Thursday, August 28, 2014

Fall Migration Banding Season Begins in Navarre Marsh

The start of the fall 2014 season has been slow as usual in mid-August; however, we have been fortunate to have a few birds that remind us that migration is occurring. Baltimore Orioles (BAOR), Yellow Warblers (YEWA), Prothonotary Warblers (PROW), and flycatchers are either beginning their southward trek or arriving from northern breeding grounds. We had ten species of warbler between Wednesday 20 August and Sunday 24 August. These include: Northern Waterthrush (NOWA), Black-and-white Warbler (BAWW), PROW, Mourning Warbler (MOWA), Common Yellowthroat (COYE), Cape May Warbler (CMWA), Magnolia Warbler (MAWA), Blackburnian Warbler (BLBW), YEWA, and Canada Warbler (CAWA).

BAWW (female): Note blurry streaks on side and gray face

Adult Male BAWW: Note distinct streaks on flanks and black facial patch

Hatching-Year Male BAWW: Note distinct streaks on flanks and gray face

Hatching-Year Female BAWW: Note blurry black streaks on buffy colored flanks 
 Some Highlights for the time period:
Hatching-Year MOWA: Probably a male with whitish split eye ring
Hatching-Year male BLBW: Note distinct auricular patch on face that helps
identify this as a Blackburnian Warbler.

Take time to enjoy the early migrants. This will be the last few weeks of PROW, BAOR, YEWA, and most flycatchers. Free Public Banding demonstration will be conducted at Black Swamp Bird Observatory on Saturday September 20th and 27th at 10:00 AM. See what birds are in the area and learn why the Lake Erie Marsh Region is so important for them. 

No comments:

Post a Comment