Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Selkirk - August 29th, 2006

Today's crew varried from 4 to 5 but there was not nearly as much around. But still a good day for this time of the year at Selkirk

Banded: YBFL 2, SWTH 2, GRCA 2, REVI 2, TEWA 1, NAWA 2, MAWA 10, BTBW 1, MYWA 2, BBWA 1, BAWW 1, AMRE 8, OVEN 1, MOWA 1, CAWA 2, NOCA 1, BAOR 2, AMGO 4 = 45

John

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Selkirk - August 28th, 2006

An energetic crew of 4 was kept busy this morning at Selkirk.

Banded: BLJA 3, BCCH 1, REVI 3, TEWA 1, MAWA 23, BTNW 1, MYWA 4, BTBW 1, BLPW 2, BAWW 3, AMRE 7, OVEN 5, NOWA 1, MOWA 3, NOCA 3, SOSP 6, AMGO 2 = 69

John

Sunday, August 27, 2006

Ruthven - August 24th and 26th, 2006

Two very different days. The 24th was overcast with light northerly winds - which, one would think, woiuld make for good banding. However, it was quiet along the edges. The only sign of migration was the swallows winging high over the river and river flats. There were a couple of warbler species around as well - the forerunners of the hordes to come (Ihope): Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, and Canada Warbler. The rate of capture was 48 birds per 100 net hours.

On the 26th there was a mix of sun and cloud and light easterly winds (easterly winds seem to bring "big" days to Ruthven). You could almost feel the Zugunruhe, "migratory restlessness" - there was lots of movement along both "corridors": the #10, 2, 4 corridor and the #9, 8 corridor. Swallows were about. And several large flocks (I conservatively estimated 1500) of Common Grackles moved around the area. Today I banded 9 species of warblers - it's always exciting when they're on the move; you just don't know what might turn up in your nets. The rate of capture today was 79 birds per 100 net hours.

August 24 - Banded 24 (14 spp): 1 HAWO, 1 YBFL, 2 TRFL, 1 BCCH, 3 BGGN, 1 AMRO, 1 GRCA, 1 CSWA, 2 MAWA, 1 CAWA, 2 RBGR, 1 SOSP, 1 BAOR, 6 AMGO.

Retrapped 10: 2 DOWO, 4 BCCH, 1 WBNU, 1 GRCA, 2 COYE.

August 26 - Banded 72( 26 spp): 3 EAWP, 2 YBFL, 2 BCCH, 1 WBNU, 1 HOWR, 1 BGGN, 1 VEER, 2 AMRO, 1 CEDW, 5 WAVI, 6 REVI, 1 NAWA, 3 CSWA, 10 MAWA, 1 AMRE, 1 OVEN, 3 NOWA, 3 COYE, 2 WIWA, 1 CAWA, 2 NOCA, 1 RBGR, 2 CHSP, 3 SOSP, 2 COGR, 12 AMGO.

Retrapped 13: 1 DOWO, 1 TRFL, 4 BCCH, 1 WBNU, 1 BGGN, 1 AMRO, 1 GRCA, 1 SOSP, 1 HOFI, 1 AMGO.

Selkirk - August 26th, 2006

John Dickie and crew had a good day today at Selkirk.

Banded:
MODO 5, TRFL 2, LEFL 2, OSFL 1, BLJA 1, GRCA 1, REVI 1, TEWA 2, CSWA 1, MAWA 13, MYWA 2, BAWW 5, AMRE 3, OVEN 1, NOWA 1, CAWA 1, SOSP 5, BAOR 1, AMGO 6 = 54

John

Monday, August 14, 2006

Selkirk - August 13th, 2006

A bit more around on the 13th than on the 12th.

Banded: TRFL 2, LEFL 1, HOWR 1, GRCA 1, CEDW 2, BLBW 1, CHSP 1, SOSP 8, BAOR 1, AMGO 4 = 22

Due to health problems Selkirk will not be operating on a daily basis for the foreseeable future. Operation will be entirely dependable on volunteer help with yours truly supervising only. The 20 minute walk in has become a trudge of 40-60 minutes. For nearly the past month I have had an ongoing upset stomach. Just sitting I sweat in the chest and throat area so I must have a fever.

At times I cough so hard I see stars. Saturday I blanked out during one such session, took a hard tumble, bruised my knee and may now have water on the knee. I have developed a good case of poison ivy on my legs that is not responding to normal medical treatment. To top it all off I am teething of all crazy things and have a sore and scratched tongue from the sharp edge of the new tooth which makes swallowing painful.

Over all I find I just do not want to move when sitting.

John

Sunday, August 13, 2006

Selkirk - August 12th, 2006

Back on line after being down for a week. However being closed 5 days in there means not too much has gone unreported. Had a great time during the week at Haliburton. Spent nearly 1/2 the time in the local garages due to various auto problems. Ended up driving home with a patched rad hose which let go completely near Newmarket. Then it was fill the rad every 30-50 km. Great fun!

The 12th was a quiet day at Selkirk. Nothing compared to the 200+ banding days reported last week in NE. Ontario. Even Toronto Island had a good drop of Warblers today, around 15 species.

Banded: DOWO 1, HOWR 2, GRCA 1, CEDW 1, LAWA 1, (only Selkirk's 3rd ever, an HY F), OVEN 1, AMGO 3 = 10.

John

Friday, August 11, 2006

Ruthven - August 6th and 7th, 2006

Bird activity at Ruthven has certainly slowed down as compared to the middle/end of July. The young birds, that were so noticeable following their parents around, begging for handouts, have pretty well dispersed and the adults tend to be lying low while they moult. Of the Yellow Warblers handled (banded and retrapped) these past two days, a majority were adults - all were either finishing or had just finished moulting their flight feathers. There were in fact few Yellow Warblers to be seen - the ones in the nets were sort of a surprise.

There seems to be a "fresh" batch of young Song Sparrows about. Perhaps a second brood? At one point I saw a group of 8 in the parking area close to net #2. Ten minutes later I had 6 of them in the net. Any adult Song Sparrows netted so far have not shown sign of moulting.

AND....the Ruthven AMGO (AMerican GOldfinch) factory is just starting to rev up: banded the first two HY birds of the season today. The harbingers of the hordes to come.


August 6th:
Banded 16: 1 BCCH, 1 WBNU, 2 HOWR, 1 GRCA, 4 YWAR, 1 NOCA, 1 CHSP, 3 SOSP, 1 BAOR, 1 AMGO.

Retrapped 16: 1 MODO, 2 DOWO, 2 BCCH, 2 GRCA, 2 YWAR, 2 COYE, 1 RBGR, 1 SOSP, 3 AMGO.

August 7th:
Banded 26: 1 GCFL, 2 BGGN, 1 GRCA, 3 YWAR, 1 NOCA, 1 RBGR, 11 SOSP, 1 HOFI, 5 AMGO.

Retrapped 13: 1 DOWO, 1 BCCH, 1 REVI, 4 YWAR, 1 NOCA, 1 SOSP, 3 AMGO.

Rick

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Selkirk Updates

August 1st, 2006

For the second day in a row HHH and very few new birds in the banding area. Wednesday morning's forecast is not much better with t-storms possible by mid day. Consequently it is not worth it to swelter for 6-8 hours for 4-6 birds. I will be home working on Selkirk's spring report.

Selkirk also will not be open Aug 8 to 10 inclusive. I have an invite for a few days of R & R in the northern woods.

Banded Aug. 1st: TRFL 1, CEDW 1, YWAR 1, AMGO 1 = 4

Selkirk's top 10 for July

Yellow Warbler 86
Gray Catbird 55
Song Sparrow 48
Cedar Waxwing 43
American Robin 40
Black-capped Chickadee 28
Baltimore Oriole 27
Common Yellowthroat 22
American Goldfinch 18
Downy Woodpecker 18


July 31st, 2006

Closed out July today with perhaps the poorest day of the month.

Banded: MODO 1, GRCA 1, YWAR 2, SOSP 1, AMGO 1 = 6

This brings the July total up to 487 which I believe is Selkirk's best July.


July 30th, 2006

Another prety decent July day at Selkirk:

Banded: MODO 1, YBFL 1, BCCH 1, HOWR 2, GRCA 5, CEDW 5, YWAR 2, NOCA 1, RBGR 2, INBU 1, SOSP 1, AMGO 1 = 23

John Dickie had an adult Mississippi Kite at the "tip" on census.


July 29th, 2006


Banded: BBCU 1, LEFL 1, AMRO 1, GRCA 5, CEDW 1, YWAR 1, RBGR 1, SOSP 3 = 14

John