Andrew’s Posting for October 5th to 14th

Raining Kinglets

The cold fall weather has blown into Cabot Head the past week has been cold, windy and rainy. Not ideal for bird migration but despite that daily totals have been average despite lower than average net hours due to bad weather.

The 6th was windy coming from the South-West and we were only able to run some of our nets. We banded 28 birds of 9 species including: White-throated and White-crowned Sparrow, Slate-coloured Junco, Golden and Ruby crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper and Hermit Thrush. Kinglets were in fewer numbers but still the most common bird around. The 7th was calm with similar species around. We banded 37 birds of 8 species. Ruby-crowned kinglets for the day totaled 20 and there were over 100 Golden-crowned kinglets seen in the area. White-crowned and White-throated sparrows were still around in large flocks.  4 Lapland Longspurs were seen flying over as well as an Adult Golden Eagle. Pine Siskins were around still and seem to go after White Birch catkins as their favorite food when they stop at Cabot Head. The 8th Low winds from the south continued. Waterfowl were seen today in good numbers including: Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Canada Goose and Common Merganser. We banded 42 birds of 8 species including: 28 Golden-crowned Kinglets, Swainson’s Thrush, Hermit Thrush, Black-throated Blue Warbler and Song Sparrow. On the 9th there were strong winds from the South-West preventing some nets from being opened. We banded 40 birds of 8 species including: Slate-coloured Junco, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Hermit Thrush, American Robin and Golden-crowned Kinglet. Common Loons moved through in force with dozens flying by throughout the morning. On the 10th rain prevented us from opening nets until 10 o’clock. We banded a Downy Woodpecker and observed an immature Red-Headed Woodpecker fly around throughout the morning Northern Flickers were also around. Another sighting of Red-headed Woodpecker was in the village of Dyer’s Bay this could have been the same bird seen at the station early or it could have been a different bird. We banded the usual species today with Golden-crowned Kinglets our most common. A single Wilson’s Warbler was seen briefly perched on the back porch before it flew off. Rain was back again on the 11th and we had to close our nets by 10 o’clock. A large flock of blackbirds flew by with 130 Common Grackle, 10 Red-winged Blackbirds and 10 Rusty Blackbirds. We banded 7 Black-capped Chickadees, a Nashville Warbler and 12 Golden-crowned Kinglets among others. Baywatch was productive with Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, White-winged Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, and Common Merganser. 2 Belted Kingfisher were also seen fishing in the basin.  The 12th brought much more favorable weather with strong winds but no rain. We banded 55 birds of 12 species including: 7 Pine Siskins, Slate-coloured Junco, White-throated and White-crowned Sparrow, Orange-crowned, Myrtle and Nashville Warbler, Downy Woodpecker, Brown Creeper, Black-capped Chickadee and 29 Golden-crowned Kinglets. During owling an Eastern Screech Owl was seen and heard. Rain continued on the 13th but we were able to get a full morning of banding in. Waterfowl numbers were high with Common Loon, Horned and Red-necked Grebe, White-winged Scoter, Common Merganser and Red-breasted Merganser. Belted Kingfisher was seen again today as well as Northern Flicker and Hairy Woodpecker. We banded 44 birds of 10 species including: Pine Siskin, Brown Thrasher, Gray Catbird, Hermit Thrush, Brown Creeper, American Goldfinch, Myrtle Warbler, Slate-coloured Junco and Golden-crowned Kinglet. Today, the 14th we had to close nets at 9:30 we banded few birds including Golden-crowned Kinglet, Red-breasted Nuthatch and Slate-coloured Junco. A single Horned Grebe was seen on the basin and 4 White-winged Scoter briefly stopped in the basin.

Andrew