May 2011
May 31: I've misplaced the log sheets for today. Probably out at the banding station. We were out. I'll update later.
May 30: Jim, Roswitha, Rick, Jason, Chris, Charlene, Laura. Wet and more muddy after the thunderstorms of last night. We had some of Margaret Pickle's class from Niagara College for the first part of the morning. Banded: Gray Catbird 5, Cedar Waxwing 2, Philadelphia Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Magnolia Warbler 2, American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson's Warbler 2, Canada Warbler, = 16 of 9 species. We retrapped 5 of 5 species and saw 38 species for a combined total of 44 species. Having our swamp dug up for cattails for the new sewage system probably did not help our bird numbers today. A fawn along our boardwalk, discovered by eagle eyed Chris, was a treat to observe.
May 28: Jim, Chris, Jason, Laura, Charlene. Nine degrees with S.W. breeze. Some fog around mid morning. This will have to go down as the American Redstart Day. Banded: Traill's Flycatcher 6, Least Flycatcher, American Robin 2, Gray Catbird 3, Cedar Waxwing 2, Red-eyed Vireo 3, Yellow Warbler 2, Chestnut-sided Warbler 2, Magnolia Warbler 5, American Redstart 34 with most being Second Year males, Mourning Warbler 3, Common Yellowthroat 9, Wilson's Warbler 4, Canada Warbler, Common Grackle, Baltimore Oriole = 79 of 16 species. We retrapped 12 of 7 species and saw 42 species for a combined total of 49 species.
May 27- Another miss call on the weather forecast. We could have been out.
May 26: Jim, Roswitha. It was pelting down rain this morning as forecast so last night I cancelled the banding. By 10 it wasn't looking too badly so I phoned Roswitha and we went out for 11:30. It was rather muggy with 14 degrees and a west wind. Banded: Gray Catbird, Magnolia Warbler 2, Blackpoll Warbler 2, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat 2, Wilson's Warbler 2, Canada Warbler 3, = 13 of 7 species. Retrapped 6 of 4 species and only saw 30 species for a combined total of 35 species.
May 25: Jim, Jason, Chris, Laura, Charlene. Nice morning with 12 degrees, no wind and sunshine. Banded: Traill's Flycatcher 3, Swainson's Thrush, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Yellow Warbler 2, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler 4, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart 3, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson's Warbler 2, Canada Warbler, Red-winged Blackbird = 22 of 13 species. Retrapped 16 of 8 species and again with Chris doing most of the observations we had 45 species seen for a combined total of 51 species.
May 24: Jim, Rick, Jason, Lorraine, Chris, Laura, Charlene. A foggy morning changing to sunny later. Wind S.W. 15 to start. Banded: Yellow-throated Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, Gray Catbird, Red-eyed Vireo 2, Nashville Warbler, Yellow Warbler 2, Chestnut-sided Warbler 3, Magnolia Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Canada Warbler, Red-winged Blackbird = 15 of 11 species. Retrapped 6 of 4 species. With Chris' excellent identification skills we saw 40 species for a combined total of 45 species.
May 23: Jim, Roswitha, Chris, Laura, Charlene, Fraser, Owen. 11 degrees to start with threatened thundershowers. Wind from S. then more E. Banded: Yellow-shafted Flicker, Least Flycatcher, Gray Catbird 4, Cedar Waxwing 2, YellowWarbler 7, Magnolia Warbler 2, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Common Yellowthroat 3, Wilson's Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Common Grackle, Baltimore Oriole = 25 of 12 species. Recaptured 10 birds of 5 species and saw 27 species for a combined total of 32 species. We did close early because of an approaching thunderstorm which really did not amount to anything.
May 21: Jim, Bev, Chris, Laura, Charlene. Cool 7 degrees in starting with some fog. Cleared and was a nice day. Wind very light from W. Banded: Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Blue Jay, American Robin, Gray Catbird 5, Yellow Warbler 8, Magnolia Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, American Redstart -second year male, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Mourning Warbler, Wilson's Warbler 4, Canada Warbler, Scarlet Tanager a second year male, Eastern White-crowned Sparrow 2, = 30 of 15 species. Retrapped 8 birds of 6 species. Saw 39 species and a combined total of 48 species.
May 20: Jim, Chris and Charlene went out to do the Baillie Birdathon. We met at Jim's house at 4 in the morning and went out to call owls. We attracted a very disturbed Eastern Screech Owl and heard a Great Horned Owl. We picked up our warblers at the tip of Rock Point, at the banding station at Rock Point and at Ruthven. Blue-winged Warbler and Mourning Warbler at Ruthven and Canada Warbler at the station at Rock Point. The rest were found at the tip: Tennessee Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, American Redstart. Common Yellowthroat and Ovenbird were heard in a couple of spots. Without listing all the species I will highlight some. A pair of Sandhill Cranes, a Virginia Rail that almost ran accross our feet, quite a few Bobolinks and some Eastern Meadowlarks, a nest of Red-headed Woodpeckers and Killdeer. In all we saw few species of ducks and our shorebird count was only Dunlin, Solitary Sandpiper and Killdeer. Hawks were only Red-tailed and American Kestral with Bald Eagle and Osprey. We managed to get all swallow types with Barn, Rough-winged, Cliff on the parking lot next to the bridge in Dunnville and Tree swallows were everywhere with Martins populating many houses. A swift was picked up at Ruthven. In total we had 93 species and a good day. Thank you to all who chose to support this worth while cause. It is still not too late to pledge.
May 20: Roswitha, Kim, Laura. Jim, Chris and Charlene were out and about doing the Baillie Birdathon in support of Bird Studies Canada and Haldimand Bird Observatory. Temperature was 8 with winds out of the w at 5km/hr. Cloud cover was 2/10 with a cool fog that rolled in mid morning. Banded: Traill's Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, Blue Jay 2, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Gray Catbird 8, Philadelphia Vireo, Yellow Warbler 8, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler 8, Mourning Warbler, Canada Warbler 2, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle 2, Baltimore Oriole, American Goldfinch = 39 birds of 15 species. 10 birds of 8 species were retrapped and 27 species were seen for a combined total of 34.
May 19: Jim, Roswitha, Kim, Jason, Loraine, Chris, Charlet, Laura. We had Attercliff Christian Reformed School grade 3/4 come out today to see some of the birds that were caught. Fog came in around 10:30 but the day was without rain. Banded: Traill's Flycatcher 2, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, American Robin, Gray Catbird 6, Nashville Warbler 2, Yellow Warbler 5, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler 12, Chestnut-sided Warbler, American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat 4, Canada Warbler 2, Wilson's Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Lincoln's Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow 3, White-crowned Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird, Baltimore Oriole= 46 birds banded of 18 species. We had 11 retraps of 8 species. We saw 24 species with a combined of 34.
May 17: Jim, Jason, Chris, Laura, Charlene, Loraine Feenstra. What can I say, we are back into rain and more rain. We missed Monday and now Wednesday with the rain. Today was cool and windy with all of us back into winter coats. Banded: House Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet-surely the last until Fall, Swainson's Thrush, Gray Catbird 5, Tennessee Warbler, Yellow Warbler 3, Magnolia Warbler 2, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat 2, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, White-throated Sparrow 2, Red-winged Blackbird = 22 of 12 species. Retrapped 10 birds of 7 species and saw 33 species giving a combined total of 38 species.
May 14: Jim, Jason, Bev, Laura. A fully cloudy morning with enough rain mid way to have use close nets and re-open about a half hour later. Breeze was from S. Banded: Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, Veery 2, Swainson's Thrush, Gray Catbird 10, Blue-headed Vireo, Nashville Warbler 3, Yellow Warbler 10, Chestnut-sided Warbler 2, Magnolia Warbler 3, Common Yellowthroat, Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2, Lincoln's Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird 6, Baltimore Oriole = 47 of 17 species. We retrapped 11 birds of 7 species. Saw 30 species making a combined of 41 species. Fog horn going so lake very foggy. Had 4 children and 10 adults in visiting.
May 13: Roswitha, Jason, Rob, Chris, Charlene, Laura. A muggy 7 degrees with an E. wind relatively calm. Cloudy through the morning but cleared. Banded: Least Flycather, House Wren, Swainson's Thrush, Gray Catbird 5, Philadelphia Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Nashville Warbler, Yellow Warbler 4, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler 3, Northern Waterthrush, Mourning Warbler 2, Common Yellowthroat 7, Lincoln's Sparrow 5, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow 4, Baltimore Oriole = 40 of 17 species. Retrapped 6 of 4 species. Saw 42 species with a combined of 52 species. A bluebird was seen down by the lake. After 35 netsboxes up seeing a bluebird is a good sign.
May 12: Jim, Roswitha, Kim, Sarah, Chris, Charlene, Laura. Felt like it was going to rain all day, cloudy with morning temperature of 7. Wind slight from N.E. Banded: Black-billed Cuckoo, Traill's Flycatcher 2, Least Flycatcher 4, Blue Jay, House Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 6, Veery 3, Swainson's Thrush 3, Hermit Thrush, Gray Catbird 4, Tennessee Warbler, Nashville Warbler 4, Yellow Warbler 6, Chestnut-sided Warbler 5, Magnolia Warbler 4, American Redstart 2, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat 3, Lincoln's Sparrow 6, Swamp Sparrow 3, White-throated Sparrow 10, Eastern White-crowned Sparrow 2, Red-winged Blackbird 2, Common Grackle 2, Purple Finch 3, American Goldfinch 2 = 84 of 27 species. Retrapped 7 of 5 species. Saw 49 species for a combined total of 56 species. An excellent day and highest species count so far.
May 11: Jim, Kim, Jason, Sarah, Charlene, Chris, Laura: Great day with sun and very little wind. Banded: Least Flycatcher, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2, Veery, Swainson's Thrush, Wood Thrush, Gray Catbird 2, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler 3, Black-throated Blue Warbler 3, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat 3, Lincoln's Sparrow 2, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow 7, American Goldfinch 4 = 34 of 16 species. Retrapped 11 of 7 species. Saw 45 species. Combined 53 species.
May 10: Jim, Rick, Dora, Chris, Charlene, Laura: Another beautiful day. Clouded over by closing and a bit of an E. wind. Birds pretty much dropped to nothing after 10. Banded: House Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2, Veery, Wood Thrush, Gray Catbird, Nashville Warbler 3, Yellow Warbler 2, Magnolia Warbler 2, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Myrtle Warbler 6, Black-and-White Warbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Song Sparrow, Linconln's Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow 12, Eastern White-crowned Sparrow 2, American Goldfinch = 44 of 22 species. Retrapped 6 of 5 species. Saw 35 species. Combined 44 species.
May 9: Jim, Roswitha, Jason, Laura, Chris, Charlene.Beautiful day. Slight breeze from N.E. Full sun and warm temperatures. Banded: Winter Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 6, American Robin 2, Gray Catbird 3, Nashville Warbler, Yellow Warbler 2, Western Palm Warbler, Northern Waterthrush 2, Common Yellowthroat 3, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow 8, Eastern White-crowned Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird 4, Common Grackle, American Goldfinch 5 = 41 birds of 14 species. Recaptured 15, north wind kept them back? Saw 43 species. Great Egret was nice.
May 7: Jim, Roswitha, Bev, Charlene, Chris, Laura. Spitting on and off again showers through most of the morning. Cleared up around 10:30. Temperature 9. Banded: Black-capped Chickadee, Winter Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 15, Nashville Warbler 3, Yellow Warbler 4, Orange-crowned Warbler, Magnolia Warbler 2, Myrtle Warbler 3, Black-throated Green Warbler, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow 8, Eastern White-crowned Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird = 42 birds of 11 species. Recaptured 5 birds and saw 38 species for a combined total of 41 species.
May 6: Whow, three days in a row. Is that a record for this spring season? It was 5 or so this morning with sun then clouds moved in and pretty much stayed until closing. We had a SW wind or breeze which may have brought some birds in through the night. Lots of pictures being taken but I'm not getting them so nothing for those of you on the web. Volunteers today were: Jim, Roswitha, Rob, Jason, Chris, Laura, Charlene and Susan from St. Catharines. I was in and out getting some blood work done. Banded: Black-capped Chickadee, Winter Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 11, Hermit Thrush, Gray Catbird, Nashville Warbler 4, Yellow Warbler 4, Myrtle Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat 2, Swamp Sparrow 2, White-throated Sparrow 12, American Goldfinch 2 = 44 birds of 14 species with only 3 birds of 3 species recaptured. Observed were 39 species given a total of 45 species either observed or handled. No Hooded Warbler today in the apple tree.
May 5: Beautiful day, sunshine, no wind, everything perfect for banding except no birds. Jim, Roswitha, Kim, Chris, Laura and Charlene. Banded: Red-bellied Woodpecker female, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2, Nashville Warbler 2, Myrtle Warbler, White-throated Sparrow 2, American Goldfinch 3 = 11 of 5 species. Retrapped 8 birds of 5 species. Saw 40 species since we had lots of time to look around. We have had a male Hooded Warbler in the apple tree next to the banding station for two days. He gives some excellent views. Who knows if he will be there again tomorrow.
May 4: Boy the rain is frustrating in relation to banding. We have three new distance volunteers in Chris Davison, Laura Brodey and Charlene Edwards all from Ontario. We also had Jim, Kim, Roswitha and Jason so it was a full house. Weather was damp and a bit cool this morning with sun and cloud later in the morning. Wind was Nw but very slight. Banded: Downey Woodpecker, Tree Swallow, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee 3, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 10, Hermit Thrush 2, Gray Catbird 2, Nashville Warbler 9, Yellow Warbler 3, Myrtle Warbler 5, Black-and-White Warbler 2, Common Yellowthroat 2, Northern Cardinal, Song Sparrow 2, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow 33, Dark-eyed Junco 2, Red-winged Blackbird 5, Brown-headed Cowbird, = 86 birds of 19 species. Retrapped 8 of 8 species and observed 36 species giving a combined of 43 species in total.
May 1: Sunday. Not my usual day to be banding and not my usual place. We were asked to give a banding demonstration at Ball's Falls Conservation area. I went out to load the truck and found I had another flat tire, another from just a week or so ago. The park roads are taking a tole on my old truck. Roswitha arrived and agreed to drive and we got the net poles into her car with the ends of the poles sticking out the passenger side window. We got two nets put up in what we thought was a likely location, set up our talbe in the building and waited a half hour. Rob and Jason joined us and did net rounds. No birds until later in the morning when two chickadees were caught and banded. A small flock of Myrtle Warblers went over high in the trees and we counted 19 species of birds. We were home by 12:30 driving through the rain.
Laura Brody from Thornhill arrived with her parents and we had to transfer her considerable thing into the truck to be able to get them to the trailer. I told her dad that when a coutry boy tells you that his van would not be able to handle the roads that he should believe. Once he saw the particular stretch he became a believer. Chris Davidson from Sarnia also arrived today after dropping off his stuff yesterday.
Looks like tomorrow will be more rain and no banding.
