Highlights of the 108 birds of 34 species banded on Friday, May 19, included 3 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and several Willow/Alder Flycatchers. The first Gray-cheeked Thrushes of the spring were banded today, which seems a bit late for their first arrival.
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| Second-year Gray-cheeked Thrush |
The eye ring on a Gray-cheeked is whiter, less buffy, than that of Swainson's and there is usually no pale line above the lores. The gray cheeks are often difficult to discern. In fact, Veery has more obvious gray cheeks than does the Gray-cheeked Thrush!
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| Second-year Gray-cheeked Thrush |
It was definitely a warbler day, with 48 individuals of 13 species banded. Not a rare species, we don't catch very many Tennessee Warblers in the spring. Likely they forage high enough that the avoid our nets, like a few other species do, though we usually catch plenty of young ones in fall. Perhaps the chilly conditions in the morning brought them lower down today.
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| After hatch-year male Tennessee Warbler |
It seemed a bit late in the spring to still be catching Palm Warblers, as they are earlier migrants, like Yellow-rumped Warbler (of which we banded 4 today!).
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| After hatch-year male Palm Warbler |
Providing quite a contrast, later migrating warblers were also captured today, including another species that usually forages above net level, in spring (but not fall) Blackpoll Warbler. I have banded very few in spring, and never two in one day...
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| After hatch-year male Blackpoll Warbler |
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| After hatch-year female Blackpoll Warbler |
Another expected later migrant that we do catch every spring, though in small numbers because they are a declining species, is Canada Warbler. So catching 4 today was a great day for the species.
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| After hatch-year male Canada Warbler |
One interesting aspect of this new Meadow banding site that was lacking at the older Marsh site, is the apparent annual presence of Orchard Orioles. Last year, and earlier this month, at least one and perhaps two were heard singing from a row of pines and a row of cottonwoods on the periphery of the banding area. Today, we caught one, a second-year male!
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| Second-year male Orchard Oriole |
This is only the second Orchard Oriole banded in the park; the first was a hatch-year female in August 2005.
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| Second-year male Orchard Oriole |
Interesting birds observed, but not banded today included a dozen Chimney Swifts flying around fairly low, a couple of Bank Swallows in the swallow flock following the park's lawn mowers, and a singing male Blackburnian Warbler. And finally, additional security was provided today by this Eastern Kingbird perching on one of the signs closing our net lanes to public entry.
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| Eastern Kingbird |
Highlights of the 52 birds of 34 species banded on Saturday, May 20, included 3 more Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. A lot fewer warblers than yesterday nonetheless included some interesting highlights. It was hard to resist photographing another Canada Warbler, this male showing off its black "necklace" of spots nicely.
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| After second-year male Canada Warbler |
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| After second-year male Canada Warbler |
A real delight today was this brilliant male Blackburnian Warbler.
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| After hatch-year male Blackburnian Warbler |
Only a handful of these have been banded in the park in spring, and this is only the second or third male in spring. They seem to forage above net height in both spring and fall (only about a dozen banded in fall)
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| After hatch-year male Blackburnian Warbler |
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| After hatch-year male Blackburnian Warbler |
About a week ago, a male Yellow-breasted Chat was reported singing from the Meadow Loop area, so it was not entirely unexpected that we caught one today, although the species is generally rare in the state, and declining.
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| After second-year female Yellow-breasted Chat |
What is most intriguing about this is that it appeared to be a female, based on the more restricted blackish on the face, and what appeared to be a brood patch (MAPS code 2). There have been no additional sightings, so it seems unlikely that there is a breeding pair in the area. This is only the fourth Yellow-breasted Chat I've banded in the park since 2004, and only the 10th since 1989.
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| After second-year female Yellow-breasted Chat |
Today we banded the 50th Yellow Warbler of the spring - 68 were banded last spring. So this is typically the most numerous warbler species we band. Telling their age is done using subtle plumage characters including what is termed "molt limits" often in the primary coverts. The individual in the photo below was showing more contrast between the newer inner coverts and retained juvenile outer coverts than normal. This break (limit) is shown by the arrow with older feathers above and younger feathers below.
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| Second-year male Yellow Warbler |
Interesting birds observed, but not banded included singing Tennessee Warblers, a somewhat late Yellow-rumped Warblers, and a singing Blackpoll Warbler.
Highlights of the 57 birds of 27 species banded on Friday, May 26 included another 3 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. Two species of expected late migrants turned up today for the first of the spring. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher and Mourning Warbler (2 males). It was also a good day for Willow/Alder Flycatchers.
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| After hatch-year Yellow-bellied Flycatcher |
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| Second-year male Mourning Warbler |
The retained juvenile tail feathers (outermost) on this male Baltimore Oriole allows it to be aged as a second-year bird.
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| Second-year male Baltimore Oriole |
Interesting birds observed, but not banded included a singing Red-eyed Vireo, a late-ish Veery, singing Tennessee, Blackpoll, and Canada Warblers, and a briefly seen Lincoln's Sparrow.
Highlights of the 54 birds of 28 species banded on Saturday, May 27, included two more Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, and one of the male Eastern Kingbirds that have been flying around in the meadow for the past week or so.
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| After hatch-year male Eastern Kingbird |
Both sexes have a red-orange crown patch that is most often hidden, so that cannot be used to determine their sex.
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| After hatch-year male Eastern Kingbird |
The length of the notching in the outermost two primaries is more than 8 millimeters in male Eastern Kingbirds, and less in females. This is more pronounced in some other species of kingbird.
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| After hatch-year male Eastern Kingbird |
A late migrant that is banded here in very low numbers, especially in spring, is the Philadelphia Vireo.
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| After hatch-year Philadelphia Vireo |
Four Cedar Waxwings found their way into the nets today; some years we don't catch any. One of them was a bit unusual in that it had yellow dots on the tips of four of its primaries (one dot was duller yellow than the others). It made me wonder if it might have some Bohemian Waxwing genes.
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| After hatch-year male Cedar Waxwing with yellow dots on primaries |
The first Chestnut-sided Warbler of the season was banded today, which was much later than they typically arrive in this area, so earlier arrivals clearly avoided our nets.
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| Second-year male Chestnut-sided Warbler |
Two more Mourning Warblers were banded today, this time both females.
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| Second-year female Mourning Warbler |
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| Second-year female Mourning Warbler |
And a surprise was the second Orchard Oriole of the week, but only the third ever in the park. Another second-year male, this one seemed unusual with chestnut on the throat, since adults have completely black heads.
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| Second-year male Orchard Oriole |
Interesting birds observed, but not banded, included singing Eastern Wood-Pewee and Great Crested Flycatcher, singing Bay-breasted and Blackpoll Warblers, and a flyover Scarlet Tanager.
Highlights of the 82 birds of 29 species banded on Sunday, May 28, included one Ruby-throated Hummingbird. This brought the season total to 16. The most ever banded in spring back at the Marsh site was 12 (but the average in fall was about 65). It was another good day for flycatchers, with two Yellow-bellied and eight Willow/Alders. Another Eastern Kingbird was captured. This photo shows the structure of the tongue (click on it to enlarge), with backward-facing barbs on the rear of the tongue that help push insects (and fruit when on its Amazonian wintering grounds) down its throat.
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| After hatch-year male Eastern Kingbird |
The first Red-eyed Vireo captured this spring seemed a bit tardy, especially as they've been singing in the area for at least a week.
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| After hatch-year Red-eyed Vireo |
Only 8 species of warbler were banded today, but amazingly for such a late date, 22 of the 45 individuals were Magnolia Warblers - most of them females. Eight Wilson's Warblers was also a good number.
Interesting birds observed, but not banded, included an odd family of Mute Swans with the pair of adults guarding 7 cygnets, and 2 goslings obviously kidnapped from a local Canada Goose pair. A singing Least Flycatcher was probably a late migrant, and singing Blackburian and Bay-breasted Warblers were heard today.
Banding on these 5 days could not have been done without the following dedicated volunteers: Jenifer Benke, John Bieganowski, Terri Chapdelaine, Carol Goodman, Jean Gramlich, Stevie Kuroda, Dave Lancaster, Harry Lau, Rose Lau, Matthew Porter, Bruce Watson, Blanche Wicke, Christian Zammit, and Julian Zammit.
Detailed Bird Banding Results
May 19, 2017
Time open (E.S.T.): 6:00Time closed (E.S.T.): 12:30
Hours Open: 6.5
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:06
Net Hours: 110.5
Temperature (F): 50-55
Cloud Cover: 100%
Wind Direction: N
Wind Speed (mph): 7-10-12
Barometer: 30.14 - 30.25
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 108 (plus 30 recaptured, 4 released unbanded)
Species Captured: 34
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 128.5
Banding Assistants (9.0 hours worked): John Bieganowski, Jean Gramlich, Dave Lancaster, Blanche Wicke, Christian Zammit (5.5 hrs), Julian Zammit (5.5 hrs).
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 3
Downy Woodpecker - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1
Willow Flycatcher - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 3
Least Flycatcher - 1
Warbling Vireo - 4
[Black-capped Chickadee - 1 recaptured]
[White-breasted Nuthatch - 1 recaptured]
[House Wren - 2 recaptured]
Veery - 5
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 4
Swainson's Thrush - 6
American Robin - 1
Gray Catbird - 6 (plus 1 recaptured)
European Starling - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
Tennessee Warbler - 1
Yellow Warbler - 5 (plus 6 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
Magnolia Warbler - 4
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 4
Palm Warbler - 1 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Blackpoll Warbler - 2
Black-and-white Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 5
Ovenbird - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 3
Common Yellowthroat - 12 (plus 1 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
Wilson's Warbler - 5
Canada Warbler - 4
[Song Sparrow - 5 recaptured, 1 released unbanded]
Lincoln's Sparrow - 2
Red-winged Blackbird - 14 (plus 6 recaptured)
Brown-headed Cowbird - 1
Orchard Oriole - 1
Baltimore Oriole - 4 (plus 4 recaptured)
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May 20, 2017
Time open (E.S.T.): 5:30Time closed (E.S.T.): 13:00
Hours Open: 7.5
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:05
Net Hours: 128.0
Temperature (F): 50-62
Cloud Cover: 60-90%
Wind Direction: NE-SE
Wind Speed (mph): 7-10-12
Barometer: 30.28 - 30.28
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 52 (plus 44 recaptured, 2 released unbanded)
Species Captured: 34
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 76.6
Banding Assistants (9.0 hours worked): Stevie Kuroda, Harry Lau, Rose Lau, Matthew Porter, Bruce Watson (4.5 hrs). Other visitors included Carol Goodman and Dick Filby.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 3 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Downy Woodpecker - 1 (plus 2 recaptured)
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 2
Warbling Vireo - 1 (plus 3 recaptured)
Blue Jay - 1
[White-breasted Nuthatch - 1 recaptured]
House Wren - 1
[Veery - 2 recaptured]
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 3 (plus 2 recaptured)
Swainson's Thrush - 2
American Robin - 2 (plus 2 recaptured)
[Gray Catbird - 1 recaptured]
European Starling - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Cedar Waxwing - 1
Yellow Warbler - 5 (plus 11 recaptured)
[Magnolia Warbler - 1 recaptured]
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 1
Blackburnian Warbler - 1
[Black-and-white Warbler - 1 recaptured]
[American Redstart - 1 recaptured]
[Ovenbird - 1 recaptured]
[Northern Waterthrush - 2 recaptured]
Common Yellowthroat - 8 banded (plus 1 recaptured)
Wilson's Warbler - 2 (plus 2 recaptured)
Canada Warbler - 1
Yellow-breasted Chat - 1
Song Sparrow - 3 (plus 3 recaptured)
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Swamp Sparrow - 1
[Northern Cardinal - 1 recaptured]
Red-winged Blackbird - 5 (plus 4 recaptured)
Common Grackle - 1 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Baltimore Oriole - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)
American Goldfinch - 1
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May 26, 2017
Time open (E.S.T.): 5:45Time closed (E.S.T.): 12:45
Hours Open: 7.0
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:01
Net Hours: 77.0 (only 11.5 nets opened)
Temperature (F): 55-62
Cloud Cover: 100%
Wind Direction: WNW
Wind Speed (mph): 5-7
Barometer: 29.78 - 29.92
Precipitation: Trace rain
No. Banded: 57 (plus 21 recaptured)
Species Captured: 27
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 101.3
Banding Assistants (9.5 hours worked): John Bieganowski, Carol Goodman.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 3
Northern Flicker - 2
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - 1
Alder Flycatcher - 1
Willow Flycatcher - 3
'Traill's" Flycatcher - 3
Warbling Vireo - 1 (plus 2 recaptured)
Tree Swallow - 2
[Black-capped Chickadee - 1 recaptured]
[House Wren - 1 recaptured]
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 1
American Robin - 3
Gray Catbird - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
European Starling - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Yellow Warbler - 5 (plus 10 recaptured)
Magnolia Warbler - 3
Black-and-white Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 6
Ovenbird - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 1
Mourning Warbler - 2
Common Yellowthroat - 9
Wilson's Warbler - 1
Song Sparrow - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Red-winged Blackbird - 2 (plus 3 recaptured)
Brown-headed Cowbird - 1
Baltimore Oriole - 1
[American Goldfinch - 1 recaptured]
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May 27, 2017
Time open (E.S.T.): 5:45Time closed (E.S.T.): 12:30
Hours Open: 6.75
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:00
Net Hours: 131.75
Temperature (F): 57-69
Cloud Cover: 30-10%
Wind Direction: Calm-SE
Wind Speed (mph): 0-5
Barometer: 29.96 - 29.99
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 54 (plus 19 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
Species Captured: 28
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 65.1
Banding Assistants (9.0 hours worked): Jenifer Benke, Terri Chapdelaine, Stevie Kuroda.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 2
Willow Flycatcher - 2
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 3
Eastern Kingbird - 1
Philadelphia Vireo - 1
[Tree Swallow - 1 recaptured]
[House Wren - 2 recaptured]
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 2
Swainson's Thrush - 4
American Robin - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Gray Catbird - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
European Starling - 1
Cedar Waxwing - 4
Yellow Warbler - 4 (plus 2 recaptured)
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1
Magnolia Warbler - 3
American Redstart - 3
Northern Waterthrush - 1
Mourning Warbler - 2
Common Yellowthroat - 5 (plus 1 recaptured)
Wilson's Warbler - 3
Song Sparrow - 2 (plus 2 recaptured)
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Red-winged Blackbird - 5 (plus 4 recaptured)
Common Grackle - 1
[Brown-headed Cowbird - 1 recaptured]
Orchard Oriole - 1
Baltimore Oriole - 1 (plus 4 recaptured)
American Goldfinch - 1
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May 28, 2017
Time open (E.S.T.): 5:45Time closed (E.S.T.): 12:45
Hours Open: 7.0
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:00
Net Hours: 119.25
Temperature (F): 57-75
Cloud Cover: 80-30-50%
Wind Direction: ENE-SE
Wind Speed (mph): 1-3-7
Barometer: 29.91 - 29.80
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 82 (plus 17 recaptured, 2 released unbanded)
Species Captured: 29
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 84.7
Banding Assistants (9.0 hours worked): Stevie Kuroda, Bruce Watson, Blanche Wicke.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1
[Downy Woodpecker - 1 released unbanded]
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - 2
Alder Flycatcher - 2
Willow Flycatcher - 2
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 4 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Eastern Kingbird - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 1
[Black-capped Chickadee - 4 recaptured]
Veery - 1
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 1
Swainson's Thrush - 5
American Robin - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Gray Catbird - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)
European Starling - 1
Cedar Waxwing - 2
Yellow Warbler - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1
Magnolia Warbler - 22
American Redstart - 2
Mourning Warbler - 3
Common Yellowthroat - 6
Canada Warbler - 1
Wilson's Warbler - 8
[Song Sparrow - 2 recaptured]
Lincoln's Sparrow - 3
Swamp Sparrow - 1
Red-winged Blackbird - 4 (plus 3 recaptured)
Baltimore Oriole - 2 (plus 5 recaptured)
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