April 30, 2015

Today was an impromptu session which ended up being the best ever.  We banded 28 birds (7 species) and many of those were still warblers.  We did band 3 Gray Catbirds and our first thrush of the season - a Veery.  It seemed so big after so many warblers.

Up to April 14, we had banded 22 birds on Possum Long.  Since then (the last 2 weeks) we banded 96 more!!  Migration is the most wonderful thing in so many ways.

Veery

Photo by Jane Wiewora

The warblers banded today were 6 Ovenbirds, 7 Black-throated Blue Warblers, 8 American Redstarts, 1 Magnolia Warbler, and 2 Common Yellowthroats.

The Ovenbirds kept coming (see last posts for photos) and so did the Black-throated Blue Warblers. These 2 species accounted for almost half of today's birds.  We are starting to catch more females and immature birds.

Black-throated Blue Warbler (female)

Photo by Jane Wiewora

Also present in high numbers were American Redstarts.  Most of them were males born before last summer (after-second-year).  One showed some really unique coloring with the tail looking much paler than the wing "starts" and the underwing.

American Redstart

Photo by Jane Wiewora

American Redstart

Photo by Pete Grannis

Finally we remembered to photograph the Common Yellowthroat!  We banded a male and a female today.

Common Yellowthroat (male)

Photo by Pete Grannis

The most exciting find today was a Magnolia Warbler.  Early on Pete Grannis found one in the canopy.  We were certainly shocked to have one in the nets (Thank you Nancy Price and Jane Wiewora for extending the trail net.)  This is only the second one banded at Possum Long.

Magnolia Warbler

Photo by Pete Grannis

Note the wide black undertail tip which is a great field mark when viewing from underneath.  

Magnolia Warbler

Photo by Pete Grannis

Next banding will be the last for this season.  May 5.  Nets go up at 6 am.  We will likely resume banding in mid to late August.