12 May
We have signed up as volunteers from 12th May to the close of the spring ringing season on 10th June at Long Point and arrived at Old Cut late in the afternoon. Standard banding takes place between 05.30 and11.30 daily.
The morning of the day we arrived they had only banded (ringed) 35 birds of 18 species. There were lots of warblers in the trees behind the centre and a walk around the trails turned up a lot of birds down at head height. We managed to see Cape May, Bay-breasted, Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Green and Orange-crowned Warblers, plus Ruby-throated Hummingbird, and Blue-headed and Yellow-throated Vireos.
13 May
The first day we were present for the morning banding session, and we just watched to figure out what went on, so the next few days were spent getting familiarised with the site, site and ringing routines and getting used to identification, ageing and sexing techniques for the birds. In spring, birds are assessed as second year, after second year or unknown - equivalent codes used in the BTO scheme would be 5, 6 and 4. There were quite a few people present, with a team from Western doing radio tracking of 3 Warbler species and blood sampling of those plus another two species, plus resident staff, some other volunteers and a couple here specifically for training to enable them to undertake research. We saw Hooded and Blue-winged Warblers, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, plus Lincoln and White-crowned Sparrows.
Today again banding totals were low with only 55 new birds of 26 species with 16 re-traps. Warblers processed included Blue-winged, Magnolia, Chestnut-sided, Blackburnian, Yellow, Black & White Warblers and Ovenbird.
Mourning Dove - 1
Least Flycatcher - 5
Eastern Kingbird - 1
Blue Jay - 3
House Wren - 1 (2)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
Veery - 1
Swainson's Thrush - 1
Wood Thrush - 2
American Robin - 2 (3)
Gray Catbird - 3 (3)
Blue-winged Warbler - 1
Yellow Warbler - 2 (3)
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 2
Magnolia Warbler - 9
Blackburnian Warbler - 1
Black & White Warbler - 1
Ovenbird - 1
Northern Cardinal - 1 (1)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 1
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1
White-crowned Sparrow - 4
Red-winged Blackbird - 3 (1)
Common Gackle - 4 (1)
Baltimore Oriole - 1 (2)
American Goldfinch - 2
14 May
Banding totals were even lower today with only 25 new birds of 14 species with 18 re-traps. Warblers processed only included Chestnut-sided, Hooded and Yellow Warblers.
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Total: 25 (18)
Least Flycatcher -1
Blue Jay -2
House Wren - 2 (2)
Veery - 1 (1)
Swainson's Thrush - 1 (1)
American Robin - 1 (1)
Gray Catbird - 3 (2)
Yellow Warbler - 4 (3)
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 0 (1)
Hooded Warbler -1
Northern Cardinal - 0 (1)
Chipping Sparrow - 1
Field Sparrow - 1
Lincoln's Sparrow - 0 (1)
White-throated Sparrow - 4 (2)
White-crowned Sparrow - 0 (1)
Red-winged Blackbird - 1 (1)
Common Grackle - 2
Baltimore Oriole - 0 (1)
American Goldfinch - 1
15 May
Today was a good improvement on previous days, but we still did not manage over 100, but this due to the fact it started to rain and the nets were closed at 9.30 and not re-opened, but in the first four hours we managed 86 new birds of 23 species with 8 re-traps. Warblers processed included Ovenbird, Blue-winged, Magnolia, Chestnut-sided, Blackburnian, Yellow and Black & White.
Total: 86 (8)
Black-capped Chickadee - 0 (1)
Veery -2
Grey-cheeked Thrush- 1
Swainson's Thrush -3
American Robin - 0 (1)
Gray Catbird - 4
Philadelphia Vireo - 1
Yellow Warbler - 4 (1)
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 4
Magnolia Warbler -25
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 7
Black-throated Green Warbler - 2
American Redstart - 5
Mourning Warbler - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 10
Hooded Warbler - 0 (1)
Wilson's Warbler - 1
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 2
Chipping Sparrow - 1 (3)
Field Sparrow - 2
Song Sparrow - 1
Lincoln's Sparrow -2
Swamp Sparrow - 1
White-throated Sparrow- 2
White-crowned Sparrow -2
Red-winged Blackbird - 2
Common Grackle - 0 (1)
Baltimore Oriole - 1
There was plenty of down time in the afternoons to bird, wander a little further afield, and try for some photographs.
16 May
Today the nets managed to stay open all day and a moderate 89 new birds of 33 species with 19 re-traps were processed. A re-trap American Woodcock was noce to see, and warblers were represented by nice mix of Northern Parula, Nashville Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Black-throated Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Mourning Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, and Wilson's Warbler.
Total: 89 (19)
American Woodcock - 0 (1)
Yellow-breasted Flycatcher - 1
Least Flycatcher - 4
House Wren - 0 (1)
Marsh Wren - 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
Veery -3
Grey-cheeked Thrush - 2
Swainson's Thrush - 5 (1)
American Robin -1
Gray Catbird - 15
Starling - 2
Blue-headed Vireo - 2
Warbling Vireo - 1
Northern Parula - 1
Nashville Warbler - 1
Yellow Warbler - 3 (5)
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 2
Magnolia Warbler - 9
Black-throated Warbler - 1
Orange-crowned Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 3
Ovenbird -3
Northern Waterthrush - 1
Mourning Warbler - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 14 (1)
Wilson's Warbler - 2
Northern Cardinal - 0 (3)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak -3
Song Sparrow -0 (1)
Lincoln's Sparrow -5
Swamp Sparrow - 1
White-throated Sparrow - 4 (2)
White-crowned Sparrow - 3
Red-winged Blackbird - 1
Common Grackle - 2 (3)
Baltimore Oriole - 1 (1)
American Goldfinch - 2
17 May
A drop today down to only 47 new birds of 19 species with 6 re-traps.Warblers were represented by Nashville Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson's Warbler, Hooded Warbler, and Canada Warbler.
Total : 47 (6)
Yellow-breasted Flycatcher - 1
Alder/Willow Flycatcher - 1
Least Flycatcher -1
Blue Jay - 3
House Wren - 0 (1)
Grey-cheeked Thrush - 1
Gray Catbird - 3 (3)
Nashville Warbler - 1
Yellow Warbler - 2
Magnolia Warbler - 5
American Redstart - 4
Ovenbird - 2
Common Yellowthroat - 6
Wilson's Warbler - 6
Hooded Warbler - 1
Canada Warbler - 1
Lincoln's Sparrow - 2 (1)
White-crowned Sparrow - 2
Baltimore Oriole - 4
American Goldfinch - 0 (1)
An afternoon visit to Backus woods where Cerulean and Prothonotary Warblers breed near the slews. Both were heard but only Chris manage to get onto a Prothonotry, and none of us saw Cerulean durign the breif visit.
18 May
Another day similiar to yesterday wth 51 new birds of 21 species, and 9 re-traps. Warblers today were Blue-winged Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Black & White Warbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Mourning Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson's Warbler, and Hooded Warbler.
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 2
Yellow-breasted Flycatcher - 3
Alder/Willow Flycatcher - 1
Least Flycatcher -1
Grey-cheeked Thrush - 2
Swainson's Thrush - 6
Gray Catbird - 7 (1)
Starling - 1
Warbling Vireo - 1
Philadelphia Vireo - 1
Blue-winged Warbler - 1
Yellow Warbler - 2 (2)
Magnolia Warbler - 5
Black & White Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 2
Ovenbird - 2
Mourning Warbler - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 6 (1)
Wilson's Warbler -3
Hooded Warbler - 1
Northern Cardinal - 0 (1)
Chipping Sparrow - 0 (1)
Lincoln's Sparrow - 2
Red-winged Blackbird - 1 (2)
Brown-headed Cowbird - 0 (1)
In the afternoon Chris made a bit of a walk to Crown Marsh.
We have signed up as volunteers from 12th May to the close of the spring ringing season on 10th June at Long Point and arrived at Old Cut late in the afternoon. Standard banding takes place between 05.30 and11.30 daily.
The morning of the day we arrived they had only banded (ringed) 35 birds of 18 species. There were lots of warblers in the trees behind the centre and a walk around the trails turned up a lot of birds down at head height. We managed to see Cape May, Bay-breasted, Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Green and Orange-crowned Warblers, plus Ruby-throated Hummingbird, and Blue-headed and Yellow-throated Vireos.
Ruby throated Hummingbird
13 May
Rings are received closed and must be opened before being used
The first day we were present for the morning banding session, and we just watched to figure out what went on, so the next few days were spent getting familiarised with the site, site and ringing routines and getting used to identification, ageing and sexing techniques for the birds. In spring, birds are assessed as second year, after second year or unknown - equivalent codes used in the BTO scheme would be 5, 6 and 4. There were quite a few people present, with a team from Western doing radio tracking of 3 Warbler species and blood sampling of those plus another two species, plus resident staff, some other volunteers and a couple here specifically for training to enable them to undertake research. We saw Hooded and Blue-winged Warblers, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, plus Lincoln and White-crowned Sparrows.
Baltimore Oriole
Today again banding totals were low with only 55 new birds of 26 species with 16 re-traps. Warblers processed included Blue-winged, Magnolia, Chestnut-sided, Blackburnian, Yellow, Black & White Warblers and Ovenbird.
American Robin
Rose-breasted Grosbeck SY male
Total: 55 (16)Mourning Dove - 1
Least Flycatcher - 5
Eastern Kingbird - 1
Blue Jay - 3
House Wren - 1 (2)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
Veery - 1
Swainson's Thrush - 1
Wood Thrush - 2
American Robin - 2 (3)
Gray Catbird - 3 (3)
Blue-winged Warbler - 1
Yellow Warbler - 2 (3)
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 2
Magnolia Warbler - 9
Blackburnian Warbler - 1
Black & White Warbler - 1
Ovenbird - 1
Northern Cardinal - 1 (1)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 1
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1
White-crowned Sparrow - 4
Red-winged Blackbird - 3 (1)
Common Gackle - 4 (1)
Baltimore Oriole - 1 (2)
American Goldfinch - 2
14 May
Banding totals were even lower today with only 25 new birds of 14 species with 18 re-traps. Warblers processed only included Chestnut-sided, Hooded and Yellow Warblers.
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Chestnut-sided Warbler male
Total: 25 (18)
Least Flycatcher -1
Blue Jay -2
House Wren - 2 (2)
Veery - 1 (1)
Swainson's Thrush - 1 (1)
American Robin - 1 (1)
Gray Catbird - 3 (2)
Yellow Warbler - 4 (3)
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 0 (1)
Hooded Warbler -1
Northern Cardinal - 0 (1)
Chipping Sparrow - 1
Field Sparrow - 1
Lincoln's Sparrow - 0 (1)
White-throated Sparrow - 4 (2)
White-crowned Sparrow - 0 (1)
Red-winged Blackbird - 1 (1)
Common Grackle - 2
Baltimore Oriole - 0 (1)
American Goldfinch - 1
15 May
Today was a good improvement on previous days, but we still did not manage over 100, but this due to the fact it started to rain and the nets were closed at 9.30 and not re-opened, but in the first four hours we managed 86 new birds of 23 species with 8 re-traps. Warblers processed included Ovenbird, Blue-winged, Magnolia, Chestnut-sided, Blackburnian, Yellow and Black & White.
Philidelphia Vireo SY
Magnolia Warbler female
American Redstart ASY male
Black-capped Chickadee - 0 (1)
Veery -2
Grey-cheeked Thrush- 1
Swainson's Thrush -3
American Robin - 0 (1)
Gray Catbird - 4
Philadelphia Vireo - 1
Yellow Warbler - 4 (1)
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 4
Magnolia Warbler -25
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 7
Black-throated Green Warbler - 2
American Redstart - 5
Mourning Warbler - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 10
Hooded Warbler - 0 (1)
Wilson's Warbler - 1
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 2
Chipping Sparrow - 1 (3)
Field Sparrow - 2
Song Sparrow - 1
Lincoln's Sparrow -2
Swamp Sparrow - 1
White-throated Sparrow- 2
White-crowned Sparrow -2
Red-winged Blackbird - 2
Common Grackle - 0 (1)
Baltimore Oriole - 1
There was plenty of down time in the afternoons to bird, wander a little further afield, and try for some photographs.
Old cut lighthouse with Turkey Vultures
16 May
Today the nets managed to stay open all day and a moderate 89 new birds of 33 species with 19 re-traps were processed. A re-trap American Woodcock was noce to see, and warblers were represented by nice mix of Northern Parula, Nashville Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Black-throated Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Mourning Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, and Wilson's Warbler.
American Woodcock
Orange-crowned Warbler
Least Flycatcher
Nashville Warbler
Northern Parula basking in the sun
Total: 89 (19)
American Woodcock - 0 (1)
Yellow-breasted Flycatcher - 1
Least Flycatcher - 4
House Wren - 0 (1)
Marsh Wren - 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
Veery -3
Grey-cheeked Thrush - 2
Swainson's Thrush - 5 (1)
American Robin -1
Gray Catbird - 15
Starling - 2
Blue-headed Vireo - 2
Warbling Vireo - 1
Northern Parula - 1
Nashville Warbler - 1
Yellow Warbler - 3 (5)
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 2
Magnolia Warbler - 9
Black-throated Warbler - 1
Orange-crowned Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 3
Ovenbird -3
Northern Waterthrush - 1
Mourning Warbler - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 14 (1)
Wilson's Warbler - 2
Northern Cardinal - 0 (3)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak -3
Song Sparrow -0 (1)
Lincoln's Sparrow -5
Swamp Sparrow - 1
White-throated Sparrow - 4 (2)
White-crowned Sparrow - 3
Red-winged Blackbird - 1
Common Grackle - 2 (3)
Baltimore Oriole - 1 (1)
American Goldfinch - 2
17 May
A drop today down to only 47 new birds of 19 species with 6 re-traps.Warblers were represented by Nashville Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson's Warbler, Hooded Warbler, and Canada Warbler.
Male Hooded Warbler
Blue Jay
Total : 47 (6)
Yellow-breasted Flycatcher - 1
Alder/Willow Flycatcher - 1
Least Flycatcher -1
Blue Jay - 3
House Wren - 0 (1)
Grey-cheeked Thrush - 1
Gray Catbird - 3 (3)
Nashville Warbler - 1
Yellow Warbler - 2
Magnolia Warbler - 5
American Redstart - 4
Ovenbird - 2
Common Yellowthroat - 6
Wilson's Warbler - 6
Hooded Warbler - 1
Canada Warbler - 1
Lincoln's Sparrow - 2 (1)
White-crowned Sparrow - 2
Baltimore Oriole - 4
American Goldfinch - 0 (1)
An afternoon visit to Backus woods where Cerulean and Prothonotary Warblers breed near the slews. Both were heard but only Chris manage to get onto a Prothonotry, and none of us saw Cerulean durign the breif visit.
Backus Woods
18 May
Another day similiar to yesterday wth 51 new birds of 21 species, and 9 re-traps. Warblers today were Blue-winged Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Black & White Warbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Mourning Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson's Warbler, and Hooded Warbler.
Blue-wingedWarbler
Black and White Warbler
Black and White Warbler
Male Mourning Warbler
Total: 51 (9)Eastern Wood-Pewee - 2
Yellow-breasted Flycatcher - 3
Alder/Willow Flycatcher - 1
Least Flycatcher -1
Grey-cheeked Thrush - 2
Swainson's Thrush - 6
Gray Catbird - 7 (1)
Starling - 1
Warbling Vireo - 1
Philadelphia Vireo - 1
Blue-winged Warbler - 1
Yellow Warbler - 2 (2)
Magnolia Warbler - 5
Black & White Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 2
Ovenbird - 2
Mourning Warbler - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 6 (1)
Wilson's Warbler -3
Hooded Warbler - 1
Northern Cardinal - 0 (1)
Chipping Sparrow - 0 (1)
Lincoln's Sparrow - 2
Red-winged Blackbird - 1 (2)
Brown-headed Cowbird - 0 (1)
In the afternoon Chris made a bit of a walk to Crown Marsh.
Northern Crescent
Eastern Comma