Week 11 - A twist in the blackbird flock, Quiscalus quiscula visits

WEEK 11 – September 28^th- October 04^th

Pedder Bay

No doubt the weather has changed to cooler and wetter this week, but we are still greeted by familiar calls on arriving at the station. It is our fortune that migration monitoring starts early, so we can hear Great Horned and Northern-Pygmy Owls calling. At this time of year Song Sparrows are often next, eager to begin the morning chorus. Pacific Wrens, Varied Thrushes, Fox Sparrows and Golden-crowned Sparrows readily join in as the day breaks, and by then we are likely banding our first birds of the day.

This week banding at Pedder Bay station has far surpassed Rocky Point (details below), with 329 birds banded. Primarily Fox Sparrows (56), Ruby-crowned Kinglets (51), Hermit Thrush (39), Song Sparrow (32) and Oregon Junco (29) were banded. Some Swainson’s Thrushes are still present (16 banded); and Golden-crowned Sparrows (28 banded) now outnumber Puget Sound White-crowned Sparrows in the surrounding thickets as well as the parking lot. A few other notable species banded this week were a Wilson’s Warbler and a Northern Saw-whet Owl.

Myrtle Warbler - we have been banding Myrtle, Audubon's and intergrade Yellow-rumped Warblers at our stations. (Photo: Sonja Futehally) 

Hatch-year male Varied Thrush banded at Pedder Bay (Photo: Sonja Futehally)

 

Sadly, the Belted Kingfishers have eluded our nets so far, but they continue to be conspicuous at both stations. (Photo: Sonja Futehally)

Our busiest banding days are likely behind us, but visitors continue to drop in to visit the station. We have now welcomed over 500 visitors at Pedder Bay during fall migration monitoring, and many more have visited owl banding in the evenings. It’s always enjoyable to share some of our knowledge with the public. 

A young visitor at Pedder Bay takes to drawing. (Photo: Sonja Futehally)

Rocky Point

At Rocky Point this week banding was limited (110 birds banded) due to a few proceedings. On September 29^th both Pedder Bay and Rocky Point were closed due to rain. On October 2^nd a controlled prescribed burn was undertaken on the DND site by Natural Resources Canada. Hopefully one of the outcomes of these annual burns is to restore Garry Oak ecosystems and provide habitat for species at risk. Only a few hours of banding were conducted this morning before the banding crew was required to leave the area. 

The following two days (October 3^rd and 4^th) banding was exempt due to the presence of American mink. However, we continued to conduct census, and the banders and volunteers shifted their effort to documenting as much bird incidence as possible. Some of the notable observations were – Greater-white fronted Goose, Brant, Gadwall, Pectoral Sandpiper, and a Common Grackle. Yes, a Common Grackle was seen perched on the cattails adjacent to the front nets! This blackbird’s population increased and spread in Eastern North America in response to increasing farmland and became quite fond of sprouting corn. However, their current population is in decline. 

Brandt’s Cormorant (2450), Common Murre (2300), Turkey Vultures (1600), Pine Siskin (250) and Yellow-rumped Warblers (150) have been seen in high numbers this week. A few warbler species still linger in low numbers, with 1-2 individuals recorded per day, these include Orange-crowned Warbler, Northern Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, and a seldomly seen Palm Warbler. 

With just under 2 weeks of fall migration monitoring remaining, we will be keeping our eyes to the skies to marvel at (and count!) the raptors, geese, as well as passerines as they continue to head south. 

Our first Cooper's hawk of the season was banded this week at Rocky Point (Photo: Carter Strope)

Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) at Rocky Point on October 3rd (Photo: Rebecca Reader-Lee)

Savannah Sparrow at Rocky Point after the prescribed burn (Photo: Sonja Futehally)

Lincoln's Sparrow at Rocky Point after the prescribed burn (Photo: Sonja Futehally)

Humpback whales continue to be seen close to shore from Rocky Point (Photo: Heather Tocher)