Week 6: What did the Dusky Say to the Least?

New arrivals, rare flycatchers, and volunteer appreciation -

Nonstop fun all week at Rocky Point!

Dusky Flycatcher banded August 25th at Rocky Point (Photo David Bell)

"You look funny for a Hammond's"

The smoke cleared and left a wake of cool birds in its path for our banders and volunteers. Get ready - we have quite a week to tell you about. 

We would also like to highlight some of our fantastic volunteers. We are gearing up for our busiest time of the year and will need volunteers in full force for both passerine and owl banding in September. 

We are also short on census volunteers on days with only one bander scheduled, which has resulted in us having to close the nets several times this past week. Please sign up and help us spread the word!

Follow our new instagram account @rockypointbird  and on Twitter!

Banding highlights

Hammond's flycatcher Banded at Rocky Point
(Photo: Siobhan Darlington)

We kicked this week off on Saturday August 25th with a Dusky Flycatcher banded by me at Rocky Point - the 8th banding record for RPBO. On the same day we caught a Hammond's Flycatcher which made for a good comparison. We also caught our first Fox Sparrow of the season, banded by Michael Newman (and it won't be our last). 

Our first FOSP of the season! (Photo: S. Darlington)

Our good luck continued the following day August 26th at Rocky when we caught an American Redstart, banded by Ashlea Veldhoen, along with 3 Cassin's Vireos. The wind and the birds started to pick up at Pedder Bay station on August 27th when 48 birds were banded including 2 hatch-year Barn Swallows, 3 Western Tanagers, and 2 Rufous Hummingbirds.

Left BTYW & Right TOWA (Photo: S. Darlington)

Hatch year male American Redstart (Photo: S. Darlington)

Things slowed down a bit at Pedder on August 28th with 26 birds banded but we did catch hatch year male Townsend's and Black-throated Gray Warblers in the same net run!

On August 29th Pedder Station had 50 birds banded including 2 hatch year Northern Rough-winged Swallows, a first for our senior bander Donna!

Donna & her first NRWS (Photo: D. Talluto)

Western Wood-Pewee at Pedder Bay (Photo: S. Darlington)

On August 30th we had another rare find in our nets at Pedder Bay - senior bander Blair Dudeck banded his first Western Wood-Pewee, our second one for the season!

 

Blair Dudeck with his banding tick WEWP
(Photo: S.Darlington)

Least Flycatcher at Pedder Bay
(Photo: David Bell)

Hermit Thrush Aug 31st
 (Photo: D. Bell)

Pedder Bay ended the saga of rare flycatchers this week with a Least Flycatcher banded by Diana Chomack on Friday August 31st - the 2nd banding record for RPBO! Our BIC David Bell also banded his first Cassin's Vireo and the first Hermit Thrush of the season.

Rocky Point closed out the week with our first Golden-crowned Sparrow of the season banded by me. I also banded my first Black-headed Grosbeak just in the nick of time - these guys are headed to Mexico and are usually gone by mid-September. 

Our first GCSP of the season (Photo: S. Darlington)

     

       Hatch year male BHGR (Photo: S. Darlington)

Rocky Point stands at 273 birds banded and 247 at Pedder this week with many new species added for each station. Let's hope our good fortune continues!

New Arrivals, Census & Obs

We've been hit by an onslaught of Lincoln's Sparrows this week at both stations along with the arrival of several species. We had our first Fox Sparrows, Golden-crowned Sparrows, Hermit Thrushes, American Pipits and Horned Larks observed around the banding stations. We also had sightings of Pacific Loon, Harlequin Duck, Red-necked Phalarope, and Baird's Sandpiper in the bay and off Edye Point at Rocky. 

Say's Phoebe at Rocky Point Aug 25th (Photo: David Bell)

On obs and on census this week we had a Say's Phoebe down at the front at Rocky Point that stayed from August 25th - 29th. Geoffrey Newell observed a Sooty Shearwater on August 29th off Edye Point. We also had increased numbers of Vaux's Swifts, Townsend's Warblers, and Savannah Sparrows at both stations.

Wildlife Sightings

Wildlife sightings this week included 2 black bears (remember to practice bear safety when in the field - each station is equipped with bear spray and airhorns), wolves heard howling distantly at Rocky, a family of river otters, raccoons, and mink. At Rocky 2 minke whales and 2 orcas were seen this week with many sightings of humpback whale blowing and breaching. Our tip for spotting the whales at Rocky is to watch for the tour boats and zodiacs! 

Volunteer Appreciation

Rocky Point Bird Observatory is mainly operated by volunteers, most of which are locals from the community. We are very lucky to have many skilled and dedicated people who are willing to wake up for 5:35 am shifts with us! 

Long-time volunteer Rae-Ann Newman shows visitors at
Pedder how we band and process birds.
 Rae-Ann learned to band birds with RPBO
during the workshop in 2014 (Photo: S.Darlington)

Our banding team aims to train volunteers with their species ID, data entry, bird handling, banding and extracting abilities. This year we are having volunteers track their progress and we already have some recently upgraded extractors - congratulations! We depend on our on-the-ground volunteers to operate both stations every day.

We also have some phenomenal birders who share their skills and complete daily census for us, and we can't forget all of those volunteers who help us mend nets, make bird bags, lead bird walks and help us with important projects behind the scenes.

Claire Chiswell & Jennifer Noble are new volunteers this year
and have both learned to band and extract birds (Photo: S.Darlington)

Ashlea Veldhoen banded an American
Redstart at Rocky this week.
Ashlea has been helping out as a
volunteer coordinator this season
(Photo: S.Darlington)

Michael Newman banded his first Cassin's Vireo this week at Rocky.
Michael has recently been upgraded to extractor and always brings
delicious plums for us to snack on (Photo: S.Darlington)

Diana Chomack banded a Least
Flycatcher at Pedder this week. Diana
has now processed over 70 birds
this season! (Photo: D. Bell)

Rebecca Golat banded her 100th passerine at Pedder this week with a beautiful Black-throated Gray Warbler.
 Rebecca will be joining RPBO's team as our new owl bander this fall - how fitting! (Photo: R. Golat)

Thank you to all of our volunteers for your continued support - catch you in the field!

Written by Siobhan Darlington, Passerine Bander RPBO

Siobhan Darlington and her true love - a Barn Swallow
 banded at Pedder Bay this week.

Week 6 Numbers:

Rocky Point	Aug 25th	Aug 26th	Aug 27th	Aug 28st	Aug 29nd	Aug 30th	Aug 31st	Total
Banded	48	33	36	37	41	30	48	273
Species banded	18	13	15	14	15	9	17	34
Recap	7	5	8	5	6	4	0	35
Species recap	4	4	5	1	6	3	0	10

Pedder Bay	Aug 25th	Aug 26th	Aug 27th	Aug 28th	Aug 29th	Aug 30th	Aug  31st	Total
Banded	24	18	49	26	50	27	53	247
Species banded	10	8	19	13	17	16	21	31
Recap	7	4	7	9	7	9	5	37
Species recap	6	4	5	7	6	5	4	13

(click to enlarge)