Cabot Head Turned into Kinglet Highway.

Northerly winds have continued to blow in migrants to the Cabot Head area in good numbers primarily some more northerly migrants like kinglet, creepers and some thrushes and sparrows. The 30th was a decent day for banding with 44 birds of 9 species banded. 9 Brown Creepers were banded and over 30 were observed fewer Golden-crowned Kinglets were present then the past couple of days. 3 Orange-crowned warblers were banded and 4 Myrtle Warblers were banded. Sparrows were around in large flocks White-crowned the most common and White-throated a close second with 5 and 7 banded respectively. We also banded 7 Slate-coloured Juncos. The Yellow-billed Cuckoo banded a couple days ago  was recaptured and 3 American Pipits were observed. Downy Woodpecker and Red-breasted Nuthatch were also banded. 2 Adult Bald Eagles were seen along with a hatch-year bird. Peregrine Falcon  and Merlin were also observed. In the early morning of October 1st moderate North winds persisted and blew in more migrants. We banded 78 birds of 16 species. Sparrows were the birds of the day with 18 White-crowned banded, 2 White-throated and 17 Slate-coloured Junco. Kinglets were in good numbers with 10 Golden-crowned and 7 Ruby-crowned banded. We also banded 6 Red-breasted Nuthatches, Nashville Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Myrtle Warbler and Western Palm Warbler. Our first Purple Finch of this fall was banded as well as a Hairy Woodpecker. A Belted Kingfisher was seen on census the first in two weeks. Again North winds brought more migrants and on the 2nd we had our biggest day of the year in terms of number with 124 birds of 14 species banded. The forest was alive with the high-pitched calls of kinglets and creeper and the narrow strip of land our nets are placed on became a Kinglet Highway for the morning with more than 500 Golden-crowned Kinglets flying by. We banded 81 Golden-crowned kinglets, 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets and 8 Brown Creepers. Sparrow were a distant second next to Kinglets today with 9 White-crowned and 5 White-throated banded. We also banded Myrtle Warbler, Western Palm Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler and Orange-crowned Warbler. Hermit Thrush and American Robin were also banded and Black-capped Chickadees and Red-breasted Nuthatches were banded too. Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk and Merlin were observed and 2 Red-necked grebes were seen during census. Sudden wind shifts around from the South brough migration at Cabot Head to crawl once again. 20 birds were banded on the 3rd including: Brown Creeper, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadee, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Myrtle Warbler, White-throated Sparrow and White-crowned Sparrow. 8 American  Pipits were heard flying over during census as well as Red-tailed Hawk. Northern Flicker seem to have cleared out with only 4 seen. We banded 20 birds on the 4th as well including: Nashville and Orange-crowned Warbler, Brown Creeper, Pine Siskin, Slate-coloured Junco, and White-throated and White-crowned Sparrow. A Sharp-shinned Hawk was seen during net runs and a Great Blue Heron was seen fishing in Wingfield Basin. The 5th was dominated by cold winds from the North-west. We banded Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, White-throated and White-crowned Sparrow, Slate-coloured Junco, Hairy Woodpecker and Yellow-shafted Flicker. 3 Red-tailed Hawks and 2 Merlins were seen during census and the flocks of Siskins were seen throughout the morning as usual. With the majority of the species we can expect to come through seen through the bird activity should be winding down but there could still be more numbers of some species to move through with a big cold front moving through over the next week we might see some more bird fallout on the North Bruce.

Andrew