It was a chilly and clear morning. Volunteers were eagerly anticipating an influx of migrants. There were a few dozen unidentified warblers seen zipping across the sky and up high in the canopy, but unfortunately most of them missed our nets. It was still noticeably birdier, in general, with good numbers of common species.

Banding was dominated by warblers (9 species encountered throughout the day), with a few thrush and flycatchers added into the mix. A small flock of 5 American Redstarts in one small section of a net at one time caused a moment of excitement.

Non-banding highlights included a small number of raptors (Bald Eagle, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk and Osprey), a Brown Thrasher, and a few flyover Bobolinks.

The weather forecast looks the same for tomorrow, so I expect the arrival of a few more southbound migrants.

Peter Thoem took a great photo of a posing Great Blue Heron on the bank of the Grand River.

New Birds = 28
Chestnut-sided Warbler – 2
Tennessee Warbler – 1
Magnolia Warbler – 3
American Redstart – 5
Black-and-White Warbler – 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler – 1
Ovenbird – 3
Eastern Wood Pewee-2
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher – 1
Least Flycatcher – 2
House Wren – 1
House Finch – 1
Swainson’s Thrush – 1
Veery – 1
Gray Catbird – 1
Northern Cardinal – 1
Mourning Dove – 1

Recaptures = 5
Song Sparrow – 1
White-breasted Nuthatch – 1
American Goldfinch – 1
Eastern Tufted Titmouse – 1
Mourning Dove – 1

Daily Census = 35 species
Daily Species Total = 59 species

Fall Banding Total = 113
Year Banding Total = 2791

-Matt Timpf

Male Black-throated Blue Warbler

Great Blue Heron – Peter Thoem