
Hours Open: 6.00 (rain forced closure from 9:15-11:00)
No. of Nets: 4.25-13.25
Net Hours: 76.00
Temperature (F): 50-63
Cloud Cover: 100-60%
Wind: SSW @ 3-5-15 mph
Barometer: 29.90-29.85
Precipitation: Intermittent Rain
No. Banded: 96 (plus 19 recaptured and 4 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 25
Capture Rate: 156.6 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 11.0 hours, 6:00-17:00): Dave Lancaster, Tom Schlack.

[Downy Woodpecker - 1 recaptured]
[Black-capped Chickadee - 1 recaptured, 1 released unbanded]
House Wren - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
Veery - 2 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Hermit Thrush - 1
American Robin - 1
Gray Catbird - 2
Blue-winged Warbler - 1
[Yellow Warbler - 2 recaptured]
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 3
Ovenbird - 5
Northern Waterthrush - 5
Common Yellowthroat - 2
Yellow-breasted Chat - 1
Eastern Towhee - 1
Field Sparrow - 1
[Song Sparrow - 1 recaptured]
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1
Swamp Sparrow - 13 (plus 3 recaptured)
White-throated Sparrow - 36 (plus 1 recaptured)
Red-winged Blackbird - 7 (plus 3 recaptured, 2 released unbanded)
Common Grackle - 3
American Goldfinch - 8 (plus 6 recaptured)

-------------------------------------
SATURDAY, May 7, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:21
Time Open (E.S.T.): 6:00
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 13:30
Hours Open: 7.50
No. of Nets: 3.25-9.25
Net Hours: 64.375
Temperature (F): 46-68
Cloud Cover: 70-0%
Wind: NW-ESE @ 1-3-5 mph
Barometer: 29.89-29.93
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 83 (plus 20 recaptures and 1 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 26
Capture Rate: 161.6 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 10.5 hours, 6:00-16:30): Dave Lancaster (5 hours), Tom Schlack (10.5 hours).

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 2
Downy Woodpecker - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
[Hairy Woodpecker - 1 recaptured]
Tree Swallow - 1
House Wren - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 2
Hermit Thrush - 2
Wood Thrush - 1
American Robin - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
Yellow Warbler - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)
Magnolia Warbler - 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 2
Common Yellowthroat - 5 (plus 2 recaptured)
Wilson's Warbler - 1
[Yellow-breasted Chat - 1 recaptured]
Song Sparrow - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
Lincoln's Sparrow - 8 (plus 1 recaptured)
Swamp Sparrow - 12 (plus 5 recaptured)
White-throated Sparrow - 10
White-crowned Sparrow - 3
Red-winged Blackbird - 14 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Common Grackle - 4
[Brown-headed Cowbird - 1 recaptured]
[Baltimore Oriole - 1 recaptured]
American Goldfinch - 5 (plus 3 recaptured)

-------------------------------------
SUNDAY, May 8, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:20
Time Open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 12:00 (closed early for Mother's Day)
Hours Open: 6.25
No. of Nets: 4.25-13.25
Net Hours: 74.563
Temperature (F): 45-70
Cloud Cover: 60-0%
Wind: NNE-SE @ 3-5 mph
Barometer: 30.03-30.06
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 63 (plus 23 recaptured)
No. of Species: 26
Capture Rate: 115.3 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 8.5 hours, 6:00-14:30): Mike Matuszak, Sarah Matuszak).

Downy Woodpecker - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Tree Swallow - 2
House Wren - 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
Veery - 1
Hermit Thrush - 2
[Wood Thrush - 1 recaptured]
[American Robin - 1 recaptured]
Gray Catbird - 1
European Starling - 1
Yellow Warbler - 1 (plus 3 recaptured)
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 5
Palm Warbler - 1
Ovenbird - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 3 (plus 2 recaptured)
[Common Yellowthroat - 2 recaptured]
[Yellow-breasted Chat - 1 recaptured]
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1
Swamp Sparrow - 11 (plus 7 recaptured)
White-throated Sparrow - 9 (plus 1 recaptured)
Northern Cardinal - 1
Red-winged Blackbird - 9 (plus 2 recaptured)
Common Grackle - 2
Brown-headed Cowbird - 1
Baltimore Oriole - 1
American Goldfinch - 7 (plus 2 recaptured)

Metro Beach banding report - April 27 & 30, 2011

2011-05-04T20:32:00.000-04:00

This report is tardy as my schedule has gotten quite full with a number of commitments, so the details contained here may be a bit sketchy, which reflects the condition of my now year-older memory as of the 27th. The last week of April was plagued with more rain than was helpful for banding operations, and thus it was more difficult than usual to get banding volunteers. On Wednesday, April 27, three hardy souls turned out on a day punctuated with rain about once an hour, resulting in only 4 of 13 nets getting set up, and for only a couple hours total at that. We did the best we could and managed to band 10 birds including some highlights. On Saturday, April 30, although the weather cooperated nicely only a single volunteer was willing to come out, reliable Tom again. He has been learning how to extract birds from nets, so I decided we could at least set up some of the nets, but not all, so with about 9 of 13 nets up today we did fairly well and didn't get overwhelmed. Of course, the physical exertion of setup and takedown took its toll on my muscles for sure as even 9 nets is still a lot of work for only two people.

Highlights of birds banded on Wednesday, April 27 included the season's first two Blue Jays.

ASY-U Blue Jay

The majority of Blue Jays captured at our site are hatch-year birds in fall, and second-year birds in spring. One of today's' birds was an afte second-year, told by the barring on its primary coverts and alula which are unbarred in younger birds.

Barred primary coverts and alula of ASY-U Blue Jay

The season's first House Wren was right on schedule, if not a couple days late.

AHY-U House Wren

Perhaps most interesting was the season's first Eastern Towhee, since we don't band one every year.

SY-M Eastern Towhee

This bird presented an interesting challenge to age. Eye color is one criterion for aging the species, and this male clearly had a red eye, which should suggest and after second-year bird in the spring.

SY-M Eastern Towhee

But the primary coverts were clearly worn and brown, contrasting with the secondary coverts which suggests the bird was a second-year. It also appeared that the innermost tertial was new, contrasting with the other tertials as well as the duller primaries and secondaries.

SY-M Eastern Towhee

With this conflict of characters, I chose to favor the molt as most indicative of age rather than eye color, and called it a second-year.

Interesting birds observed but not banded were few, due to the rain, but included an American Woodcock calling briefly just before dawn, relatively late Brown Creeper and Golden-crowned Kinglet, and season firsts of Wood Thrush, Northenr Waterthrush, and Common Yellowthroat.

Highlights of birds banded on Saturday, April 30 included two Northern Flickers. Yes, the bird in the photo below is taking whacks at my knuckles!

ASY-M Northern (Yellow-shafted) Flicker

This male showed primary coverts from three distinct molts, very clearly contrasting, which allowed him to be aged after second-year

Molt contrast in primary coverts of ASY-Male Northern Flicker

After noting them in the banding area for more than a week, it was nice to finally catch a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, a species that isn't banded here every year.

AHY-M Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Even nicer was the fact that it was a male, told by its bold black forehead and eyebrow. Most gnatcatchers I've banded have been hatch-years and'or females that have lacked this mark.

AHY-M Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Somewhat unexpected, as none had yet been heard singing in the marsh, was a Marsh Wren. Even more unusual is that this is only the third ever banded here in spring since 1989; the first two were banded just last spring. Perhaps the habitat is improving for them?

AHY-U Marsh Wren

The first warbler of the spring season was, as perhaps expected, a Yellow-rumped Warbler.

SY-M Yellow-rumped Warbler

And the second warbler was a Common Yellowthroat. But this one was already banded, by me at this locale, on May 7, 2007 as a second-year male.

ASY-M Common Yellowthroat

Last week, four American Tree Sparrows were banded on April 23, which was the latest the species had ever been banded at Metro Beach. In keeping with the wintery conditions that just won't go away, today one of those birds was recaptured, making it the latest ever captured here and perhaps the latest ever in the park.

AHY-U American Tree Sparrow

Interesting birds observed but not banded today included three calling Virginia Rails and one Sora, two somewhat late Winter Wrens, and increased numbers of Yellow Warblers.

Banding on these two days could not have been done without the help of dedicated volunteers. I especially want to thank Tom Schlack for coming out on both days, and salvaging the week from Mother Nature's bad intentions. Also thank you to David Boon and Jeremy Miller for making the best of a bad day on Wednesday.

============================
Banding Data
-------------------------------------
WEDNESDAY, April 27, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:34
Time Open (E.S.T.): 6:00
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 10:30 (rain forced early closure)
Hours Open: 2.50 (rain forced intermittent closures)
No. of Nets: 3.00-4.00
Net Hours: 9.00
Temperature (F): 57-64
Cloud Cover: 100%
Wind: SSE @ 1-3-5 mph
Barometer: 29.68-29.47
Precipitation: Intermittent Rain
No. Banded: 10 (plus 1 recapture)
No. of Species: 6
Capture Rate: 122.2 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 7.0 hours, 6:00-13:00): David Boon, Jeremy Miller, Tom Schlack

Downy Woodpecker - 1
Blue Jay - 2
House Wren - 1
Eastern Towhee - 1
White-throated Sparrow - 3
Red-winged Blackbird - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)

-------------------------------------
SATURDAY, April 30, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:30
Time Open (E.S.T.): 6:00
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 12:45
Hours Open: 6.75
No. of Nets: 3.25-9.25
Net Hours: 58.938
Temperature (F): 37-55
Cloud Cover: Variable
Wind: ENE-SE @ 1-3-10 mph
Barometer: 30.20-30.39
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 53 (plus 15 recaptures and 3 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 20
Capture Rate: 120.5 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 10.0 hours, 6:00-16:00): Tom Schlack.

Downy Woodpecker - 2
Northern Flicker - 2
Black-capped Chickadee - 1
House Wren - 1
Marsh Wren - 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1
Hermit Thrush - 1
Ameridcan Robin - 2
European Starling - 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1
[Common Yellowthroat - 1 recaptured]
[American Tree Sparrow - 1 recaptured]
Song Sparrow - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Swamp Sparrow - 15
White-throated Sparrow - 5 (plus 1 released unbanded)
[Northern Cardinal - 1 recaptured]
Red-winged Blackbird - 8 (plus 1 recaptured and 2 released unbanded)
Common Grackle - 2
American Goldfinch - 8 (plus 10 recaptured)

Metro Beach Banding - April 22 & 23, 2011

2011-04-24T18:39:00.001-04:00

As this is my 100th blog posting I feel obligated to hold true to my main interest, hummingbirds. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have arrived in Michigan, with a handful of reports from April 9-10 during one of this spring's rare warm spells. There has been a lull in the arrivals since then, until the past few days when a few more reports have trickled in. You can keep track of the hummingbird arrivals in Michigan by going to my Great Lakes HummerNet website.

When Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow on Groundhog Day this year, forecasting an early spring, I was skeptical. In Michigan this has been one of the latest-arriving springs in many years. What do you expect from a 125 year old Woodchuck anyway!

Lingering remnants of winter continued to be the theme of banding this past week. On Friday, April 22 (Earth Day) we were delayed for 3 hours setting up while we waited for the rain, and before sunrise mixed with snow (!), to stop. On Saturday, April 23, there were several records for the local banding books with latest ever bandings for two wintering and early migrant species, and a record high number for one spring day (and the season) for another. Species diversity is also creeping up from the 8 species banded on April 3 to 16 species on April 23.

Highlights of birds banded on Friday, April 22 included a single Winter Wren as well as the season's first banded White-throated Sparrow. As with last week's recaptured White-throat, which had been banded by me at this locale in November 2010, it is possible that today's bird has overwintered, although the freshness of its plumage suggests it is a recent arrival (they molt before migrating northward).

AHY-U White-throated Sparrow

Interesting birds observed but not banded included 8 Common Loons flying over, with one even calling loudly as it flew northward. A Wilson's Snipe was winnowing over the marsh, as last week, and a flock of 14 Bonaparte's Gulls flew northward over the banding area. An Eastern Towhee was detected by its call, and small numbers of Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Yellow-rumped Warbler continue to be seen but have avoided the nets.

Highlights of birds banded on Saturday, April 23 included two Tufted Titmice, which are only rarely captured in our banding area which is a swamp woods transitioning to wet meadow and marsh. One of them was showing a brood patch, so was a female. This species nests fairly early, and there are no observations of them at nest holes in the park, though they clearly do so.

AHY-F Tufted Titmouse

The 9 Brown Creepers banded today was a single-day record for spring, and not far off the fall record of 11. It also brought the season's total to 21, beating the previous spring record of 17 in 2005 and just one short of the fall record set in 2010. The latest the species has been banded at Metro Beach is April 25, so there may not be any more, unless winter returns yet again.

The season's first Ruby-crowned Kinglets were banded today, one male and one female. Despite the appearance in the photo below, this is the male which has concealed his ruby crown patch quite well.

AHY-M Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Perhaps most amazing this spring has been the American Tree Sparrows. Most spring seasons we band them on the first day, in earliest April, and not after that even though they remain most years until 15-20 April. This spring has seen a total of 23 banded, beating the previous all-time record of 12 set in fall 2010. Among today's record late catch were four recaptures including one that was banded on November 3, 2010 at this same locale.

AHY-U American Tree Sparrow

The single Fox Sparrow banded today brought the spring total to 8, beating the previous spring record of 7 set in 2006, and it was also a record late date by two days.

An unusual Red-winged Blackbird was also captured today, a second-year bird with yellow instead of orange-red on the shoulders.

SY-M Red-winged Blackbird

Interesting birds observed but not banded included both Virginia Rail and Sora calling from the marsh east of the Field Nets, a single Purple Martin overhead, two singing Winter Wrens and a Brown Thrasher. The Eastern Towhee from yesterday was still present and was seen flying over the top of the Field Edge net.

Banding on these two days would not have been possible without the help of eager and willing volunteers, including Diana Dugall, Mike Matuszak, Sarah Matuszak, Tom Schlack, and Sue Wright.

============================
Banding Data
-------------------------------------
FRIDAY, April 22, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:42
Time Open (E.S.T.): 8:15 (Rain/Snow delayed open)
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 12:45
Hours Open: 4.50
No. of Nets: 5.00-10.00
Net Hours: 42.50
Temperature (F): 39-48
Cloud Cover: 100%
Wind: ENE-SE @ 7-10-12 mph
Barometer: 30.27-30.16
Precipitation: Intermittent Light Rain
No. Banded: 13 (plus 2 recaptures and 2 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 9
Capture Rate: 40.0 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 9.5 hours, 6:00-15:30): Diana Dugall, Sue Wright [Tom Schlack helped set up].

[Downy Woodpecker - 1 recaptured]
Brown Creeper - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Winter Wren - 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 1
Hermit Thrush - 3
American Robin - 1
Swamp Sparrow - 2
White-throated Sparrow - 1
Red-winged Blackbird - 3 (plus 2 released unbanded)

-------------------------------------
SATURDAY, April 23, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:40
Time Open (E.S.T.): 6:00
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 13:00
Hours Open: 7.00
No. of Nets: 4.25-13.25
Net Hours: 85.750
Temperature (F): 45-72
Cloud Cover: 100-50%
Wind: SW @ 5-7-12 mph
Barometer: 29.67-29.76
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 41 (plus 24 recaptures)
No. of Species: 16
Capture Rate: 75.8 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 10.0 hours, 6:00-16:00): Mike Matuszak, Sarah Matuszak, Tom Schlack.

[Black-capped Chickadee - 1 recaptured]
Tufted Titmouse - 2
Brown Creeper - 9 (plus 3 recaptured)
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 2
Hermit Thrush - 2
American Robin - 2 (plus 3 recaptured)
American Tree Sparrow - 4 (plus 4 recaptured)
Fox Sparrow - 1
[Song Sparrow - 1 recaptured]
Swamp Sparrow - 6 (plus 1 recaptured)
White-throated Sparrow - 2
[Northern Cardinal - 1 recaptured]
Red-winged Blackbird - 4 (plus 1 recaptured)
Common Grackle - 1
American Goldfinch - 4 (plus 9 recaptured)

Metro Beach banding report - April 3-13, 2011

2011-04-14T22:09:00.002-04:00

Every spring I try to get the bird banding station at Metro Beach Metropark, Macomb County, Michigan open on at least one day in the first week of April. My hope is always to band some of the last lingering winter birds like American Tree Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos, while also trying to catch the beginning of them migrations of some early migrants like Eastern Phoebe, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, and Fox Sparrow. But the first week of April in southeastern Michigan can be tricky. Sometimes, winter is still hanging on, though most years there is no ice remaining in the swamp woods. How did we fare on opening day, and two subsequent banding days this spring? Read on.

Since we're likely to be doing some clearing of net lanes (though not as much as in fall), start time for opening day in spring is typically 8 a.m. Here is a photo of the happy first-day crew on Sunday, April 3.

Left to right: Mary Buchowski, Sarah Matuszak, Mike Matuszak.

It was Sarah and Mike's first time out. Their day turned into somewhat of an initiation. The mud and water was not as bad as it has been virtually every spring since 2004, though there was still plenty of both. It wasn't as difficult to get around and this might be due to the Phragmites having been removed and possibly allowing a better flow of water through the area. Out at the Field Nets, we pushed a Glossy Buckthorn, which had been cut down last November by park staff (thanks Todd!) out of the net lanes. But another net lane had a much larger tree down in the the middle of it.

Tree fallen across Willow (west) net lane.

Lacking a chainsaw or even a decent hand saw, I decided that we'd move the net to another spot about 10 yards away. Sadly, the tree that fell often provided a good perch for warblers and other songbirds in the fall. At the Upland-U nets, I noticed a log that had fallen perhaps 3 years ago with very fresh woodpecker diggings near it on the ground. The holes, as can be seen in the photo below, were oval in shape and were about 6-inches long by 3-inches wide.

Log with woodpecker diggings.

This is very characteristic of Pileated Woodpecker, which had never been recorded in the park before one was seen flying west along the beach in fall 2010. This raises the exciting possibility that this large woodpecker is still in the area (the diggings looked VERY fresh), and perhaps I'll have a chance to band my first-ever Pileated Woodpecker this year. The nets went up pretty much without any problems, and we managed a few hours of banding, resulting in a pretty good total of 19 birds banded. The weather prediction was for rain to move in during late afternoon and the evening, but by about 1:30 p.m. (EDT) the sky suddenly didn't look so friendly any more, so I decided to close up, with the rain starting lightly as we were doing so. We got the nets all closed, with no birds caught, and prepared to take them all down. But winter decided to return and over the next hour or so the rain got heavier, turned to sleet, then freezing rain, the wind came up and it began to snow! This is the first time we've taken the banding station down in snow! The new recruits survived, and have indicated that they will be back. Mother Nature loves to initiate new banding volunteers! Conditions on Saturday, April 9 and Wednesday, April 13, were much more spring-like.

Highlights of birds banded on Sunday, April 3 included five American Tree Sparrows (the spring season record is 8). So, one of the main goals of opening this early was met.

American Tree Sparrow (AHY-U).

Another highlight was a White-breasted Nuthatch already wearing a band, caught in the new Willow (west) net location, proving its worth right away. Nuthatches aren't rare in the park, but we don't often see them back in the swamp woods/marsh transition zone where the banding station is located, so don't band very many. And this one being banded was from a previous year (2010 it turned out), the first "returnee" of this species we've had.

White-breasted Nuthatch (AHY-M) originally banded 8 September 2010 as HY-M

Interesting birds observed but not banded included a flyovers of Killdeer, Horned Lark, and Tree Swallow, along with single Brown Creeper and Winter Wren in the woods, and a few Golden-crowned Kinglets and Rusty Blackbirds.

Highlights of birds banded on Saturday, April 9 included three Eastern Phoebes, a very good number for one day.

Eastern Phoebe (AHY-U)

Among the singing Winter Wrens in the area, one managed to find its way into the nets.

Winter Wren (AHY-U)

The number of kinglets, especially the early migrating Golden-crowned, present in spring is much smaller than in fall, so it was a pleasant surprise to band a dozen of them today.

Golden-crowned Kinglet (AHY-M)

A bigger surprise was the continued capture and banding of American Tree Sparrows, with the 12 banded today bringing the season total to 17, shattering the previous spring record of 8.

American Tree Sparrow (AHY-U)

Fox Sparrows are always nice to see up close, and an early migrant, so the four banded today was definitely a highlight.

Fox Sparrow (AHY-U)

A single White-throated Sparrow was the earliest ever banded here. The fact that it was already banded was exciting too. It turns out that it had been banded as a HY-F on the last day of banding last fall at Metro Beach, so almost certainly had spent the winter here. This is the first different-season recapture of a White-throated Sparrow at Metro Beach. Like the over-wintering birds banded in my yard in Inkster, Wayne County, this sparrow was in heavy body molt. The main migration of White-throated Sparrows won't begin in earnest for another couple weeks.

White-throated Sparrow (SY-F) originally banded 3 November 2010

A surprise late in the day was a Rusty Blackbird. This species is difficult to catch, as they spend much time in the treetops and, when they descend to the ground are mainly in open areas of swamp where they flip over leaves to search for invertebrate prey. This is not the kind of area that conceals a mist net very well. So, this is only the fourth Rusty Blackbird banded here since 2004, and only the tenth since 1989 (all in spring). It can be sexed as female based on the all-gray plumage with very little iridescence.

Rusty Blackbird (SY-F)

Interesting birds observed today but not banded included a Sandhill Crane that circled over the marsh calling for a couple minutes, a winnowing Wilson's Snipe, two displaying American Woodcock, and a single early Yellow-rumped Warbler.

Highlights of birds banded on Wednesday, April 13 included a good total of 7 Brown Creepers and the season's first Hermit Thrush.

Hermit Thrush (AHY-U)

The four Swamp Sparrows banded today added to the two banded on the 9th, and included birds with nice solid chestnut caps, a character not related to age or sex.

Swamp Sparrow (AHY-U)

Two more American Tree Sparrows brought the season's total to 19, and two more Fox Sparrows added to the four banded on April 9th. A single Dark-eyed Junco was another winter species that is hoped for in early April.

Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco (SY-F)

Interesting birds observed but not banded included four flyover Common Loons, the season's first Sora, and once again Wilson's Snipe and American Woodcock before sunrise. The number of Yellow-rumped Warblers in the area increased to five, and swallows were more in evidence with a single Purple Martin and a couple Barn Swallows. A Blue-gray Gnatcatcher called from near the Swamp Nets but never came down low enough to be caught, and an Eastern Towhee called briefly near the Willow Nets.

Banding on these three days could not have been done without the help of willing and capable volunteers, including Mary Buchowski, John Bieganowski, Sarah Matuszak, Mike Matuszak, and Tom Schlack.

============================
Banding Data
-------------------------------------
SUNDAY, April 3, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 6:13
Time Open (E.S.T.): 8:45
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 13:00
Hours Open: 4.75
No. of Nets: 4.25-13.25
Net Hours: 54.688
Temperature (F): 34-42-39
Cloud Cover: 40-100%
Wind: SE @ 3-15 mph
Barometer: 29.73-29.66
Precipitation: Rain/Snow at close
No. Banded: 19 (plus 3 recaptures)
No. of Species: 8
Capture Rate: 40.2 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 7.5 hours, 8:00-15:30): Mary Buchowski, Mike Matuszak, Sarah Matuszak.

Black-capped Chickadee - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
[White-breasted Nuthatch - 1 recaptured]
American Robin - 4
American Tree Sparrow - 5
[Song Sparrow - 1 recaptured]
Northern Cardinal - 1
Red-winged Blackbird - 4
American Goldfinch - 3

-------------------------------------
SATURDAY, April 9, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 6:03
Time Open (E.S.T.): 6:00
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 13:00
Hours Open: 7.00
No. of Nets: 4.25-13.25
Net Hours: 85.750
Temperature (F): 36-50
Cloud Cover: 80-20-100%
Wind: Calm-SE @ 0-3-5 mph
Barometer: 30.12-30.07
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 65 (plus 7 recaptures)
No. of Species: 12
Capture Rate: 84.0 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 10.0 hours, 6:00-16:00): Mary Buchowski, Tom Schlack.

Eastern Phoebe - 3
Brown Creeper - 4
Winter Wren - 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 12
American Tree Sparrow - 12
Fox Sparrow - 4
Song Sparrow - 8 (plus 5 recaptured)
Swamp Sparrow - 2
[White-throated Sparrow - 1 recaptured]
Red-winged Blackbird - 2
RUSTY BLACKBIRD - 1
American Goldfinch - 16

-------------------------------------
WEDNESDAY, April 13, 2011
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:56
Time Open (E.S.T.): 6:00
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 13:00
Hours Open: 7.00
No. of Nets: 4.25-13.25
Net Hours: 85.750
Temperature (F): 36-64
Cloud Cover: 20-10%
Wind: N @ 3-5 mph
Barometer: 30.08-30.05
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 34 (plus 8 recaptures and 1 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 13
Capture Rate: 49.0 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 10.0 hours, 6:00-16:00): John Bieganowski, Tom Schlack.

Downy Woodpecker - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
[Eastern Phoebe - 1 recaptured]
Brown Creeper - 7
Winter Wren - 1
Hermit Thrush - 1
American Robin - 4 (plus 1 recaptured)
American Tree Sparrow - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
Fox Sparrow - 2
Song Sparrow - 2 (plus 2 recaptured)
Swamp Sparrow - 4
Dark-eyed Junco - 1
Red-winged Blackbird - 4 (plus 1 released unbanded)
American Goldfinch - 4 (plus 2 recaptured)

How I Spent My Summer Hunting Dragons

2011-03-20T21:24:00.000-04:00

During the summer of 2009, I had planned to try to find and photograph as many species of dragonfly and damselfly as I could, mainly in Michigan as I had no plans to travel. Well, Mother Nature had different ideas, and the cool wet summer that year was not at all favorable for dragonflies. I think I might have only found a dozen species at the most. But summer of 2010 was completely different; warm and not too dry or too wet, and with a surprising number of species found. It was a great success, and here I present some dragonfly highlights to help ease you out of winter and into spring (only an hour away from arriving as I write this).

The dragon hunt started out well, in late May, when a Carolina Saddlebags decided to perch among the vegetation near the Field Nets at the bird banding station at Metro Beach Metropark. This is a southern species, until this year only known from a few southern counties in Michigan and collected only once before in Macomb County. I managed a poor photo of it, shown here.

Carolina Saddlebags (Tramea carolina)

It turned out to be a remarkable year for Carolina Saddlebags. A friend, Curt Powell, told me about another southern wanderer at Lower Huron Metropark, Wayne County, and there were at least two Carolina Saddlebags there as well. When orchid-hunting later in the summer, I came across at least two or three at West Lake in Kalamazoo County. But, despite several chances to observe this beautiful bug, I only had one chance all year for a photo. Friends in the Upper Peninsula managed quite good photos of Carolina Saddlebags in Marquette County, well north of where they've ever been recorded in Michigan.

The other southern species that Curt put me onto at Lower Huron Metropark was the Comet Darner, perhaps confirmed from even fewer Michigan counties than the saddlebags. This was a very active dragonfly, and although I managed repeated views there (and in Ann Arbor) over the course of two months, I never saw a male perched. In desperation, I took some shots of flying males, with the following results.

Male Comet Darner (Anax longipes)

Male Comet Darner

I was able to photograph a female much closer, as she was laying eggs; certainly a very rare event in Wayne County.

Female Comet Darner laying eggs.

Other early successes included several Four-spotted Skimmers in late May at Tuttle Marsh, Iosco County, when I went up to (successfully) chase the Purple Gallinule found their by my friend Karl Overman earlier in the month. While the previous two species were "lifers", Four-spotted Skimmer was not as I'd seen them once before, in Alaska in 2004, and it is not a rare species in Michigan.

Four-spotted Skimmer (Libellula quadrimaculata)

And in early June, I came across this wonderful Rusty Snaketail at the Port Huron State Game Area, St. Clair County, where many dragonfly discoveries surely lurk. I'd seen this snaketail at this same locale in 2008.

Rusty Snaketail (Ophiogomphus rupinsulensis)

Throughout the summer, I found pretty much all the common species I was expecting, though most are uncommonly beautiful. Some were found while banding hummingbirds, like the Black-tipped Darners that were everywhere in one yard in Jackson County, or while searching for orchids in bogs across the state.

Calico Pennant (Celithemis elisa)

Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina)

Black-tipped Darner (Aeshna tuberculifera)

An uncommon species, found in Ann Arbor, was the Swamp Darner, largest of Michigan's dragonflies (slightly longer than the Green Darner). I've only encountered this species regularly at Metro Beach Metropark, and most often tangled in my mist nets.

Swamp Darner (Epiaeschna heros)

Another widespread species is the Slaty Skimmer. I'd seen them before, but during summer 2010 they were very common at many locales.

Slaty Skimmer (Libellula incesta)

I would be remiss if I didn't share the beauty of the smaller members (flying toothpicks!) of this interesting group, the damselflies and spreadings. But, I am on much shakier ground with these as identification is difficult in many species. So, while I feel fairly confident in those shown below, I don't guarantee that I've identified them correctly! Still, they're beauties worth a look.

Blue-fronted Dancer (Argia apicalis)

Mating Blue-ringed Dancers (Argia sedula)

Eastern Forktail (Ischnura verticalis)

Spreadwings are named after their habit of perching with their wings partly open, unlike damselflies which perch with wings closed (as above) or dragonflies which perch with their wings flat. They are also extremely difficult to identify, so identifications in the photos below are definitely not guaranteed.

Amber-winged Spreadwing (Lestes eurinus)

Elegant Spreadwing (Lestes inaequalis)

Swamp Spreadwing (Lestes vigilax)

A small group, somewhat different from other damselflies, are the broad-winged damselflies which includes two common species in Michigan, one uncommon, and one rare. The common species are Ebony Jewelwing and American Rubyspot.

Male and female Ebony Jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata)

Male American Rubyspot (Hetaerina americana)

Trips to bogs were always rewarding, not only for the flowers (including orchids), but for the dragonflies. Here there were uncommonly observed species, including a few "lifers" for me. The Chalk-fronted Corporal is a fairly common species, as long as you're in or near a bog.

Male Chalk-fronted Corporal (Libellula julia)

But the Band-winged Pennant and Spangled Skimmer were both unexpected and beautiful "lifers" both at the same bog.

Band-winged Pennant (Celithemis fasciata)

Spangled Skimmer (Libellula cyanea)

A bonus was a species I'd only seen once before, in the Upper Peninsula, the very cool Stream Cruiser.

Stream Cruiser (Didymops transversa)

Ashy and Dusky Clubtails are difficult to tell apart, and both inhabit bogs. I believe the individual below is a Dusky, but no guarantees on this ID.

Dusky Clubtail (Gomphus spicatus)

At a bog in Kalamazoo County, the Frosted Whiteface was quite common, and very near the southern edge of its range in Michigan. I'd only seen them before in the Upper Peninsula and in New England.

Frosted Whiteface (Leucorrhinia frigida)

Smaller denizens of the bogs included the somewhat unusually marked Aurora Damsel, the bright Fragile Forktail with two exclamation points on its shoulders, and the tiny Sedge Sprite (a flying needle).

Aurora Damel (Chromagrion conditum)

Male Fragile Forktail (Ischnura posita)

Female Sedge Sprite (Nehalennia irene)

In late summer, yet another tip from Curt sent me to the Leonard Preserve in Washtenaw County, where I'd been only once before. Here there were two really spectacular bugs, both of them in the clubtail group, and both "lifers". The first was the large Arrow Clubtail.

Arrow Clubtail (Stylurus spiniceps)

The other was the Tyrannosaurus rex of dragonflies, the aptly named Dragonhunter, which feeds almost exclusively on other dragonflies, some quite large. It looks very big, and it is, probably the heaviest of Michigan's dragonflies but not as long as the Swamp Darner.

Dragonhunter (Hagenius brevistylus)

As summer starts giving way to fall, a number of other common dragonflies emerge. There are about a dozen species of Meadowhawk in Michigan, small, mostly red, and some difficult to identify even in the hand. Below are two species that aren't too difficult, so I'm reasonably sure of the identifications, the White-faced Meadowhawk and Band-winged Meadowhawk.

White-faced Meadowhawk (Sympetrum obtrusum)

Band-winged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum semicinctum)

Lingering only into late summer were Dot-tailed Whitefaces which, unlike most of its relatives, is not associated with bogs.

Dot-tailed Whiteface (Leucorrhinia intacta)

And one of the commonest species of late summer well into October is the Black Saddlebags.

Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata)

A surprise in the mist nets during bird banding at Metro Beach in late August was yet another "lifer" dragonfly, the uncommon Mottled Darner, named for the mottled pattern on the sides of its thorax.

Mottled Darner (Aeshna clepsydra)

Thanks to the wonderful blog (Urban Dragon Hunters) of my friends Julie Craves and Darrin O'Brien, I was able to "borrow" some information about some species I was trying to see. One of these was the Citrine Forktail, which is uncommon and local in Michigan. I visited a Wayne County locale several times before coming up with the photo of a female below. Many immature damselflies are yellow when they first emerge so this isn't as easy an ID as it might seem. I'll have to try again this summer to see, and hopefully photograph a male.

Female Citrine Forktail (Ischnura hastata)

This locale also provided a good opportunity to see a fairly easy to identify damselfly, the Double-striped Bluet. There were many mating pairs, as below, as well as immatures. Some of the immatures would flush and fly straight up into the air until they were out of sight. For one of these, it ended with a loud SNAP as a Cedar Waxwing sallied out from a branch and grabbed it in midair!

Double-striped Bluet (Enallagma basidens)

As the fall season progressed, and it got cooler, it was more difficult to find dragonflies and damselflies, and very difficult to find new species for the year. Thanks again to Urban Dragon Hunters, I found myself at two different Wayne County locales on two different dates, looking at two rare species for Michigan. The first was at apparently the only known locale in the state, adjacent to a shopping mall of all places, where I managed to find a grand total of 14 Great Spreadwings. I did try to find this species in Monroe County, without success, but was rewarded with being able to collect what I believe may be the first specimen of Red Saddlebags (Tramea onusta) for Monroe County. Unlike the other 10 or so species of spreadwing in Michigan, the Great Spreadwing is the size of a small dragonfly...really Great! And I really love the genus name; it sounds really prehistoric.

Great Spreadwing (Archilestes grandis)

A little later in the fall, and right on the very rusty barrel in the creek where it had been the day before, was the rarest of the four species of broad-winged damselflies in Michigan, the Smoky Rubyspot, the last species for the year (#83) and a "lifer" too.

Smoky Rubyspot (Hetaerina titia)

As I finish this blog entry, spring is now two hours old, it is dark and raining outside, which reminds me that the salamanders should be emerging soon, if they haven't already. I hope you've enjoyed my ramblings about chasing dragonflies last summer as much as I've enjoyed sharing them with you. I promise that the next blog posting will get back to birds, as the bird banding season at Metro Beach begins April 3.

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