It was another magical early morning – full moon and call notes. Interestingly it did not seem to be as busy at Ruthven today as yesterday. Not as many birds feeding along the edges. But looks can be deceiving! There were a lot of different birds around – just in low numbers. In fact, I encountered 58 species and ended up banding 28 of those species, including 12 different warblers. Highlights for the day included some ‘firsts’ for the season: Nashville Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Mourning Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, and Carolina Wren. I also had the pleasure of taking 6 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks out of the same net, all caught at the same time. Thus ended my career as a concert pianist.

There should be a law against falling leaves. They should not be allowed to fall until the nets are closed. I mean, it wasn’t bad today, but there were still enough to be a pain. I think the trees are just releasing a few to get the range so that they’ll know what wind velocity is best for filling a net when the time comes. And speaking of pains, this lovely weather seems to have revived the mosquito population – not to Springtime levels but enough to be annoying when getting that delicate warbler out of a net tangle….How is it that they know that both your hands are in use allowing for a direct entry into the ear!?

Banded 49:

1 Mouring Dove

1 Downy Woodpecker

1 Yellow-shafted Flicker

1 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

1 Traill’s Flycatcher

1 Black-capped Chickadee

1 Carolina Wren

2 Veeries

4 Swainson’s Thrushes

2 Gray Catbirds

2 Warbling Vireos

1 Yellow-throated Vireo

1 Blue-winged Warbler

1 Nashville Warbler

4 Magnolia Warblers

1 Cape May Warbler

1 Black-throated Green Warbler

1 Blackburnian Warbler

3 Bay-breasted Warblers

1 Blackpoll Warbler

1 American Redstart

2 Northern Waterthrushes

2 Mourning Warblers

1 Wilson’s Warbler

6 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks

2 Chipping Sparrows

2 Song Sparrows

2 American Goldfinches

Retapped 13:

1 Downy Woodpecker

4 Black-capped Chickadees

4 White-breasted Nuthatches

1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak

1 Chipping Sparrow

1 Song Sparrow

1 American Goldfinch

ET’s:  58 spp

Rick