Howdy all,
My apologies for the tardiness of this email, but it has been a three ring
circus here trying to get a phone line up and running. But alas, it was on
today!
We started banding on the 15th but it didn't start off with a bang like I was
hoping. We only caught two birds. Then to make matters worse (or better) the
16th was rained out. But we needed the rain! Anyway, the last two days have
been much better. Migrants are here for sure and a nice little mix as well.
Although nothing too exciting, we have caught two PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS all
ready:
(That's higher than the ten year average for the season). We also caught a
YELLOW WARBLER today. A species we caught very few here. BLACK-AND-WHITE
WARBLERS are already here is good numbers, as well as, YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS.
All in all, it has been a decent start. Hopefully it holds on. The windy has
been a big issue already this season. I do hope THAT changes!
Here are the totals since the start of the season.
8/15:
Field Sparrow 1
Carolina Wren 1
TOTAL -------------- 2 wow, I know.
8/16:
Rain out.
8/17:
American Redstart 6
Prairie Warbler 1
Black-&-white Warbler 2
Prothonotary Warbler 1
Yellow-breasted Chat 2
Indigo Bunting 1
Carolina Wren 4
Northern Cardinal 7
Northern Mockingbird 2
TOTAL ------------------------------ 26
8/18:
Prairie Warbler 2
American Redstart 5
Yellow Warbler 1
Black-&-white Warbler 5
Prothonotary Warbler 1
Yellow-breasted Chat 3
Chipping Sparrow 1
Carolina Wren 1
Northern Cardinal 3
Northern Mockingbird 3
Yellow-shafted Flicker 1
TOTAL ------------------------------ 26
Boy, am I glad to be back on the shore!
I hope to see everyone this fall!!!
Cheers,
Jethro Runco
Head songbird bander
Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory