The “magic time” is the period when the nets are opened. This morning a full moon, low in the western sky, lit up patches of fog drifting up from the river; in the eastern sky a thin pink smudge gave a hint that daybreak was on its way but still had some time to go; from the shadows of the creek bed came the winnowing of an Eastern Screech Owl; and overhead, call notes, lots of them, as migrating birds were descending to rest and feed after a night of flight. I was able to pick out Rose-breated Grosbeaks and Swainson’s Thrushes but there were others as well, ones I didn’t know. Then, on my way to open net 10, I heard an eagle call and spotted 2 adult Bald Eagles perched in a tall spruce just north of the Mansion.

Call notes usually translate into good banding/birding and so it was this morning. I banded the first Swainson’s Thrushes and Blackpoll Warbler of the Fall season and for the day I encountered 49 species, the highlight being an Olive-sided Flycatcher.

Another really nice aspect to the day was the arrival of Elaine Serena. Elaine is a big help extracting and scribing but, most important, she brings goodies!! Evidently her granddaughter made the excellent peach cake that I ingested with gusto. Congratulations on that effort!

Banded 38:

1 Downy Woodpecker

3 Eastern Wood Pewees

3 Black-capped Chickadees

1 White-breasted Nuthatch

1 House Wren

3 Swainson’s Thrushes

1 American Robin

7 Gray Catbirds

1 Magnolia Warbler

1 Blackpoll Warbler

2 American Redstarts

2 Ovenbirds

2 Common Yellowthroats

1 Scarlet Tanager

6 Chipping Sparrows

1 Song Sparrow

2 American Goldfinches

Retrapped 12:

1 Eastern Tufted Titmouse

3 Black-capped Chickadees

1 Eastern Bluebird

1 Gray Catbird

1 Yellow-throated Vireo

3 Song Sparrows

2 American Goldfinches

ET’s:  49 spp.

Rick