Keeping an eye on the sky….. -S. Strachan
There must have been a huge movement of migrants during the night as there were LOTS at Ruthven. We had the expected short- and medium-distance migrants from Caledonia, Waterford, Binbrook, and Hamilton but also quite a few long-distance travellers from as far away as Kitchener and Toronto. We even had a vagrant show up from the Netherlands (looking very confused I must say)!!
Sandhill Cranes – right overhead! -R. Camasta
Brilliant White-throated Sparrow -A. Wilcox
And there were LOTS of birds too! Banding was unspectacular but birding was tremendous. Our keen-eyed observers picked out 9 new species for the year: Red-breasted Merganser (unusual to see them away from a big coastline), Osprey, Spotted Sandpiper (floating down the river on a log), Sandhill Cranes, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, Chipping Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Eastern Meadowlark. And when the day was done our species total was 60! This is 22 more than yesterday and speaks to the movement of birds with the good weather.
We had many photographers and I have received MANY pictures (thanks everyone!). I have put a few into the Photo Gallery below.
Banded 21:
3 Golden-crowned Kinglets
1 Hermit Thrush
1 American Robin
1 American Tree Sparrow
4 Song Sparrows
1 Swamp Sparrow
1 White-throated Sparrow
4 Dark-eyed Juncos
3 Brown-headed Cowbirds
2 American Goldfinches
ET’s: 60 spp.
Photo Gallery:
Tree Swallows are choosing their boxes. -S. Merritt
Purple Martins are starting to make themselves at home. -S. Merritt
Joanne doing her stuff. -S. Merritt
Garter Snake with a frog. -S. Strachan
Tree Swallows – marvellous!!! -R. Camasta
Golden-crowned Kinglet -R. Camasta
Eastern Phoebe -R. Camasta
Sandhill Cranes -E. Gosnell
Killdeer nest now has 3 eggs. -E. Gosnell
Common Mergansers -E. Gosnell
First Brown Thrasher of the year. – E. Gosnell
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker -C. Scholtens
Spotted Sandpiper getting a ride down the river. -C. Scholtens
Brilliant male Red-winged Blackbird -C. Scholtens
It’s unusual to see Red-breasted Mergansers up the river – they’re usually birds of open coastlines. -C. Scholtens
Pine Warbler -C. Scholtens
One of several Yellow-rumped Warblers around today. C. Scholtens
Killdeer -C. Scholtens
Hooded Mergansers -C. Scholtens
Hermit Thrush -C. Scholtens
First Fox Sparrow of the year. -C. Scholtens
First Chipping Sparrows of the year. -C. Scholtens
The Baggers after completing the Bridge to Khazadum…..the crossing of Rick’s Rill.
Rick