Quality Over Quantity

The low numbers continue here as we should be having the biggest push of the migration hitting us. However, counts are way down. For example, last year, we had 80 captures during the first two weekend days in October. This year we had a total of 35. Birds are just not here this year. Should be having birds like Swanson's Thrush but no thrushes this weekend. Overall, we decided to be content to have quality birds over the mass quantity of birds.

Saturday:

Our first bird today was a Common Yellowthroat. This juvenile male did not feel like posing for us at all.



It was nice to have a female Painted Bunting early on. It was probably a migrant instead of our suspected breeding birds on the property.



Usually we catch several Tufted Titmice at the same time but today it was just a single bird. Angry little birds. Like to bite banners before they are released.



Another Common Yellowthroat headed our way before too long. This time it was a female trailing behind the incoming males.



In Net 19, the same net we caught the first bunting, we had a second female for the day.



Things were really quiet and then there was a bright glow in the shade at Net 12. The bright yellow of a Hooded Warbler hanging in the shade was a sudden nice end to our slow morning.



We also recaptured a couple of Carolina Wrens and that at least added to the final total for the day.

There was an alligator encounter during the day but we cannot discuss that without having Andrew's wife banning him from returning to the site again. Note: Always watch for predators in the marsh...

On the way out of the site we encountered and fun moment. A Black Racer was sunning along the path and allowed a very close cell phone photo before eventually slithering into the weeds.



Sunday: It took a little while but we finally got our first Gray Catbird of the season. A juvenile recently arriving.



We should have been capturing more Black-throated Blue Warblers, so it was nice to get our first Black-throated Blue Warbler female today.



Still recapturing juvenile Carolina Wrens like this little bird first banded a few weeks ago. Mostly catching all the babies all over again.



More Common Yellowthroats are moving through like this adult male.



We were missing Ovenbirds for a bit until we got this new bird mid-morning.



Next up was a female Common Yellowthroat. There were many more heard but only a few were flying through the lanes as they decided to hang near the marsh and lake.



White-eyed Vireos were heard as early as dawn and we finally got one before the day was done.



Another recaptured Carolina Wren was processed next.



We also recaptured our newly fledged Northern Cardinal we banded couple of weeks ago.



The native Scarlet Morning Glory that was waning over the years has now emerged again and is reaching for the skies near Net 14.



A second Black-throated Blue Warbler female hit the nets as the day wore on.



One of the last runs down the lanes found our second Gray Catbird in Net 9.



To round out the day we had the rainbow of the day to wrap up. We had a couple of females yesterday and today we ended with a male Painted Bunting. Nice to have the day wrap up with beautiful colors.



Hurricane Micheal is approaching. Hoping it clears through to allow more migrants headed our way next week.
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, October 14th.
All nets will be opened by 6:55 A.M.