Metro Beach banding report - August 20, 2009

A lack of volunteers this week allowed for only one day of banding, and nearly a weathered-out day at that! The nets were opened slightly ahead of schedule but had to be closed early as the windy conditions became worse, followed by threatening thunderstorms. One of the Field Nets became infested with Bald-faced Hornets for the second time this fall, but this time the cautious operation of cutting them out resulted in my getting stung on the arm, so this was abandoned and the net, now ruined from all the cuts, was rolled up into the bag with the hornets still stuck. Few birds were captured today, but the subtle beauty of a young Mourning Warbler was definitely a highlight.

Hatch-year female Mourning Warbler

We continue to catch Cedar Waxwings, mostly out in the field nets, and individuals with orange tail tips are still being noted, as there is quite a bit of Autumn Olive in that area. Interesting birds observed but not banded included two Least Sandpipers and two Ruddy Turnstones, but along the beach well away from the banding area.

This summer has been rather poor throughout Michigan, and Ohio too, for dragonflies. Thus it has been of interest that a large species seems to have emerged recently at Metro Beach. I believe that they are Shadow Darners (Aeschna umbrosa), but it is possible they could also be Black-tipped Darners (Aeschna tuberculifera). Photos of a male and female, both removed alive from the mist nets, are below.

Probable male Shadow Darner

Probable female Shadow Darner

Thanks very much to the volunteers who made banding possible: Dave Lancaster and Joan Tisdale.

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Banding Data
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THURSDAY, August 20, 2009
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:44
Time Open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 10:45
Hours Open: 5.00
No. of Nets: 5.50-13.75
Net Hours: 62.375
Temperature (F): 72-77
Cloud Cover: 70-100%
Wind: S-SW @ 7-10-20 mph
Barometer: 29.84-29.77
Precipitation: None, thunderstorms threatening at close
No. Banded: 17 (plus 4 recaptured and 2 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 12
Capture Rate: 96.5 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers: Dave Lancaster, Joan Tisdale

Downy Woodpecker - 1
Alder Flycatcher - 1
[House Wren - 1 released unbanded]
Gray Catbird - 1
Cedar Waxwing - 5
Yellow Warbler - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 1
Mourning Warbler - 1
[Common Yellowthroat - 1 recaptured, 1 released unbanded]
Song Sparrow - 4 (plus 1 recaptured)
Swamp Sparrow - 1 (plus 2 recaptured)
American Goldfinch - 1