Ruthven is one of the few places in the country where a birder can be pretty guaranteed to see a Tufted Titmouse – at any time of year.
The day started off fine: American Woodcocks, Wild Turkeys and a Great Horned Owl announcing their presence in the predawn. But the much awaited White-throated Sparrows were not chipping along the scrub edges. In fact, it was pretty quiet (except for the din of the Chorus Frogs!). So I didn’t head out on the census with much sense of expectation. But, there to my surprise, was a Pine Warbler in the tall trees in front of the Mansion. Dave Maida spotted it and was about to pass it off as a goldfinch when a second look showed it was clearly NOT a goldfinch and closer scrutiny determined it was our first warbler of the year. There’s just something so right about the arrival of warblers.
For the last few days Bonaparte’s Gulls have moved inland to feed in the flooded agricultural fields.
Bonaparte’s Gulls.
During the course of the morning the skies cleared and the south wind picked up – and the birds in the nets became few and far between. However, in terms of species encountered during the morning we hit an important milestone – 50. The first time this year.
Banded 22:
1 Tree Swallow
1 Tufted Titmouse
2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets
1 American Robin
1 Northern Cardinal
1 American Tree Sparrow
2 Chipping Sparrows
2 Song Sparrows
4 Dark-eyed Juncos
1 Red-winged Blackbird
2 Brown-headed Cowbirds
4 American Goldfinches
Species List: 50 spp.
Rick