End of September Highlights

An increase in thrushes, White-throated Sparrows (WTSP) and Blackpoll Warblers (BLPW) as expected, rolled in on the last cold front. A nice variety of warbler species including Tennessee, Nashville, Northern Parula, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Cape May, Black-throated Blue, Myrtle, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, Black-and-white, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Connecticut, Mourning, Common Yellowthroat, and Wilson's were present this week. We still have not seen an Orange-crowned Warbler yet this fall. We had all five species of thrushes this week.

Tennessee Warbler (TEWA)- Hatching year male

A surprise for us was this Indigo Bunting. We usually catch a few earlier in August.

Indigo Bunting (INBU) Hatching year male note blue lesser coverts and brown primary coverts.

Here are a couple pictures of a particularly handsome warbler. The Black-throated Blue Warbler (BTBW) does not look any different in the fall than it does in spring time. That is a good thing!

Adult male BTBW

 Large white tail spots on the adult male BTBW

A nice adult male Rose-breasted Grosbeak (RBGR) with its black wings and primary coverts showed up in our nets and reminded us all of its large bill.

RBGR- adult male

 A confusing bird to many is this fall plumage bird. 

Can you figure out what it is?

We captured our first Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (YBSA) for the fall. 

A Hatching year male determined by its plumage and the red throat.

YBSA-note large wing stripe

Red on throat designating male YBSA

Quiz bird photo #2

And there is still a Connecticut Warbler
two hanging around for you to enjoy!

We have caught the largest number of Red-breasted Nuthatches (RBNU) ever for this 22 year project (61 as of now, smashing our previous record of 34). There must be a shortage of food farther north to bring this many birds down.

RBNU- female on left (gray head) and male on right (black head)

 Quiz answer is American Goldfinch male with black wings. 

Female would have chocolate brown wings.

American Goldfinch (AMGO)

Another cold front is slated to come through by the end of the week.
Looking forward to seeing an Orange-crowned Warbler or two. Enjoy!
Check the banding summary at http://www.bsbo.org/passerine/pdf/passerinebandingfall2012navarre.pdf