At Least We Had Liquid Sunshine

We were watching the radar all night. Reporting was that it was not going to be raining until the afternoon. Yeah... We still got there and set up fine and thought nothing of it. Mainly because we had more bear things to deal with. Net 15 was tilted and we hoped that was going to be it. However, Net 13 was bent to the ground and we had to reset completely at daybreak.

While we were doing that, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet dropped in like a falling leaf nextdoor in Net 9. Our first of the season. Later on, we caught another one that we first banded in January.



Connie came in with a Common Yellowthroat next. An adult female.



While we taking that bird back, Jenny was extracting a recaptured House Wren.



Then the rain began. Not horrible. Just constant sprinkles that forced us to close the nets for a half an hour. Waves of sprinkles were coming in for the rest of the day but we managed to stay open until the end of the scheduled day. We spent some of the time rescuing the bridge that washed away during the last rains. As we were exploring the flora and fauna a Gray Catbird decided to join us.



Since we were able to open Net 21 this week we did end up with a very fiesty Western Palm Warbler. A nice addition for a gloomy morning.



Sunday is going to be another mix, weather-wise, but we hope to have a better capture rate now that the remaining species should be arriving before Winter.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	1	1	2
Gray Catbird	1	0	1
House Wren	0	1	1
Western Palm Warbler	1	0	1
Common Yellowthroat	1	0	1
Totals	4	2	6

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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, December 3rd.
All nets will be opened by 6:30 A.M.

A Couple of Bright Spots

We arrived after 4 1/2 days of rain. The river was nearly cresting the banks but did cut of Net 21. The whole area was still pretty wet. We still had a couple interesting birds join us today.

Our first bird was a recaptured Northern Cardinal who was processed and released before Connie brought in the Birds-of-the-Day. First up was a our first Orange-crowned Warbler in 3 years. Typically, they hang out in the Willows by Net 21 but this one was a hundred yards up the river in Net 14.



Not far from that, a Wood Thrush was in Net 12. We have had several this year which is rare.



A recaptured juvenile Carolina Wren was processed and then we recaptured a Brown Thrasher banded 4 years ago.



As we considered closing nets, Alex was heard calling that there was a bird in Net 15. It was a female Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. They are difficult to capture. They see the nets and often just stop and fly over them.



Robins are finally back and we await Waxwings, Goldfinches, and Yellow-rumped Warblers. The latter is the only speices we do catch in the Winter. Nets are always half-full!

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Carolina Wren	0	1	1
Wood Thrush	1	0	1
Northern Cardinal	0	1	1
Brown Thrasher	0	1	1
Orange-crowned Warbler	1	0	1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	1	0	1
Totals	3	3	6

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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, November 26th.
All nets will be opened by 6:30 A.M.

Waiting For the Next Wave

Things are settling in for the season and still a little quiet.

Our first bird right after dawn was our 2nd Swamp Sparrow in two weeks. Odd thing is that is was in Net 8 which is right next to the woods. Why is a Swamp Sparrow coming out of the woods? Should be out by the the water. Strange.



Next up, a Hermit Thrush recapture banded exactly one year ago in the same spot it was first caught. We are very interested in this kind of data showing birds show site fidelity over the years.



Juvenile Carolina Wrens are out and about. Like this recaptured bird.



A recaptured female Northern Cardinal arrived soon afterwards.



House Wrens have been laying low and we only got one today.



Hermit Thrushes should have been here a few weeks ago. Our second was a recapture from 3 years ago, also in a net where it was first captured.



Then, a male Northern Cardinal recapture hit the nets.



Finally, another juvenile Carolina Wren, first banded this Spring, was processed.



We hope this front clears in time for next weekend and brings more migrants our way. It should be a nice day, weather-wise, regardless.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
House Wren	1	0	1
Hermit Thrush	0	2	2
Northern Cardinal	0	2	2
Carolina Wren	0	2	2
Swamp Sparrow	1	0	1
Totals	2	6	8

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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, November 19th.
All nets will be opened by 6:20 A.M.

A Quiet (but interesting) Start to November

We hit a slow spot after the great run through October. Now we wait for the next wave. There was still fun to be had.

Our first bird was a juvenile Gray Catbird. It posed nicely to dislay the inside of its bill. We use this to quickly age Catbirds. When they are young the lining is white-ish/pink and by the time they are adults it becomes completely black.



A lone female Indigo Bunting was up next.



While half of us were spread out through the property it seems like there was a bit of excitement back by the table. There was a pair of Bald Eagles having a disagreement and one of them hit Net 3! Jenny tried to keep it in but it soon extracted itself and flew off, leaving us a little net repair. Loads of Eagles are arriving to nest and fighting for territory is fierce.

Then things grew quiet for a while so we busied ourselves with some vine trimming and bird watching. Eventually, we caught a Swamp Sparrow. For the last couple of years this species and stayed right at the lake's edge. This bird came up the river to join us.



Our new visitor, David, got to release the Swamp Sparrow.



George has been here several times and finally mustered the courage to release his first bird. It was a Common Yellowthroat. (Psssst! He liked it!)



As we were closing up, we could hear Lynn yelling at Net 7. It soon became apparent it was because a bird was biting her as she was attempting to extract it. The angry bird? A recaptured Tufted Titmouse. They like to bite.



But Tufted Titmice are very cute when they want to be.



Hopefully, next Sunday will pick up more. We are still waiting for several species to arrive.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Common Yellowthroat	1	0	1
Gray Catbird	1	0	1
Tufted Titmouse	0	1	1
Indigo Bunting	1	0	1
Swamp Sparrow	1	1	2
Totals	5	2	7

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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, November 12th.
All nets will be opened by 6:15 A.M.