Migration Right on Schedule. Mostly.

It is the very first on the month and our bags were filling up early. Only three of us were available so it was a bit hectic but as long as we could keep up it was alright. The most interesting bird today was only due to its absence. No Gray Catbirds. Typically, this is when we begin to get them in large numbers. Zero today.



Common Yellowthroats were the star of the show instead. All plumages were represented but females were the majority.



Our next migrants were Ovenbirds.



Juvenile male Common Yellowthroats were runner=up to the females.



We captured our first of the season House Wren. Kind of forgot about them for a brief second.



The Veerys have passed through and now is the time for the next thrush species. Swainson's Thrush.



Yet another surprise early on. A female American Redstart. Not that we don't expect to catch any but she was in the most out in the open net we have. Usually they are tucked into the branches snatching insects.



The other thrush moving through are Gray-cheeked Thrush.



We don't get a lot of this species so it is nice to get a good close-up.



Our 4th Swainson's Thrush of the morning.



White-eyed Vireos have been moving through for a few weeks and start calling just after sunrise. This young bird, told by its darker eye coloring, joined us for a few minutes.



Ranger Frank stopped by the check on the proceedings. He arrived in time for our first of the season Black-throated Blue Warbler.



This was a younger male Black-throated Blue Warbler. You can tell by the flecks of white on their throat.



October is the prime month for buntings and we captured a beautiful female Painted Bunting in Net 17.



Local birds were heard calling all day but we caught only one. A Carolina Wren we banded in September.



Appropriately, our final bird was another juvenile male Common Yellowthroat.



This was an extra day on our schedule to make sure we cover migration as it is peaking. Tomorrow is our scheduled Sunday. Can't wait to compare captured rates for the whole weekend.
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, October 2nd.
All nets will be opened by 6:50 A.M.