The sun being the killjoy!

Our expectations for high for sunday 9/11. The first three rounds this morning were pretty good with most birds trapped, after 8.30 however it started to become quite sunny and the nets became visible for the birds, therefore, the numbers dropped quickly. If we would have had an good overcast all morning we probably would have had even more birds. Nevertheless we still had a very good day with just a little fewer birds banded than yesterday: 132 birds spread over 28 species, in total 164 including recaps. Maggie's were on top again, followed by Ruby-throated Hummingbird and Red-eyed Vireo. The first clear appearance of thrushes was visible today with 6 Wood Thrushes, 6 Swainson's Thrushes, 2 Veery's and 1 Gray-cheeked Thrush banded today. See the results below:

Ruby-throated Hummingbird 23 -
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 2 -
Acadian Flycatcher 1 -
Blue-headed Vireo 1 -
Red-eyed Vireo 17 -
Blue Jay 3 -
Veery 2 -
Swainson's Thrush 6 -
Gray-cheeked Thrush 1 -
Wood Thrush 6 -
Gray Catbird 3 -
Blue-winged Warbler 1 -
Tennessee Warbler 1 -
Chestnut-sided Warbler 3 -
Magnolia Warbler 26 -
Black-throated Blue Warbler 3 -
American Redstart 3 -
Ovenbird 2 -
Northern Waterthrush 1 -
Connecticut Warbler 1 -
Common Yellowthroat 9 -
Hooded Warbler 9 -
Wilson's Warbler 1 -
Canada Warbler 1 -
Scarlet Tanager 2 -
Song Sparrow 1 -
Northern Cardinal 1 -

Total 132, 28 species

Observations today included a Screech Owl calling near the nets in the early morning and a few raptors. Around noon several Red-shouldered Hawks were seen calling and flying above the banding area. In addition I saw a Broad-winged Hawk and an Osprey migrating. Another Osprey was seen, flying over, a bit later.

All warblers shown below are adult males:)

Stunning Blue-winged Warbler, after hatching-year male

Connecticut Warbler, after hatching-year male

Magnolia Warbler, after hatching-year male

Chestnut-sided Warbler, after hatching-year male; note the chestnut sides!

Cape May Warbler, after hatching-year male; foraging in a spruce next to our cabin

Blue Jay, hatching year; they don't bite like the european Jays!

Of course, birds aren't the only living things that I photograph, in case you might think that :-)

A Viceroy, the smaller version of the Monarch

A Zebra Swallowtail

A Northern Water Snake relaxing next to a net lane (not venomous)