Howdy all,
Well, the rain finally quit and we were about to open the banding station
today for the first time in three days. Although the numbers were low, we
started
off with a bang. The first net run produced an EASTERN SCREECH-OWL. Not to be
out done, the second net run produced our first and maybe the only HOODED
WARBLER of the season. Getting kind of late for those. Also on that run we
captured a BLACKPOLL WARBLER with another coming later in the morning. But the
highlight of the day was an EXTREMELY late PROTONOTARY WARBLER!!! It was a
hatching
year female, but she was terribly skinny with very little muscle on the keel.
She only weighed 11.4 grams instead of the more normal 14-15 gram range. I
hope for the best for her.
We only banded a total of 39 birds but look below at the list of birds caught
today! A very nice mix of birds.
Total for 10/9:
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Black-throated Blue 5 all very very fat!
C. Yellowthroat 1
Hooded 1 first of the season
Blackpoll 2
Prothonotary 1 incredibly late!!!
Western Palm 1
Yellow-rumped 1 only one????
Yellow-breasted Chat 1
Ovenbird 1
Indigo Bunting 5
Gray Catbird 17 yes, still a lot of them around
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
E. Screech-Owl 1 the fourth captured this season (2
new, 2 recaptures)
TOTAL ------------------------ 39
It was a very nice way to end the birding festival. Wish we could have banded
the other two days. We needed the rain, but a week later or earlier would
have been better. Maybe next year it will be perfect!
Cheers,
Jethro Runco
