Sorry for the delay in posting this and subsequent blog entries. It seems that Rick is much better at keeping up with the blog than I am! More posts are coming! – Jeff MacLeod
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When I arrived early this morning to open the nets, there was a distinct call from a bird near the mansion. It was a young or fledgling Great Horned Owl making it’s begging call for food. I wanted to follow the sound of its calling to find it’s location but I was on my own, and I couldn’t do that and open the nets. So, I just enjoyed it and wondered where the parents were. The early morning banding started off very slow, with a few birds each net round. By mid-morning, there was an increase in banding activity with a nice mix of flycatchers, warblers, and a new thrush for the season.

A group of ‘Baggers’ made the arduous journey from Waterford to Ruthven Park, leaving the night before at seven o’clock pm and after a long night, they arrived at Ruthven at nine o’clock am this morning. They were exhausted, limping in on sore feet but feeling successful finishing the trip. Unfortunately, Sam wasn’t able to complete the trip.

Banded 32
1 Yellow-shafted Flicker
2 Eastern Wood-Pewee
1 Trail’s Flycatcher
1 Blue Jay
1 Black-capped Chickadee
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
1 Swainson’s Thrush
1 Gray Catbird
1 Cedar Waxwing
4 Red-eyed Vireo
1 Northern Parula Warbler
1 Magnolia Warbler
1 Blackpoll Warbler
1 Northern Waterthrush
2 Common Yellowthroat
1 Song Sparrow
11 American Goldfinch

ET’s: 36

Nancy

Bald Eagle by Bob Fotheringham

Red Breasted Nuthatch by Bob Fotheringham

Flicker by Bob Fotheringham

Eastern Wood Pewee by Bob Fotheringham

Swainson’s Thrush

Northern Waterthrush by Bob Fotheringham

Northern Parula

Magnolia Warbler

Ruby throated hummingbird

Very tired people. They were walking all night to reach Ruthven.