Metro Beach banding station report - May 23-27, 2013

This past week saw lower than normal temperatures and yes, again, some rain, which cut short banding activities on one day. Despite the rain, the banding area has become quite dried out similar to what occurs by late July, so perhaps we are headed for another drought year? Only a few migrants were in the banding area, and very few were captured. Banding this week could not have been done without the help of the following volunteers: John Bieganowski, Jacob Charlebois, Jean Gramlich, Dave Lancaster, Mary Mangas, Steve Mangas, Tom Schlack, Ai Wen, and Blanche Wicke.

Highlights of the 23 birds banded on Thursday, May 23 included a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird that was already banded. Checking the records, it was banded in fall 2010 as a hatch-year female, so it is 2 years 11 months old.

Fourth-year female Ruby-throated Hummingbird

One of the most surprising season firsts today was a single Swainson's Thrush. It is surprising because normally the first one is captured here before May 10, and they typically peak in numbers around May 20.

After hatch-year Swainson's Thrush

Among the few migrant warblers captured today were two Magnolia Warblers, a single Ovenbird, and this second-year male American Redstart. How many birders would call this a female in the field because of the yellow on the wings and tail, overlooking the black blotches on the head?

Second-year male American Redstart

Second-year male American Redstart

Interesting birds observed but not banded today included a pair of Spotted Sandpipers observed copulating, a calling Yellow-billed Cuckoo, a singing Willow Flycatcher, a rather late but clearly seen Hermit Thrush, and Tennessee, Black-throated Blue, Bay-breasted, and Wilson's Warbler, and Northern Waterthrush.

Highlights of the 46 birds banded on Friday, May 24 included a first ever for the station, and a first for me personally as well, a Spotted Sandpiper! This individual was aged after second-year because it showed no pale fringing on any feathers on the upperparts, and sexed as female because of the numerous large spots on the underparts (males have fewer and smaller spots according to Pyle).

After second-year female Spotted Sandpiper

After second-year female Spotted Sandpiper

After second-year female Spotted Sandpiper

The first "Traill's" Flycatchers of the season were represented by five individuals banded today, two of which keyed out as Alder Flycatcher.

After hatch-year "Traill's" Flycatcher

For the second time, Eastern Phoebe makes the list of highlights because of how late one was banded. Back on May 4 an individual was record late for this site by 16 days. So, today's bird, more than a month past the previous record, was extraordinary since they do not nest in the park as far as I know, so are only migrants here.

After hatch-year Eastern Phoebe

It was also a good day for banding swallows, with two Barn Swallows and two Northern Rough-winged Swallows.

After hatch-year female Barn Swallow

After hatch-year female Barn Swallow

The Barn Swallows were both sexed as female based on the relatively short tail fork measurement, and one individual also had an extensive brood patch.

After hatch-year female Barn Swallow

There was one male and one female Northern Rough-winged Swallow; the male sexed based on the rough little hooklets along the leading edge of the 10th primary. The female was a bit unusual in that she seemed to have some oily patches on her head and wings, probably from building a nest in some dirty pipe in the area.

After hatch-year female N. Rough-winged Swallow

After hatch-year female N. Rough-winged Swallow

Interesting birds observed but not banded included a calling Virginia Rail, single Magnolia Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, and American Redstart.

Highlights of the 30 birds banded on Monday, May 27 included the third Ruby-throated Hummingbird of the spring (plus one returnee on Thursday), plus two more fledgling Carolina Wrens. These were almost certainly two more from the brood from which two were banded more than a week ago, as they were captured in the same general area.

Hatch-year Carolina Wren

And returning to the highlights again is the Veery, one of which was captured today bringing the season's total to a record of 10. Although single Swainson's and Gray-cheeked Thrushes were also captured today, only the Veery has been banded in good numbers, with these other two species notably scarce so far.

After hatch-year Veery

Interesting birds observed but not banded included a winnowing Wilson's Snipe, which has not been heard in more than two weeks, and singing Alder and Willow Flycatchers, and singing Magnolia, Bay-breasted, and Wilson's Warbler, and American Redstarts.

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Banding Data
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THURSDAY, May 23, 2013
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:03
Time Open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 10:30
Hours Open: 4.25 (rain forced early close)
No. of Nets: 4.75-13.75
Net Hours: 51.438
Temperature (F): 63-50
Cloud Cover: 60-100%
Wind: SW-N @ 3-5-20 mph
Barometer: 29.11-29.25
Precipitation: Brief rain 8:30-9:00, steady rain after 10:30
No. Banded: 23 (plus 14 recaptured and 2 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 17
Capture Rate: 75.8 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 7.0 hours, 5:00-12:30): John Bieganowski, Dave Lancaster, Tom Schlack.

Mourning Dove - 1
[Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1 recaptured]
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1
Swainson's Thrush - 1
American Robin - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
European Starling - 1
Yellow Warbler - 1 (plus 4 recaptured)
Magnolia Warbler - 2
American Redstart - 1
Ovenbird - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 2 (plus 3 recaptured)
[Song Sparrow - 1 recaptured]
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1
[Northern Cardinal - 1 recaptured]
Red-winged Blackbird - 4 (plus 1 recaptured)
[Brown-headed Cowbird - 1 recaptured]
American Goldfinch - 6 (plus 1 recaptured and 2 released unbanded)

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FRIDAY, May 24, 2013
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:03
Time Open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 13:15
Hours Open: 7.50
No. of Nets: 4.75-13.75
Net Hours: 96.125
Temperature (F): 39-50
Cloud Cover: 50-100-50%
Wind: NW @ 7-10-15 mph
Barometer: 29.59-29.73
Precipitation: Trace rain in a.m.
No. Banded: 46 (plus 22 recaptured and 3 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 22
Capture Rate: 73.9 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 10.0 hours, 5:00-15:30): Jean Gramlich, Steve Mangas, Ai Wen, Blanche Wicke.

SPOTTED SANDPIPER - 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1
Downy Woodpecker - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Alder Flycatcher - 2
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 3
Least Flycatcher - 1
Eastern Phoebe - 1
Warbling Vireo - 1
Tree Swallow - 1
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 2
Barn Swallow - 2
Swainson's Thrush - 1
American Robin - 1
European Starling - 1 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Yellow Warbler - 3 (plus 5 recaptured)
Common Yellowthroat - 3 (plus 4 recaptured)
Wilson's Warbler - 2 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Song Sparrow - 1 (plus 2 recaptured)
Red-winged Blackbird - 3 (plus 1 recaptured and 1 released unbanded)
Brown-headed Cowbird - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
Baltimore Oriole - 4 (plus 2 recaptured)
American Goldfinch - 8 (plus 5 recaptured)

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MONDAY, May 27, 2013
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:01
Time Open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 12:45
Hours Open: 7.00
No. of Nets: 4.75-13.75
Net Hours: 89.25
Temperature (F): 39-57
Cloud Cover: 50-100%
Wind: NE-SE @ 1-3-12 mph
Barometer: 29.62-29.56
Precipitation: None (but rain after close)
No. Banded: 30 (plus 20 recaptured)
No. of Species: 16
Capture Rate: 56.0 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers (worked 10.0 hours, 5:00-15:00): Jacob Charlebois, Mary Mangas, Steve Mangas, Blanche Wicke.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1
Alder Flycatcher - 2
Carolina Wren - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
Veery - 1
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 1
Swainson's Thrush - 1
American Robin - 1
Gray Catbird - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Yellow Warbler - 3 (plus 3 recaptured)
Common Yellowthroat - 4 (plus 2 recaptured)
[Song Sparrow - 4 recaptured]
Red-winged Blackbird - 3 (plus 2 recaptured)
Common Grackle - 1
[Brown-headed Cowbird - 1 recaptured]
[Baltimore Oriole - 1 recaptured]
American Goldfinch - 9 (plus 5 recaptured)