Week 6: The Best of the West(ern Tanager)

RPBO - Week 6 - August 24th to August 31st

Migration is heating up folks! This week we were treated to high numbers of birds in the nets and high numbers of species detected, including some rarities spotted. 

Sunrise over a field full of promises. (David Bell)

The temperatures remained seasonal this week. Smoke from nearby wildfires hung in the air for the majority of the week, but the Air Quality Index returned to normal by week's end. A few days saw light showers throughout the night clearing by early to mid-morning allowing migration monitoring to proceed as usual.

This week Rocky Point banded 443 new birds and Pedder Bay banded 262 new birds. Both stations were behind average year-to-dates by week 2, however both stations have improved by week 6. Rocky Point has banded 1454 new birds so far this season (17% above year-to-date average), and Pedder Bay has banded 1006 new individuals so far this season (14% below year-to-date average). 

A west-coast classic, the Chestnut-backed Chickadee. (Mara Hanneson)

Each day of our migration season, we compile Estimated Totals (ETs) of birds seen/heard/banded/recaptured throughout the shift. Rocky Point recorded this year's highest ET (so far) of 106 species on Aug 25th. That's 106 different species of birds detected on site in one day -- wow! Pedder Bay also tied their season high of 73 species ET'ed in one shift on Aug 30th. 

 
The rare and unusual:

At Rocky Point, the Northern Parula and Gray Catbird, both of which have been seen since early August and have undergone their prebasic molt at our site, continue to be seen this week (NOPA last seen Aug 29th, GRCA last seen Aug 31st). The Red-necked Phalaropes present and feeding off shore were seen in the thousands early week before petering out; by weeks end numbers were down to the 10s. 

Eastern Kingbird looking majestic. (David Bell)

 

A cute Clay-colored Sparrow (James Kennerley)

A Parasitic Jaeger was seen on Aug 24th. A Sooty Shearwater and a Caspian Tern were seen offshore on Aug 25th, along with Upland  and Solitary sandpipers flying over and Wandering Tattler on the distant rocks. A Mourning Dove was seen on census Aug 27th, and then later narrowly escaped the nets. A Sabine's Gull was seen offshore, a flyover Bobolink was heard, and an Eastern Kingbird was observed hawking at the upper ponds on Aug 28th. A Solitary Sandpiper flew by on Aug 30th, and a Clay-colored Sparrow was seen in a mixed sparrow flock in the upper meadows on Aug 31st. Visible migration of Northern Pintails and a large congregation of Purple Martins were noted from Pedder Bay on August 31st. 

The meat and potatoes:

Passerine migration continued with good observed movement of Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler and Western Tanager. We saw trickles of Savannah's Sparrow and Lincoln's Sparrows early week, then mid-week the flood gates opened for both species. Birds of these species came looking fresh, having undergone their prebasic molts on their breeding grounds, and often times having a body condition laden with fat for their migratory journey. Fox Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos have started to appear at our sites and in out nets. We continue to catch good numbers of Wilson's Warblers and White-crowned Sparrows. Western Flycatcher was the most numerous bird caught this week at Rocky Point, and Swainson's Thrush was the most banded bird at Pedder Bay. On the shores, we have tallied 15 species of shorebird this week between the two sites. 

We first detected a Hermit Thrush at Pedder Bay on August 31st, and have detected a few single Golden-Crowned Sparrows throughout the week -- this is the beginning of these two species migration to and through our area. 

The Olive-sided Flycatcher and Western Wood-Pewee families we saw breeding at our sites have moved to more southerly locations, and now other individuals of these species are migrating through in smaller numbers. Early season migrants such as Rufous Hummingbirds and Chipping Sparrows are going through in their last dribs and drabs. 

 

I bet you hear the sound of the Steller's Jay when you look at this photo. (David Bell)

 

Gambel's White-crowned Sparrow (David Bell)

A comparison of subspecies of Fox Sparrow. (Mara Hanneson)

Northern subspecies Fox Sparrow (David Bell)

Both sites have banded their first Steller's Jay this week. Other banding highlights include the season's first Pacific Wren at Pedder Bay. Our first Gambel's White-crowned Sparrow was banded, along with some orestera subspecies Orange-crowned Warbler, and some probable annectens subspecies Fox Sparrows. Each station also got a few brilliant Black-throated Gray and Townsend's warblers.

 

Beautiful Townsend's Warbler (Mara Hanneson)

Record breaking:

American Goldfinch and Cedar Waxwings continue to be present flocking in high numbers at both sites. We have banded 169 American Goldfinches thus far this season at Rocky Point, breaking a season record for number banded in a season. 

Western Tanagers have also broken their record for number banded in a season at both sites combined. We have banded 27 so far at Rocky Point and 38 at Pedder Bay. A one day total of Western Tanager detected on site was 63 individuals. In the nets, we've had few recaptures of Western Tanager, supporting good migratory movement of the species through our sites. 

All in all, an exciting week with lots of action. As this week comes to a close, Mara Hanneson finishes her time this year as Banding Intern, but worry not, she will be back as she continues her studies locally at UVIC and just can't stay away from the nets. Next week we welcome back Sonja Futehally, who was a banding intern in fall of last year.

 

A pair of Red-breasted Nuthatches giving their congratulatory Honk Honk! to Mara (Mara Hanneson)