Daily report – Saturday, 9/10

This report makes up for the previous day’s brief report.

What a day! Appledore all the way! Expect the unexpected.

While waiting for the first net round and looking out over the “reservoir,” we discovered two Eastern Meadowlarks in with a large group of Common Grackles. On the first net round, there was a bat in N5, fortunately not too tangled and able to extract itself with the net being held taut.

The winds were favorable, gentle and out of the north, and we had the busiest day yet for the fall season: 68 birds banded (previous high was 57). We had quite a nice selection of birds throughout the day, like a bird potpourri. Red-eyed Vireos (B17), Cedar Waxwings (B15), and Purple Finches – “Purple Pooper Pinchers” (B9) had top billing (and soiled a lot of bags and hands). A few island babies, i.e. Gray Catbirds, returned for a second round of measurements.

Mid-morning, our first quiz warbler came in – the first of three of this species: “Gray [legs] is Bay [breasted warbler].” At first glance, the thought is a Blackpoll Warbler, but then noting the gray legs and feet (no yellow) and buffy undertail coverts rather than white, the bird ID’d as Bay-breasted. Our next quiz warbler came in just before lunch (of course). With some measurements and the characteristics of a full, buffy eye ring and length of the yellow undertail coverts, we ID’d – tah dah – a Connecticut Warbler! The vireo sampler for the day included, along with the Red-eyed Vireos, Philadelphia Vireo (B5) and Warbling Vireo (B2).

A busy day all around with visitors and very few zero net rounds. A group visit from the Take a Bite Out of Appledore participants plus intermittent visitors throughout the day, and a visit with a group of 11 UNH students brought out for recruitment purposes (for SML courses). As luck would have it, Susan had brought in a hummingbird to release by the feeder and she was able to show and tell. We also had several birds to band. It was nice to actually have birds to show to visitors throughout the day. Our busy day appropriately ended with fireworks – which first sounded like thunder – on the mainland.

Tired but very satisfied greetings from
Peg, Susan and Martha

Bay-breasted Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler: gray legs & buffy undertail coverts
Bay-breasted Warbler: gray legs & buffy undertail coverts
Connecticut Warbler
Connecticut Warbler
Connecticut Warbler yellow undertail coverts
Connecticut Warbler yellow undertail coverts
Downy Woodpecker working the cattails
Downy Woodpecker working the cattails

2016-09-10-dowo-cattails-2

All in a day's work
All in a day’s work

Banding list for September 10, 2016

Species Code Number
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher YBFL 1
Warbling Vireo WAVI 2
Philadelphia Vireo PHVI 5
Red-eyed Vireo REVI 17
Red-breasted Nuthatch RBNU 1
Gray Catbird GRCA 4
Cedar Waxwing CEDW 15
Black-and-white Warbler BAWW 1
Nashville Warbler NAWA 1
Connecticut Warbler CONW 1
Common Yellowthroat COYE 1
American Redstart AMRE 1
Northern Parula NOPA 1
Bay-breasted Warbler BBWA 3
Blackpoll Warbler BLPW 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler BTBW 2
Canada Warbler CAWA 1
Baltimore Oriole BAOR 1
Purple Finch PUFI 9
Total banded: 68
Previously banded**Number
Retraps6