What a Difference a Week Makes

Last week was full of birds in the nets and flitting about like it should have been at the beginning of the month. This morning? Completely different. Very little birds moving around and only a smattering of captures. We can look forward to the fact that the remaining species of Winter will be arriving soon.

The first bird capture of the morning was an Eastern Screech Owl which we decided to release at the net, unbanded. Shortly thereafter, we captured a new, juvenile Gray Catbird.



Even before sunrise we spotted a clump of fungus growing this the middle of the net lanes under the oak canopy. Somehow we all managed to avoid stepping on it all day. Beck tracked down the ID later on. Armillaria tabescens. Seems its sweet aroma was attracting fruit flies by mid-morning.



We managed to capture yet another new Northern Cardinal but all other birds today were recaptures. The Ovenbird was actually first banded here over two years ago!



We still saw or heard over 30 species today but most were birds we would never catch or staying high in the treetops. Next weekend is forecast to be a lot more chilly as a strong cold front arrives. Yellow-rumped Warblers and Kinglets should be on the way.

NOTE: Eastern Daylight Saving Time occurs Sunday morning. Set those clocks back one hour!
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, November 2nd.
All nets will be opened by 6:10 A.M.