Week 9: Nashville in Autumn?

 Week 9 already...now, how is that possible!? Although it may feel like the season has just begun, there is no denying that change is in the air. Morning temperatures have started to creep into single digits, the leaves are falling (creating much extra extraction work), and the updates from the Nocturnal Owl Monitoring team are rolling in. It's an exciting time to be out at the stations - the crisp air ripe with anticipation for what we may encounter next!

A beautiful sunrise, suggesting that "Pedder is Better" (David Bell)

In terms of species variation and banding totals, Week 9 continued as expected, showing significant variation between the two stations. Rocky Point banded 383 birds, rounding out the station's current season total to 2839 individuals. The top captures there this week were Savannah Sparrow (41), Orange-crowned Warbler (34), and Lincoln's Sparrow (33). Pedder Bay banded a total of 335 birds, with Hermit Thrush (43), Fox Sparrow (40), and Ruby-crowned Kinglet (35) leading the charge. These totals brought Pedder Bay station to a season total of 1752 birds banded.

Both stations banded first of the year
Gambel's White-crowned Sparrows (Emma Radziul)

Savannah Sparrow (Mara Hanneson)

This season has proven to be a success for Purple Finch, with both stations breaking historical records for the number of individuals banded. Pedder Bay broke its record earlier in the season, and this week saw Rocky Point join in the excitement - banding 29 Purple Finch this week, for a season total of 96 (beating out the 2018 high of 81).

After Hatch-Year Male Purple Finch (David Bell)

Bushtit (Emma Radziul)

On Friday, Pedder Bay was treated to an exciting bird in the nets. For this species, this was only the fourth banding record for Pedder Bay, and 18th for the migration monitoring program. This medium-sized warbler sported a thin pointed bill, grey head and upper parts, and dull yellow breast and flanks. If you are still guessing, I should mention that it also had a white eye-ring. It was a Nashville warbler! This individual was a hatch-year Female - determined by her dull plumage, lack of crown patch, and sharp tail feathers.

Nashville Warbler! (Evan Lewis)

The sharp tail feathers helped to age this bird as a HY (Evan Lewis)

Friday also marked excitement in the nets at Rocky Point, in the form of a Cooper's Hawk. This individual arrived at the perfect time to celebrate Storm's birthday!

Storm preparing to release her first Cooper's Hawk (David Bell)

This is a blog dedicated to the migration monitoring program at RPBO. However, I would be remiss if I neglected to mention the other monitoring program running until October 31st at both Pedder Bay and Rocky Point...Nocturnal Owl Migration Monitoring! The team has had an exciting first week of banding Northern Saw-whet owls (with a couple appearances from other species, but I'll let them share those stories!). If you are interested in visiting, please book a spot here. 

Northern Saw-whet Owl in Juvenile plumage (Ann Nightingale)

The same individual - a treat for all (Jannaca Chick)

As always, a heartfelt thank you to all of the dedicated volunteers who make this project possible! It is such a treat to share our mornings with such enthusiastic, interesting, and hard-working people. It is an exciting time to be out enjoying migration, and there are still open spaces on the schedule for those looking to pick up a shift.

Week 9 and Season Totals - Click to Enlarge

Early morning Geese at Rocky Point (Mara Hanneson)