Andrew’s Posting for June 4th to June 7th

All Have Flown Over The Cuckoos Nest

On June 4th we banded 24 birds of 9 species including our Nashville Warbler, White Throated Sparrow, Mourning Warbler and Black and White Warbler. Cedar Waxwings were the most numerous bird of the day over 100 observed in small flocks throughout the morning, a flock of 13of managed to fly low enough to hit the nets and we promptly banded them. 2 Alder Flycatchers were heard singing today during census and throughout the morning as well as  a Great Crested Flycatcher.

June 5th was much of the same except numbers overall were less with about half the number of birds banded than yesterday. Another White Throated Sparrow and Nashville warbler were banded as well as 5 Blue Jays. Wen lso banded our first Red Breasted Nuthatch. Alder and Great Crested Flycatchers continued to sing away.

June 6th was better than the 5th with 18 birds of 12 species banded. We banded a Swainson’s Thrush with a fat score of 4 meaning this bird has been fattening up for a long journey across either across the lake and is a migrant…..migration continues. We also banded Black Throated Blue Warbler Traill’s Flycatcher, Yellow Bellied Flycatcher, Rose Breasted Grosbeak and our first Purple Finch of the year! The Bald Eagle was seen throughout the morning hunting over the basin and perching on a log on edge of the basin. An Olive Sided Flycatcher was also heard singing during net rounds in the morning. In total we observed 47 species! Not bad for June.

June 7th was our last official day and we were able to add one new species for the year. The Whip Poor Will continued to sing and could be heard just before sunrise. We banded 16 birds of 8 species including American Robin, Gray Catbird, Myrtle Warbler and our first Winter Wren with cloacal protuberance meaning he’s a manly man bird. A Green Heron was seen flying over the basin and perched in a tree for some time afterward.2 Bald Eagles were seen as well an adult and a second-year bird one of last years young. Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Wood pewee, Great Crested Flycatcher and Pileated Woodpecker were all heard calling during census as well.

It is once again the depressing time for ornithologists and birders alike as migration has slowed down into oblivion. Only the local nesting birds are left at Cabot Head now with the odd random stop over. Despite this we banded 4 species for the first time this year during this period. All the volunteers have stopped over and like the migrants banded and observed here have migrated to better prospects. Its been a great spring with 2 new species on the Cabot Head checklist and a new spring first for the area as well. I’d just like to say thanks to all the volunteers who spent time here this spring and have a good summer. Migration Monitoring will resume during mid-August and don’t forget to come back here to see what were up to at the station.

Cheers

Andrew