Metro Beach banding report - September 25 & 26, 2009

After an absence of 7 days from the area, perhaps it is not surprising that again a number of new arrivals were recorded. Among these, White-throated Sparrows and Hermit Thrushes arrived in big numbers after only a few White-throats a week ago. Strong or even moderate cold fronts continue to avoid southern Michigan, so I am very glad that nearly 250 individuals were banded on these two days, and with such good diversity represented.

Banding highlights from Friday, September 25 included a Ruby-throated Hummingbird, possibly the last one of the season. The almost complete lack of Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) flowers in the banding area has clearly had an impact. Normally there would be hundreds of plants with dozens of flowers on each plant. But this year the deer have so completely devastated the Jewelweed that perhaps at most one plant in five has a single flower on it. The first Blue-headed Vireos (3) of the fall season were captured today.

Hatch-year Blue-headed Vireo

Winter Wrens were first detected last week, but the first ones were banded today.

Hatch-year Winter Wren

Hermit Thrushes made their first appearance today as well, with a good total of 9 banded.

Hatch-year Hermit Thrush

Somewhat surprising was the capture of a Wood Thrush. They've been caught later here, but any time after September 20 is unexpected.

Hatch-year Wood Thrush

The first Orange-crowned Warbler was captured today, just about on time for the species. Often there are reports of this species in early September and even late August. No less an authority than Jon Dunn has suggested that any claim of Orange-crowned Warbler in the Great Lakes earlier than about September 20 should be carefully scrutinized. Many observers may not realize how green juvenile Tennessee Warblers can be in the fall, and neglect to check the single best field mark, the color of the undertail coverts. While they can be pale yellowish (but most often bright white) in Tennessee Warbler, they are bright lemon yellow in Orange-crowned Warbler. Both species were captured today, and photos below may help resolve some of this confusion. Also, compare the photo of the hatch-year Tennessee Warbler with those of the second-year females posted earlier this month.

Hatch-year Tennessee Warbler

Hatch-year male Orange-crowned Warbler

As noted, White-throated Sparrows arrived in force, with the handsome individual in the photo below only one of 32 banded today.

Hatch-year White-throated Sparrow

A species we don't catch very often, as they tend to feed in areas with more open spaces, is White-crowned Sparrow, so this individual was a little unusual.

Hatch-year White-crowned Sparrow

And an unexpected species, as we don't catch very many and they don't often arrive this early, was Dark-eyed Junco.

Hatch-year female Dark-eyed Junco

Interesting birds observed today but not banded included 2 Cooper's Hawks, 2 Red-tailed Hawks, and a Veery calling before dawn. A couple small groups of Golden-crowned Kinglets signalled their first arrival for the fall.

Banding highlights from Saturday, September 26 included species that aren't banded here very often. A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was only the second one banded here since 2004, and only the 8th one since 1989.

Hatch-year female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Eastern Phoebes aren't banded as often in the fall as they are in spring, and the one captured today was a little early for the first of season.

After hatch-year Eastern Phoebe

Other flycatchers captured today, both a little later than normal, were single Yellow-bellied and Least Flycatchers. Additional Winter Wrens, Hermit Thrushes, and Orange-crowned Warblers added to yesterday's totals. A flock of American Robins in the Upland Nets was unusual for so late in September in the banding area; usually they abandon the area by the end of August. A single Yellow-rumped Warbler was the first of the season, hopefully the first of many more to come.

Hatch-year female Yellow-rumped Warbler

A single Wilson's Warbler was a little bit late, and Lincoln's Sparrows were clearly peaking with 4 banded today. Another Dark-eyed Junco was as unexpected today as were the 3 banded yesterday. After just having discussed the diminishing possibility of catching a Rose-breasted Grosbeak with one of the volunteers, there was one out in the Field Nets not more than an hour later!

Hatch-year female Rose-breasted Grosbeak

With a powerful bill like that, there's NO WAY I'm going to hold it in the "photographer's grip" just for a decent photo on the blog. I don't need bloody fingers from that bite! Here I'm holding it in the "banders grip" which is safe and gentle for both the bird and the bander.

Interesting birds observed today but not banded included calling Great Horned Owls before dawn, a Cooper's Hawk, at least one other Yellow-bellied Sapsucker that was heard while banding another, and a briefly singing Marsh Wren in the dying Phragmites stand near the Field Nets. Golden-crowned Kinglets were in the banding area again today, but not captured. Soon we'll have many!

Many thanks to the volunteers who made banding possible on these two days: John Bieganowski, Andrea Charlebois, Chris Charlebois, Jacob Charlebois, Amanda Grimm, Dave Lancaster, Jennifer Philpot-Munson, and Tom Schlack.

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Banding Data
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FRIDAY, September 25, 2009
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 6:22
Time Open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 13:00
Hours Open: 7.25
No. of Nets: 5.00-13.25
Net Hours: 88.563
Temperature (F): 57-72
Cloud Cover: 80-50%
Wind: NE-E @ 3-5-15 mph
Barometer: 30.29-30.33
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 128 (plus 6 recaptured and 1 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 32
Capture Rate: 152.4 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers: John Bieganowski, Amanda Grimm, Dave Lancaster, Tom Schlack

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1
Least Flycatcher - 1
Blue-headed Vireo - 3
Red-eyed Vireo - 2
[Black-capped Chickadee - 1 recaptured]
Brown Creeper - 2
House Wren - 4 (plus 1 recaptured)
Winter Wren - 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 3
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 3
Swainson's Thrush - 7
Hermit Thrush - 9 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Wood Thrush - 1
American Robin - 1
Gray Catbird - 6 (plus 1 recaptured)
Tennessee Warbler - 3
Orange-crowned Warbler - 1
Nashville Warbler - 7
Magnolia Warbler - 5
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 6
Black-and-white Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 3
Ovenbird - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Song Sparrow - 4 (plus 2 recaptured)
Lincoln's Sparrow - 3
Swamp Sparrow - 10
White-throated Sparrow - 32
White-crowned Sparrow - 1
Dark-eyed Junco - 1
Northern Cardinal - 1
American Goldfinch - 1

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SATURDAY, September 26, 2009
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 6:23
Time Open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 12:15
Hours Open: 6.50
No. of Nets: 5.00-13.25
Net Hours: 79.750
Temperature (F): 58-64
Cloud Cover: 100%
Wind: NE-SE @ 3-5-7 mph
Barometer: 30.10-29.97
Precipitation: Trace just before early closure
No. Banded: 120 (plus 10 recaptured and 1 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 29
Capture Rate: 164.3 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers: Andrea Charlebois, Chris Charlebois, Jacob Charlebois, Jennifer Philpot-Munson

YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER - 1
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - 1
Least Flycatcher - 1
Eastern Phoebe - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 1
Black-capped Chickadee - 1 (plus 2 recaptured)
House Wren - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)
Winter Wren - 5
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 3
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 4
Swainson's Thrush - 6
Hermit Thrush - 4 (plus 1 recaptured)
American Robin - 10 (plus 1 recaptured)
Gray Catbird - 6 (plus 2 recaptured)
Orange-crowned Warbler - 3
Nashville Warbler - 3 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Magnolia Warbler - 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 4
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 2
Wilson's Warbler - 1
Song Sparrow - 5 (plus 1 recaptured)
Lincoln's Sparrow - 4
Swamp Sparrow - 13 (plus 2 recaptured)
White-throated Sparrow - 31
Dark-eyed Junco - 1
Northern Cardinal - 1
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 1
American Goldfinch - 1

Metro Beach banding report - September 17, 2009

The nice weather continues and no major cold fronts have passed through our area at all this month. But at least the wind direction did shift to the north, though very light, for a couple of days. This may have been the reason a new batch of warblers came in, along with an influx of thrushes and some sparrows. It has been a fairly good migration so far, but with some warblers yet to appear in the nets (Orange-crowned, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, Yellow-rumped) and others still in very low numbers (Chestnut-sided, Black-and-white, and American Redstart).

Banding highlights on Thursday, September 17 included 4 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. The theme of the day, however, was Firsts of Season (FOS). There were six species in this category today, all of which are shown in photos below. We had our FOS Philadelphia Vireo (and only the third since 2004), Blue Jay, Brown Creeper, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Black-throated Green Warbler, Palm Warbler, and Lincoln's Sparrow.

Hatch-year Philadelphia Vireo

After hatch-year Blue Jay

After hatch-year Brown Creeper

Hatch-year Gray-cheeked Thrush

Hatch-year male Black-throated Green Warbler

Hatch-year Palm Warbler

Hatch-year Lincoln's Sparrow

One other highlight of the day was capturing not one but TWO Northern Parulas. This makes FOUR captured this fall (oddly, all of them hatch-year females), where I'd banded only two previously since 2004, one in spring 2007 and one in fall 2007. Between 1989 and 2001 a total of 8 Northern Parulas was banded, 2 in spring and 6 in fall. So this year is officially a "good" year for this species. As I've posted photos of both individuals below, you may well ask yourself; "is he really going to post a photo of every parula he bands?".  Yeah, probably.

Hatch-year female Northern Parula (1st individual)

Hatch-year female Northern Parula (2nd individual)

Interesting birds observed but not banded included the first Winter Wren and White-throated Sparrows (a few) of the season, as well as late-ish Eastern Wood-Pewee and Great Crested Flycatcher. Once again an American Woodcock flushed from "the usual spot" near the Field Nets when we arrived out there to set up, and a juvenile Great Horned Owl gave a couple begging calls near the road. A Veery was heard calling in the dark and a flyover American Pipit was also the first of the season.

I would like to thank Chris Charlebois for showing up at the last minute and making setup easier, Aaron Potts for coming all the way from Parma (100+ miles), and Tom Schlack for having a flexible schedule during the week. Banding today could not have been done without you.

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Banding Data
-------------------------------------
THURSDAY, September 17, 2009
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 6:14
Time Open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 13:00
Hours Open: 7.25
No. of Nets: 5.00-13.25
Net Hours: 88.563
Temperature (F): 50-72
Cloud Cover: 50-10%
Wind: N @ 1-3-5 mph
Barometer: 30.29-30.25
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 86 (plus 9 recaptured and 4 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 28
Capture Rate: 111.8 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers: Chris Charlebois, Aaron Potts, Tom Schlack

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 4
Least Flycatcher - 1
Philadelphia Vireo - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 2
Blue Jay - 1
Brown Creeper - 1
House Wren - 1 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 2
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 4
Swainson's Thrush - 11 (plus 1 released unbanded)
[American Robin - 1 recaptured]
Gray Catbird - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)
Tennessee Warbler - 1
Nashville Warbler - 7 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Northern Parula - 2
Magnolia Warbler - 4
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 2
Black-throated Green Warbler - 1
Palm Warbler - 1
Ovenbird - 2
Northern Waterthrush - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 12 (plus 2 recaptured)
Wilson's Warbler - 3
Song Sparrow - 9 (plus 4 recaptured and 1 released unbanded)
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1
Swamp Sparrow - 2
Red-winged Blackbird - 1 (plus 1 released unbanded)
American Goldfinch - 6

Metro Beach banding report - September 11 & 13, 2009

Since the beginning of September, the weather across southern Michigan has been "nice". There has been little or no rain, few clouds, little wind, and moderate temperatures. So far no strong cold fronts have passed through with the result that the migration, and resulting banding, can be characterized as "slow". I've been keeping an eye on radar observations of migrants as well as postings to a new chat group I've joined of people who monitor night flight calls of migrating songbirds. Both of these sources have shown quite clearly that significant songbird migration has been going on for the past two weeks. Such conditions are clearly great for the birds, most of which end up over-flying us or, when they land, are not bunched up and crowded into a few small patches of habitat so instead may be more dispersed. Thus the total of only 73 birds banded over the two days we recently opened the nets, Friday September 11 and Sunday September 13.

Banding highlights on Friday, September 11 included two Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, and this Yellow-bellied Flycatcher shown below. Empidonax flycatchers are coming through in good numbers this fall, for a change.

Hatch-year Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

A Mourning Warbler was the 10th so far this fall, a good total. Nashville and Wilson's Warblers continue to be steady captures. Among the warblers, this Magnolia Warbler was perhaps the most colorful.

Hatch-year Magnolia Warbler

The Bird Banding Lab does not allow banders to sex hatch-year Magnolia Warblers. The threshhold for any criteria to be used is that it must be 95% reliable. These birds are quite variable in a number of characters which makes them quite challenging to determine the sex. On the bird above, one could determine that it is a hatch-year based on the relatively pointed tail feathers and the fresh plumage overall. But no criterion, or set of criteria, has been published that reliably can be used to determine the sex of hatch-year Magnolia Warblers. There may be a tendency for females to have shorter and males to have longer wings. There may be a tendency for males to have large black centers on the back feathers and females to have none (with many intermediates). There may be a tendency for males to have bolder black flank streaks and females to have less or none (again with many intermediates). There may be a tendency for males to have large black centers on their upper tail coverts and females to be mostly gray (once again with many intermediates). One older publication suggested that the size and/or shape of the white spot on the second tail feather (second out from center) could be used to determine sex, but after examining hundreds of known-sex Magnolia Warblers in spring it is clear to me that this character is at least as variable as all the others, if not more! So, how do some of the "experts" determine the sex of an "immature" Magnolia Warbler from photos or in the field? I'd personally love to know, since nothing concrete has ever been published on the subject. Or, is the threshhold in the field much lower than 95%?

Interesting birds observed but not banded included two flyover Green Herons, two flyover Sharp-shinned Hawks, an American Woodcock flushed from the Field Net area before we set up, and a juvenile Great Horned Owl begging in the woods.

Banding highlights for Sunday, September 13 included 6 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, one of which I'm releasing in the photo below.

Hatch-year male Ruby-throated Hummingbird
(Photo by Jerrry McHale)

The first Ruby-crowned Kinglet of the fall was a surprise as it seems a little early for them.

After hatch-year male Ruby-crowned Kinglet
(Photo by Jerry McHale)

Another surprise was an Indigo Bunting, which we only rarely catch in the fall and infrequently catch in spring as well. This dull bird was a real head-scratcher for most of the banding assistants as hatch-year females are quite nondescript.

Hatch-year female Indigo Bunting

Interesting birds observed but not banded included a Cooper's Hawk, two Common Nighthawks over the woods while we were setting up in the field, a Gray-cheeked Thrush overhead in the dark while in the field along with a few Swainson's, single Magnolia and Black-throated Blue Warblers, a few flyover Bobolinks, and at least two Purple Finches in the tree at the center of the Field Nets.

I would like to thank the volunteers who made banding on these two days possible: Chris Charlebois, Dave Furi, Jean Gramlich, Thierry Lach, Jerry McHale, Tom Schlack, and Sue Wright.

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Banding Data
-------------------------------------
FRIDAY, September 11, 2009
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 6:07
Time Open (E.S.T.): 6:00
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 12:00
Hours Open: 6.00
No. of Nets: 5.00-13.25
Net Hours: 75.188
Temperature (F): 63-73
Cloud Cover: 50-25%
Wind: NE-SE @ 1-5 mph
Barometer: 30.22-30.29
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 35 (plus 11 recaptured and 1 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 14
Capture Rate: 62.5 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers: Chris Charlebois, Jean Gramlich, Jerry McHale, Tom Schlack, Sue Wright

Ruby-throated Hummingbird -2 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - 1
Black-capped Chickadee - 1
House Wren - 1 (plus 4 recaptured)
Swainson's Thrush - 6
Gray Catbird - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Nashville Warbler - 5
Magnolia Warbler - 2
Ovenbird - 1
Mourning Warbler - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 7 (plus 2 recaptured)
Wilson's Warbler - 3
Song Sparrow - 2 (plus 4 recaptured)
American Goldfinch - 2

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SUNDAY, September 13, 2009
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 6:09
Time Open (E.S.T.): 6:00
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 12:00
Hours Open: 6.00
No. of Nets: 5.00-13.25
Net Hours: 74.063
Temperature (F): 55-75
Cloud Cover: 20-0-50%
Wind: Calm-NW @ 0-5-7 mph
Barometer: 30.18-30.17
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 38 (plus 9 recaptured and 1 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 13
Capture Rate: 64.8 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers: Dave Furi, Thierry Lach, Jerry McHale

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 6
Least Flycatcher - 2
[House Wren - 2 recaptured]
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
Swainson's Thrush - 5
Gray Catbird - 1
Nashville Warbler - 3
Ovenbird - 2
Common Yellowthroat - 8 (plus 4 recaptured)
Wilson's Warbler - 2
Song Sparrow - 4 (plus 4 recaptured and 1 released unbanded)
Swamp Sparrow - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)
Indigo Bunting - 1

Metro Beach banding report - September 3, 5 & 6

There were some interesting lessons in variation and expectations provided by birds captured this past week.

Banding studies, among others, have collected much of the data that has shown that adult songbirds of many species depart for their wintering grounds earlier than their young. Local banders then form expectations of what age classes should be migrating through their area at given times. My own expectations regarding the migration of Tennessee Warblers was that the migration of adults was mainly earlier than I typically start the banding season since they're captured in late July around Kalamazoo, but also that perhaps adults may not pass through southeastern Michigan in large numbers as they are mainly a circum-Gulf migrant on their way to Central America. At Kalamazoo, these early adults are often found molting their flight and body feathers, and may be undergoing what is termed a "molt migration" where the adults migrate a short distance away from breeding grounds to an area where they finish molting (called "staging") before continuing south. One of these Tennessee Warblers is shown in the photo below.

Second-year female Tennessee Warbler

She was molting some of her body feathers which gives her the untidy appearance. She is also molting her wing feathers, which are a bit odd looking in this photo. Taking a closer look at her spread wing, below, we can see that she is growing in her inner secondaries and the outermost primary.

Same second-year female Tennessee Warbler

This is entirely what would be expected, as the typical molt pattern of many songbirds is to start with the outermost secondaries and innermost primaries, and molt outward from the center. This individual appears to have nearly completed its molt. Another second-year female Tennessee Warbler was somewhat different. As you can see from the photo below, her body feathers appear more disorderly, suggesting more extensive molt.

Another second-year female Tennessee Warbler

Now, my expectation might be for the molt to be occurring closer to the center of the wing...involving outer secondaries and inner primaries. But the photo of her wing, below, shows something I didn't expect.

Same second-year female Tennessee Warbler

While it is the outer secondaries that are molting, it is also the outer primaries that are molting! This points out very clearly that even things we understand fairly well are not always set in stone, can sometimes vary between individuals, and suggests there's more we can learn. The apparent lateness of the molt of these birds might be telling us something too.

So, on to this week's banding highlights. A total of 175 birds was banded on the three days covered in this report. This included 13 flycatchers of 4 species, 8 thrushes of 2 species, and 69 warblers of 12 species.

Banding highlights on Thursday, September 3 included 12 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (though still very little Jewelweed blooming due to heavy deer browse), a single Marsh Wren, and two Mourning Warblers. Interesting birds observed but not banded included a Green Heron flying over, still-singing Warbling Vireo, and a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher continuing to tease me by not being captured. A single male Baltimore Oriole made a brief appearance in the tree at the center of the Field Nets.

Banding highlights on Saturday, September 5 included 8 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, and 5 Least Flycatchers which oddly were the only flycatcher species captured today. The individual in the photo below is one of the more clearly marked, showing its big, grayish head contrasting with greenish-olive back, and bold white teardrop-shaped eyering.

Hatch-year Least Flycatcher

Two Red-eyed Vireos were also quite welcome, especially in light of the severe reduction in captures since 2004, compared with the 1989-2000 data. Shrub cover has changed not in height, but in species composition, and I fear that what's left (lots of Multiflora Rose) is not suitable for feeding and foraging songbirds, making the area less important for migrants stopping over. Banders can easily age Red-eyed Vireos by their eye color, bright red in adults and brown in hatch-years. This should also be possible by birders in the field.

After hatch-year Red-eyed Vireo

Hatch-year Red-eyed Vireo

Probably the highlight of the day was a hatch-year female Northern Parula, only the second I've banded at Metro Beach since 2004 (the first one was in spring 2005), and only the 10th one overall (between 1989-2000 there were 8 banded, 2 in spring, 6 in fall). They are beautiful little birds, even the "duller" young females.

Hatch-year female Northern Parula

Interesting birds observed, but not banded, included flyover flocks of Double-crested Cormorants, another flyover Green Heron, and a young Great Horned Owl calling briefly in the morning darkness.

Banding highlights on Sunday, September 6 included 8 more Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, an Eastern Wood-Pewee (4th for the season!), two Yellow-bellied Flycatchers, one more Red-eyed Vireo, and an adult male Mourning Warbler, which was unexpected as adults should have mostly moved through by now. Is this telling us something? With such a small sample size, there's no way to know. But in the fall season of 2007 I was noticing an unusually high proportion of adult (AHY) to young (HY) White-throated Sparrows. This was based on a much greater sample size, and was well-correlated with banding results at the Rouge River Bird Observatory that same fall.  Lower productivity? Changes in migration routes or timing?

After hatch-year male Mourning Warbler

And another surprise today, yet another hatch-year female Northern Parula. I've included a photo of her here as well, not just because they're cool, but to allow individual variations of these two same-age, same-sex birds to be compared.

Hatch-year female Northern Parula

American Goldfinches also staged a major influx, with the 23 banded today nearly tripling the season total to date. That will change significantly through the end of the month and into October.

Interesting birds observed but not banded included 2 flyover Green Herons, a Great Crested Flycatcher, and still-singing Warbling Vireos, while the flocks of Cedar Waxwings present through August seem to have departed.

Also today, an interesting insect encounter is worthy of note, especially as I got a photo of the critter! As we were closing up the nets, I noticed a large-ish black and yellow thing flopping around in one of them. On closer examination, I could see what it was. A Pigeon Horntail (Tremex columba), nearly two-inches in length. I managed to get it out of the net, and into a bird bag without injury to it, or me! Back at the car I took photos, the best of which is below.

Pigeon Horntail (Tremex columba)

This is perhaps only the 5th Pigeon Horntail I've ever seen in my life. The first was when I was maybe 10 years old and one of the other neighborhood kids got stung by one. I only remember that he'd killed it, and I took the dead thing home and identified it using my little Golden Guide insect book by Herbert S. Zim. After a few photos, it awkwardly took off and flew back into the swamp. This is generally a solitary species, and the "horn" at the end of the abdomen assists the female in laying her eggs in decaying wood which is how they feed until they're adult. Cool bug!

I would like to thank all the very helpful banding assistants who came out on these three days. It was a delight having more than two people helping each day as it lightened the load for everyone. Thanks to Barb Adams, John Bieganowski, Terri Chapdelaine, Chris Goulart, Amanda Grimm, Dave Lancaster, Harry Lau, Rose Lau, Ava Lau, Tessa Lau, Tom Schlack, and Joan Tisdale.

====================

Banding Data
-------------------------------------
THURSDAY, September 3, 2009
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:59
Time Open (E.S.T.): 6:00
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 12:00
Hours Open: 6.00
No. of Nets: 5.50-13.75
Net Hours: 77.438
Temperature (F): 54-70
Cloud Cover: 0-10%
Wind: Calm-SE @ 0-5 mph
Barometer: 30.27-30.25
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 42 (plus 16 recaptured and 3 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 19
Capture Rate: 78.8 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers: John Bieganowski, Dave Lancaster, Tom Schlack, Joan Tisdale

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 12
Willow Flycatcher - 1
Least Flycatcher - 2
[House Wren - 1 recaptured and 1 released unbanded]
Marsh Wren - 1
Veery - 1
Swainson's Thrush - 2
[Gray Catbird - 1 released unbanded]
Cedar Waxwing - 1
Tennessee Warbler - 1
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 2
American Redstart - 1
Mourning Warbler - 2
Common Yellowthroat - 6 (plus 5 recaptured and 1 released unbanded)
Wilson's Warbler - 2
Song Sparrow - 3 (plus 9 recaptured)
Swamp Sparrow - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
American Goldfinch - 2
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SATURDAY, September 5, 2009
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 6:01
Time Open (E.S.T.): 6:00
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 13:00
Hours Open: 7.00
No. of Nets: 5.00-13.25
Net Hours: 87.313
Temperature (F): 57-76
Cloud Cover: 0-20%
Wind: Calm-SE @ 0-5 mph
Barometer: 30.30-30.31
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 55 (plus 9 recaptured and 1 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 20
Capture Rate: 74.4 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers: Lau Family (Harry, Rose, Ava, and Tessa)

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 8 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Least Flycatcher - 5
Red-eyed Vireo - 2
House Wren - 2
Swainson's Thrush - 4
Gray Catbird - 1
Tennessee Warbler - 1
Nashville Warbler - 4
NORTHERN PARULA - 1
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1
Magnolia Warbler - 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 6
American Redstart - 2
Ovenbird - 1
Mourning Warbler - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
Common Yellowthroat - 3 (plus 4 recaptured)
Wilson's Warbler - 1
Song Sparrow - 6 (plus 4 recaptured)
Swamp Sparrow - 2
American Goldfinch - 1

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SUNDAY, September 6, 2009
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 6:02
Time Open (E.S.T.): 6:00
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 13:00
Hours Open: 7.00
No. of Nets: 5.00-13.25
Net Hours: 86.375
Temperature (F): 57-77
Cloud Cover: 20%
Wind: Calm-E @ 0-5 mph
Barometer: 30.35-30.32
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 78 (plus 7 recaptured and 1 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 22
Capture Rate: 99.6 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers: Barb Adams, Terri Chapdelaine, Chris Goulart, Amanda Grimm.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 8
Downy Woodpecker - 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - 2
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 1
Least Flycatcher - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 1
Black-capped Chickadee - 1
House Wren - 3
Swainson's Thrush - 1
[American Robin - 1 recaptured]
Nashville Warbler - 12 (plus 1 released unbanded)
NORTHERN PARULA - 1
Magnolia Warbler - 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 2
Northern Waterthrush - 2
Mourning Warbler - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 7 (plus 4 recaptured)
Wilson's Warbler - 3
Song Sparrow - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
Swamp Sparrow - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)
American Goldfinch - 23

Metro Beach Banding Report - August 23 & 27, 2009

THE WARBLERS HAVE ARRIVED!

Every year, right around August 25, southeastern Michigan experiences the first significant push of migrant warblers, usually consisting of the more southerly breeding species of mixed deciduous-coniferous woodland, including Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Blue, Magnolia, Mourning, and Canada Warblers and American Redstarts. More northerly, true "boreal" breeders were represented by Wilson's and Blackburnian Warblers. A total of 67 individual warblers of 14 species was banded on the two days, of which 52 of 14 species were banded on Thursday, August 27. Empidonax flycatchers and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds had their first good influx as well and for the first time since before 2004 we're banding good numbers of Warbling Vireos. Hopefully numbers of the other vireo species will increase as well as they've been significantly depressed for several years. We also continue to catch good numbers of Cedar Waxwings and we may be heading for a record on those.

I have also decided to reconfigure the Field Nets to avoid the Bald-faced Hornet nest that is only 8-feet away from where we originally had one of the nets. A special thanks to Aaron Potts for bringing his gas-powered weed whacker on Thursday which made clearing one more net lane so much easier. And hazardous duty was performed on Sunday by Dave Lancaster, Jerry McHale, and Dave Furi as they helped take down the nets after we'd closed them early due to a rain shower. The mosquitos were awesome, and not in a good way! I was reminded of my trips to the Arctic tundra in Alaska and Churchill, Manitoba. Perhaps volunteers should register their blood types from now on!

Banding highlights on Sunday, August 23 included 11 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, TWO Eastern Wood-Pewees (few are captured here) including an adult female showing a brood patch indicating local breeding.

After hatch-year female Eastern Wood-Pewee
(Photo by Jerry McHale)

A brightly-plumaged male Black-throated Blue Warbler was a welcome sight in the Upland Nets.

Hatch-year male Black-throated Blue Warbler

And an adult male Canada Warbler was also quite nice as typically we capture duller hatch-year birds.

After hatch-year male Canada Warbler

Ten more Cedar Waxwings and four more Baltimore Orioles put us near records for both species. Interesting birds observed but not banded included a Cooper's Hawk briefly in the tree at the center of the Field Nets, several Empidonax flycatchers (some identified by calls, some not), a Great Crested Flycatcher, and single Magnolia and Blackburnian Warblers and one Northern Waterthrush.

Banding highlights on Thursday, August 27 included 9 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, a total of 17 Empidonax flycatchers with 3 Yellow-bellied, 2 Alder, 2 Willow, 5 Least, and 5 "Traill's" Flycatchers. A Veery was the first for the season. A good number of Cedar Waxwings was captured again, this time all juveniles, including more individuals with orange tail tips. One was a leucistic individual with a mostly white crest and patchy whitish feathers mainly on the head and back.

Leucistic hatch-year Cedar Waxwing

Fourteen warbler species made it an excellent day. Two Black-and-white Warblers were the first of the fall season, as was the case with several other warbler species. Both Black-and-whites were caught together in the same net, one a hatch-year male and one a hatch-year female.

Hatch-year male Black-and-white Warbler

An early species, the Blackburnian Warbler sometimes eludes capture in the fall at Metro Beach, but not today as this adult female attests.

After hatch-year female Blackburnian Warbler

Three Mourning Warblers and three Canada Warblers were good numbers for both of these early migrants. The three Yellow Warblers caught today may be the last of this very early migrant. The warbler species with the greatest numbers captured, however, was Wilson's Warbler, many of which were captured in the Field Nets.

Hatch-year female Wilson's Warbler

Interesting birds observed, but not captured included two Least Sandpipers flushing off the pile of dredge at the start of the maintenance road, several Chimney Swifts among the six species of swallows flying overhead, and a single Blue-gray Gnatcatcher that teased, but would not be caught.

Banding on these two days simply could not have been done without the help of dedicated volunteers, including David Furi, Dave Lancaster, Jerry McHale, Aaron Potts, Tom Schlack, and Joan Tisdale.

====================
Banding Data
-----------------------------
SUNDAY, August 23, 2009
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:47
Time Open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 11:15 (rain forced early closure)
Hours Open: 5.50
No. of Nets: 4.50-12.75
Net Hours: 62.625
Temperature (F): 61-66
Cloud Cover: 50-100%
Wind: NW @ 1-3-10 mph
Barometer: 30.05-30.12
Precipitation: Rain at close
No. Banded: 70 (plus 11 recaptured and 4 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 19
Capture Rate: 135.7 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers: Dave Furi, Dave Lancaster, Jerry McHale

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 11 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 2
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - 1 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Willow Flycatcher - 1
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 1
Least Flycatcher - 2
Warbling Vireo - 2 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Black-capped Chickadee - 3
House Wren - 1
American Robin - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)
Gray Catbird - 2
Cedar Waxwing - 10
Yellow Warbler - 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 12 (plus 1 recaptured)
Canada Warbler - 1
Song Sparrow - 5 (plus 7 recaptured and 1 released unbanded)
Swamp Sparrow - 6 (plus 1 recaptured)
Baltimore Oriole - 4 (plus 1 recaptured)
American Goldfinch - 1

-----------------------------
THURSDAY, August 27, 2009
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:52
Time Open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 13:15
Hours Open: 7.50
No. of Nets: 4.50-12.75
Net Hours: 89.250
Temperature (F): 57-64
Cloud Cover: 95-100%
Wind: Calm-ESE @ 0-3-10 mph
Barometer: 30.21-30.20
Precipitation: Trace in P.M.
No. Banded: 115 (plus 15 recaptured and 4 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 30
Capture Rate: 150.1 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers: Dave Lancaster, Aaron Potts, Tom Schlack, Joan Tisdale

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 9 (plus 1 recaptured and 2 released unbanded)
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - 3
Alder Flycatcher - 2
Willow Flycatcher - 2
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 5
Least Flycatcher - 5
Warbling Vireo - 2
[Black-capped Chickadee - 1 recaptured]
House Wren - 1
Veery - 1
American Robin - 4
Cedar Waxwing - 8
Nashville Warbler - 2
Yellow Warbler - 3
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 5
Magnolia Warbler - 7
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 2
Blackburnian Warbler - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 2
American Redstart - 2
Ovenbird - 5
Northern Waterthrush - 2
Mourning Warbler - 3
Common Yellowthroat - 3 (plus 2 recaptured)
Wilson's Warbler - 11
Canada Warbler - 4
Song Sparrow - 5 (plus 11 recaptured and 2 released unbanded)
Swamp Sparrow - 7
Red-winged Blackbird - 1
Baltimore Oriole - 1
American Goldfinch - 7

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.

====================
Banding Data
-----------------------------
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

Metro Beach banding report - August 13 & 15, 2009

Mid-August is a time of transition at Metro Beach, where many juvenile birds are still in the area and a few early fall migrants are beginning to move through. Both of these scenarios played out on the two days of banding this past week. A total of 124 birds was banded, plus 12 more recaptured and 4 released unbanded.
Juvenile sparrows can be a challenge. Both Song and Swamp Sparrows are common here, and both species were captured in good numbers on both days. The central breast spot so characteristic of adult Song Sparrows is absent in juveniles, while the streaks on the breast of juvenile Swamp Sparrows is quite different from the unstreaked breasts of adults. At times, wing formulas had to be determined to figure out which species was in-hand at the moment. Another useful characteristic is the bold, triangular whisker mark below a white malar of the Song Sparrow versus the narrow whisker mark below a buffy malar of the Swamp Sparrow. Photos of juveniles of both species are shown below.

Hatch-year Song Sparrow

Hatch-year Swamp Sparrow

This juvenile Common Grackle was molting into its first basic plumage which is represented by the patches of iridescent feathers among the juvenile grayish feathers, and of course this bird, a female determined by wing length, had not attained the bright yellow eye of an older bird. Also, you can see in the photo below the sharp protrusion from the roof of the mouth that may be used to crack nuts and acorns, and which is very painful if they manage to grab your finger with this!

Hatch-year female Common Grackle

It is shaping up to be a good fall season for banding Cedar Waxwings. A group of 10-30 is always present in the trees above the Field Nets and multiples were captured on both days this past week including both adults and juveniles. One of the adults had orange-tipped tail feathers instead of the typical yellow, which has been attributed to dietary causes, including their consumption of Autumn Olive berries during the growth of those feathers. There are quite a few Autumn Olive trees inside the Field Net setup.

After hatch-year female Cedar Waxwing with orange tail tips.

On Thursday, August 13, banding highlights included two Baltimore Orioles, several Empidonax flycatchers (3 Willows, 2 Leasts, and 2 "Traill's"), and the migrants of the day, 2 Northern Waterthrushes.

Hatch-year Northern Waterthrush

Interesting birds observed but not banded included a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (nested nearby?), an American Redstart, and a Canada Warbler.

On Saturday, August 15, the banding highlights included the first Yellow-bellied Flycatcher of the season.

After hatch-year Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

But the most interesting bird of the week, perhaps of the month, was only the third Olive-sided Flycatcher ever banded at Metro Beach. The first was in spring 1992 and the second was in spring 1996, so this is also the first ever banded in fall, and a personal first as well. It was an adult bird based on the duller edgings on the wing coverts (hatch-year would be buffy) and also based on the streaking below shown well in the second photo (though the lens of the camera exaggerates the size of the bill). The wing length measurement determined the bird to be female.

After hatch-year female Olive-sided Flycatcher

After hatch-year female Olive-sided Flycatcher

Interesting birds observed but not banded included an Eastern Screech-Owl calling at about 11:00 a.m., and a Northern Waterthrush calling back in the swamp.

Thanks very much to the volunteer banding assistants who made banding on these two days possible: Dave Lancaster, Tracy McMullen, Joan Tisdale, and Roy and Myrna Weichner.

====================
Banding Data
-----------------------------
THURSDAY, August 13, 2009
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:37
Time Open (E.S.T.): 6:00
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 13:15
Hours Open: 7.25
No. of Nets: 5.50-13.75
Net Hours: 92.188
Temperature (F): 63-82
Cloud Cover: 0%
Wind: WNW @ 1-3-10 mph
Barometer: 30.19-30.22
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 81 (plus 4 recaptured and 4 released unbanded)
No. of Species: 16
Capture Rate: 96.5 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers: Dave Lancaster, Joan Tisdale

Downy Woodpecker - 1
Willow Flycatcher - 3
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 2
Least Flycatcher - 2
Warbling Vireo - 1
Black-capped Chickadee - 1
American Robin - 7 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Gray Catbird - 5
Cedar Waxwing - 4
Yellow Warbler - 5
Northern Waterthrush - 2
Common Yellowthroat - 5 (plus 1 recaptured and 1 released unbanded)
Song Sparrow - 13 (plus 2 recaptured and 1 released unbanded)
Swamp Sparrow - 12 (plus 1 recaptured)
Red-winged Blackbird - 13 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Common Grackle - 3
Baltimore Oriole - 2

-----------------------------
SATURDAY, August 15, 2009
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:39
Time Open (E.S.T.): 6:15
Time Closed (E.S.T.): 13:15
Hours Open: 7.0
No. of Nets: 5.50-13.75
Net Hours: 89.875
Temperature (F): 68-84
Cloud Cover: 20%
Wind: S-SE @ 1-3-10 mph
Barometer: 30.20-30.19
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 43 (plus 8 recaptured)
No. of Species: 16
Capture Rate: 56.7 birds per 100 net hours
Volunteers: Tracy McMullen, Roy Weichner, Myrna Weichner
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 2
[Hairy Woodpecker - 1 recaptured]
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER - 1
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - 1
Alder Flycatcher - 1
Willow Flycatcher - 1
Warbling Vireo - 1
House Wren - 4
[American Robin - 1 recaptured]
Cedar Waxwing - 6
Yellow Warbler - 2
Common Yellowthroat - 4 (plus 1 recaptured)
Song Sparrow - 12 (plus 4 recaptured)
Swamp Sparrow - 7
Red-winged Blackbird - 1
[Baltimore Oriole - 1 recaptured]