May 24th, 2006

Ruthven

Today started off like any other May day at Ruthven this year (i.e. frost on the nets, threat of rain, weeping, wailing, rubbing of gums (teeth long since gnashed off) by the banding lackey) but lo and behold the temperatures warmed up to almost seasonal levels and there were birds around.

There was also a myriad of people too since today was Ruthven's Spring High Tea. In fact I had spent yesterday practising for the event (see Rick's totally misinterpreted and misguided photo from yesterday - notice also that "fear" wasn't even listed as one of the choices) in the hopes of participating but I was sadly not invited. So instead I stayed and banded at the station.

Today was no lonely sojourn in the Piggery by this outcast wannabe tea server however - I somehow collected 5 ticks as companions. Unfortunately I found 4 of them while I was driving home, which would have at least offered me the consolation of qualifying for a carpool lane if Hwy 54 had one.

Banded 39: MAWA 6, AMRE 2, CSWA, AMGO 3, YWAR 9, FISP, EAWP, LEFL, COYE, INBU, CEDW, GRCA 8, BAOR, RBGR 2, RWBL

Retrapped 12: AMGO, YWAR 6, RBGR, COGR, BAOR, AMRO, SOSP

B

Selkirk

After a week of just a few new birds filtering through a minor drop occurred in Selkirk comprising mainly of warblers and a few thrushes. There also was a good selection of odds and ends to give the day a good variety of species banded.

Banded: EAWP 1, TRFL 1, VEER 4, GCTH 1, SWTH 6, AMRO 1, GRCA 1, REVI 2, YWAR 1, CSWA 2, MAWA 15, BTBW 3, MYWA 3, BLBW 1, AMRE 5, OVEN 6, MOWA 1, COYE 2,WIWA 5, CAWA 3, SCTA 1, INBU 1, SAVS 1, LISP 1, RWBL 1, BAOR 2 = 71

John