Andrew’s Posting for Sept. 11th to 17th

Cold Weather at Cabot Head Moving Migration along.

In the past week the weather has turned from balmy and warm to cold with strong winds and decent amount of rain the bad weather means that birds are starting to move to escape the frosty clutches of Winter. On Semptember 11th strong west winds blew in pushing down some good birds. We banded Veery, Swainson’s Thrush, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Blue-headed Vireo, Northern Flicker and Scarlet Tanager among others. A large flock of Blue Jays moved through during census and we ended up with ore than 100 by the end of the day. The 12th was about the same as the day before we banded Swanson’s Thrush and American Robin as well as Red-eyed Vireos, Blue Jays ad Black-capped Chickadees. West winds on the 13th blew in new migrant and there were lots of birds in the nets and lots of birds flying around. Census turned up Red-tailed Hawk, Merlin, Western Palm Warbler and Bald Eagle. A Red-necked Grebe was observed early in the morning as well as Hairy Woodpecker and Least Flycatcher. We banded 47 birds of 21 species including: Yellow-shafted Flicker, Philadelphia  Vireo, Golden and Ruby crowned Kinglet, Veery, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Tennessee Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Myrtle Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Western Palm Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat, Mourning Warbler and White-throat Sparrow. On the 14th a fine drizzling mist soaked the woods, nets and our bones in the early hours of the morning but the sun warmed things up and we were able to open nets for 2 and half hours in which we captured 39 birds of 17 species. Banded birds included: Bay-breasted Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 11 Red-breasted Nuthatches, Philadelphia Vireo, and Traill’s Flycatcher. We estimated a total of 40 Red-breasted Nuthatches for the morning as well  as 30 Myrtle Warblers. On the 15th cool temperatures overnight kept up throughout the morning it was only 12 degrees until noon. We banded 26 birds of 13 species. We banded: Our first Hairy Woodpecker of the year, Blue-headed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, 11  Black-capped Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, and Golden and Ruby Crowned Kinglet. A flock of 112 Canada Gesse were seen flying off Georgian Bay during census. On the 16th we banded 25 birds of 11 species including: Ovenbird, White-throated Sparrow, Swainson’s Thrush, Brown Creeper, Red Breasted Nuthatch and Blackpoll Warbler.  A Whip-poor-will was heard calling before net opening and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was observed during net runs. The long awaited return of Bay Watch finally happened, Common Loon, Common, Red-breasted  and Hooded Merganser were among the observed. Overall waterfowl activity is still low but more and more waterfowl will move through everyday now peaking some time in mid-October. The 17th was a similar day as the rest of the week it warmed up a bit but there were still plenty of birds including Bay-breasted Warbler, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Myrtle Warbler, Swainson’s Thrush, Black-throated Green Warbler and Back-capped Chickadee banded. During census American Pipit, Savannah Sparrow and Purple Finch were observed.