We’ve just finished two topsy-turvy weather days: hot temperatures one day, blustery winds the next. Although we didn’t band a large number of birds, we did catch a nice variety, including some late warblers that should have been much further south. Interestingly, almost all of the long-distance migrating warblers were carrying very large fat loads (eg, a Tennessee Warbler weighed in at over 14 grams!!). When they get the right winds they have the energy potential to undertake very long-distance flights. Yellow-rumped Warblers, that won’t travel nearly as far, were all carrying much more modest fat loads.

An interesting anecdote today: Marnie has been working hard at learning how to ID “confusing fall warblers” in the hand. She mentioned that she really needed/wanted to see what an Orange-crowned Warbler looked like in the hand. Today the last bird banded out of the last net round was….an Orange-crowned Warbler.

October 7th; Banded 34:

1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo
1 Downy Woodpecker
3 Golden-crowned Kinglets
2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets
2 Swainson’s Thrushes
1 Hermit Thrush

1 American Robin
1 Red-eyed Vireo
1 Tennessee Warbler
2 Nashville Warblers
1 Orange-crowned Warbler
6 Yellow-rumped Warblers
1 Black-throated Green Warbler
1 Bay-breasted Warbler
1 Black & White Warbler

1 American Redstart
4 Song Sparrows
1 Lincoln’s Sparrow
1 White-throated Sparrow
2 Dark-eyed Juncos

ET’s: 46 spp.

October 8th; Banded 44:
1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
1 Black-capped Chickadee
1 Brown Creeper
2 Golden-crowned Kinglets
3 Ruby-crowned Kinglets
2 Swainson’s Thrushes
1 Hermit Thrush
1 Gray Catbird

2 Cedar Waxwings
2 Blue-headed Vireos
5 Tennessee Warblers
3 Nashville Warblers

1 Orange-crowned Warbler
14 Yellow-rumped Warblers
1 Black-throated Green Warbler
2 Song Sparrows
2 White-throated Sparrows

ET’s: 45 spp.

Photos:

Rick