Here you go folks! Two blog posts in one! The first is a report by Renessa on Saturday’s banding efforts at Lowville. This is followed by my report on today’s banding at the Farm.
May 7, 2022
Despite the fact that our Lowville station is situated in a valley, the wind played a significant role today. It remained at a steady strength throughout the morning, making the nets more visible and causing migratory species to hunker down, keeping our banding numbers low. Our observation count was also at an all-time low, so we spent some time along the Bruce Trail to find some new species, and we spotted a Greater Yellowlegs, a Solitary Sandpiper, and a Spotted Sandpiper. We also found a Wood Frog by one of the nets.
Banded 22:
1 Downy Woodpecker
1 Ruby Crowned Kinglet
2 Grey Catbirds
5 American Goldfinches
11 White-Throated Sparrow
1 Red-Winged Blackbird
1 Rose-Breasted Grosbeak
Renessa
May 9th at the Farm:
We had a great day as the wind, referenced by Renessa above, continued yesterday but finally let up by last night and the floodgates opened. The species count for the day was up to 50 and included 8 species that were new at the Farm for the year: Nashville Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Ovenbird, Eastern White-crowned Sparrow, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and….a real surprise: Grasshopper Sparrow! The bird in the hand is stunning with its flecks of chestnut.
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When the adjacent field goes into prairie grass we should see more of these: Grasshopper Sparrow. -DOL
I also had a big banding day – 45 of 19 species:
1 Least Flycatcher
2 Tree Swallows
2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets
2 Gray Catbirds
2 American Robins
2 American Goldfinches
1 Grasshopper Sparrow
3 Eastern White-crowned Sparrows
2 White-throated Sparrows
3 Swamp Sparrows
3 Red-winged Blackbirds
3 Common Grackles
2 Ovenbirds
2 Nashville Warblers
1 Common Yellowthroat
2 Magnolia Warblers
10 Yellow Warblers
1 Chestnut-sided Warbler
1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
ET’s: 50 spp.
Rick
Beautiful birds!