Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Pictured: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

- Number of Birds Banded: 127
- Number of Recaptures: 25
- Number of Species Banded: 24 (+3 recap only)
- Top Five Species Banded: Blackpoll Warbler 53 (+7 recap), Swainson’s Thrush 17 (+5 recap), Tennessee Warbler 11, Gray-cheeked Thrush 7 (+5 recap), and Myrtle Warbler 5.


- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 17
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 45
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 11 (25 plus Brewster’s for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 6.5

Highlights: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Cape May Warbler, Least Flycatcher, and Lincoln’s Sparrow.

Notes: Weather change over night has made a lot of bird community changes. Kinglets increased along with Hermit Thrush and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

Weather: Winds Northeast. Temperature in the 60s.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Pictured: Connecticut Warbler

- Number of Birds Banded: 197
- Number of Recaptures: 18
- Number of Species Banded: 22
- Top Five Species Banded: Blackpoll Warbler 77 (+5 recap), Myrtle Warbler 23, Swainson’s Thrush 22 (+4 recap), Tennessee Warbler 14, and Magnolia Warbler 13.

- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 20
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 52
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 15 (25 plus Brewster’s for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 6.5

Highlights: Connecticut Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Cape May Warbler, Western Palm Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, and Hermit Thrush

Notes: Increase in Blackpolls moving ahead of a front coming in today. Increase in Myrtle, Magnolia, Tennessee, and Cape May warblers as well.

Weather: Winds West-northwest. Temperature in the 70s.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Monday, September 28, 2015
Pictured: Blackpoll Warbler

- Number of Birds Banded: 107
- Number of Recaptures: 20
- Number of Species Banded: 17 (+1 recapture only)
- Top Five Species Banded: Blackpoll Warbler 69 (+6 recap), Swainson’s Thrush 7 (+2 recap), Common Yellowthroat 6 (+4 recap), Gray-cheeked Thrush 4 (+1 recap), Downy Woodpecker 3, Gray Catbird 3 (+4 recap), and Tennessee Warbler 3.


- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 27
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 46
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 9 (25 plus Brewster’s for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 5.67

Highlights: Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Pine Siskin (fly-over).

Notes: Increase in Blackpolls moving ahead of a front due tomorrow. Another banded Blackpoll Warbler was captured that was originally banded as an After Hatching-Year female on 4 October 2014 at Navarre.

Weather: Winds South. Temperature in the 70s.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Sunday, September 27, 2015
Pictured: Connecticut Warbler

- Number of Birds Banded: 66
- Number of Recaptures: 21
- Number of Species Banded: 16 (+3 recapture only)
- Top Five Species Banded: Blackpoll Warbler 26 (+4 recap), Swainson’s Thrush 14 (+2 recap), Common Grackle 9, Gray-cheeked Thrush 3 (+8 recap), Black-throated Blue Warbler 2, and Magnolia Warbler 2 (+2 recap).


- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 19
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 45
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 9 (25 plus Brewster’s for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 5.75

Highlights: Connecticut Warbler, Philadelphia Vireo, Myrtle Warbler, and White-throated Sparrow

Notes: A banded Blackpoll Warbler was captured that was originally banded as a Hatching-Year male on 20 September 2014 at Navarre.

Weather: Winds Southeast. Temperature in the 70s.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Saturday, September 26, 2015
Pictured: Yellow-shafted Flicker

- Number of Birds Banded: 39
- Number of Recaptures: 21
- Number of Species Banded: 14 (+4 recapture only)
- Top Five Species Banded: Blackpoll Warbler 10 (+3 recap), Gray-cheeked Thrush 6 (+2 recap), Gray Catbird 4 (+6 recap), Swainson’s Thrush 3 (+4 recap), and Common Yellowthroat 3.


- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 23
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 42
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 7 (25 plus Brewster’s for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 5.5

Highlights: Philadelphia Vireo, Bay-breasted Warbler, Cedar Waxwing, and Yellow-shafted Flicker.

Notes: Continued east wind is keeping things very slow for this time of September.

Weather: Winds Southeast. Temperature in the 70s.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Friday, September 25, 2015
Pictured: Red-eyed Vireo

- Number of Birds Banded: 35
- Number of Recaptures: 14
- Number of Species Banded: 11 (+2 recapture only)
- Top Five Species Banded: Gray-cheeked Thrush 9 (+4 recap), Swainson’s Thrush 8 (+2 recap), Blackpoll Warbler 7, Red-eyed Vireo 3, and Gray Catbird 2 (+4 recap).

- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 26
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 44
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 5 (25 plus Brewster’s for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 5.5

Highlights: Philadelphia Vireo, Bay-breasted Warbler, and Lincoln’s Sparrow

Notes: Continued east wind is keeping things very slow for this time of September.

Weather: Winds Southeast. Temperature in the 70s.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station

Date: Thursday, September 24, 2015
Pictured: Black-throated Blue Warbler

- Number of Birds Banded: 31
- Number of Recaptures: 16
- Number of Species Banded: 13 (+3 recapture only)
- Top Five Species Banded: Blackpoll Warbler 7 (+1 recap), Swainson’s Thrush 6 (+3 recap), Common Yellowthroat 3 (+1 recap), Black-throated Blue Warbler 3, and Gray-cheeked Thrush 3 (+3 recap).


- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 20
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 42
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 10 (25 plus Brewster’s for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 5.5

Highlights: Black-throated Green Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Winter Wren, and Northern Parula (seen).

Notes: Continuing east winds are keeping things very slow for this time of September. The season’s first Northern Parula was seen on site.

Weather: Winds East. Temperature in the 70s.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Pictured: Wood Duck and Eastern Screech-Owl

- Number of Birds Banded: 30
- Number of Recaptures: 7
- Number of Species Banded: 13 (+1 recapture only)
- Top Five Species Banded: Common Yellowthroat 5 (+1 recap), Swainson’s Thrush 4 (+1 recap), Blackpoll Warbler 4, Winter Wren 4, and Gray-cheeked Thrush 3 (+1 recap).


- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 18
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 41
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 5 (24 plus Brewster’s for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 5.5

Highlights: Wood Duck, Eastern Screech-Owl, Canada Warbler, and Winter Wren

Notes: Volume wise, very slow. Species wise...wow! The station’s first captured Wood Duck, plus an Eastern Screech-Owl. And, how is this for a combination on the same day: Canada Warbler, fledgling Northern Cardinal, and Winter Wren.

Weather: Winds East. Temperature in the 70s.

Diversity of Warblers at Its Fall Peak

Migration continues to progress slowly along the shores of Lake Erie. Considerable SW winds have resulted in a slow but continuous change over in birds. Twenty warbler species were captured or seen over the first half of September including: Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Golden-winged, Brewster's, Black-and-white, Tennessee, Nashville, Mourning, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Cape May, Magnolia, Bay-breasted, Blackburnian, Chestnut-sided, Blackpoll, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Canada, and Wilson's.

The presence of Blackpoll Warbler, Gray Catbird, Swainson's Thrush, and Gray-cheeked Thrush has been constant. Their numbers will continue into early October.

Brewster's Warbler (BRWA)
A pleasant surprise for the season

Important knowledge gained through banding includes demographics of populations, timing of migration, productive success, and age ratios of various species. 

One such species beginning to arrive that can be easily aged and sexed (often through binoculars) is the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. They often reveal their presence with their distinctive and loud "chink" call. In fall migration the males, both Hatching Year (HY) and After Hatching Year (AHY) are donning their basic plumage where the body feathers match closely to those of the female grosbeak.

HY Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak (RBGR)
Note the begining of a pre-supplemental molt
in the greater and median coverts of this individual.

Note the pink or "rose" under the wings and a tiny spot of rose on the breast.

Dorsal View of the HY Male RBGR
The basic plumage looks similar to female. The few black feathers seen are a result of a pre-supplemental molt. It will molt into its alternate plumage on the wintering grounds.

Now, about those "Baypolls"...
As a group, the Bay-breasted and Blackpoll warblers have to be two of the most confusing fall warblers. There are distinctive leg coloration differences with the BLPW having lighter colored legs and yellow pads to its feet and the BBWA having darker legs with gray pads to its feet. These are helpful even in the field as the lighter leg color of the BLPW will reflect light differently than the dark gray leg of the BBWA. Additional field marks that help both in the field and the hand are the many streaks found on the flanks of BLPWs and the somewhat clear flanks of the BBWA. Both species show considerable streaking in their backs that separates them from the similar Pine Warbler that has a clear back.

Even in the hand, banders must work hard to determine the age and sex of BLPWs. Knowing the sex and age demographics of a population gives information supporting the condition of the population. For example, having no juveniles or HY during fall migration is a signal that there may have been poor production on the breeding grounds. Understanding the age and sex structure of the banded sample can give clues to where in migration a location is at in migrational timing for the given season, age ratios for life cycle modeling, and even some indication of how important a site may be to the species as adults tend to show more site fidelity.

Here are examples of After Hatch Year (AHY) male BLPW and BBWA. 

Blackpoll Warbler (BLPW) AHY male
Note: the light colored legs and streaking on the flank (just below the wing).

Dorsal view of the AHY male BLPW
Note: the many black streaks on the back. This often adds to the picture in determining the sex of a BLPW in the hand.

AHY Male Blackpoll Warbler
The dark bill is another useful tool in determining the age of this AHY bird.

AHY Male Bay-breasted Warbler 
Note the rounded alula edged in white and the "bay' wash on the flanks.

Dorsal view of the AHY male Bay-breasted Warbler
Note the "bay" feather on its head.

Diversity of species will continue to increase through the end of the month. Volume is just beginning to pick up for this fall, and diversity will continue to increase for a couple of weeks. Many species have not arrived at our latitude as of yet including: Hermit Thrush, White-throated Sparrow, kinglets, Brown Creeper, Fox Sparrow, and juncos. ---There's still a lot of migration to come. 

BSBO will host a free Public Banding Demonstration this Saturday, September 26th at 10:00 AM at the Observatory.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2015 
Pictured: Sharp-shinned Hawk

- Number of Birds Banded: 38
- Number of Recaptures: 19
- Number of Species Banded: 16
- Top Five Species Banded: Swainson’s Thrush 7 (+5 recap), Gray Catbird 7 (+5 recap), Gray-cheeked Thrush 6 (+5 recap), Common Yellowthroat 4, White-throated Sparrow 2 (+1 recap), and American Redstart 2.


- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 24
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 49
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 6 (24 + Brewster's for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 5.5

Highlights: Sharp-shinned Hawk, Myrtle Warbler, White-throated Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, and Winter Wren.

Notes: High pressure and lake winds have brought migration to a near halt. Lots of stopover occurring. First Sharp-shinned Hawk of the season at the station. A few more White-throated Sparrows showing up. A three wren day with House, Winter, and Carolina.

Weather: Winds East. Temperature in the 70s.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Monday, September 21, 2015
Pictured: Ruby-crowned Kinglet

- Number of Birds Banded: 54
- Number of Recaptures: 20
- Number of Species Banded: 17 (+4 recapture only)
- Top Five Species Banded: Swainson’s Thrush 17 (+7 recap), Gray-cheeked Thrush 9 (+1 recap), Blackpoll Warbler 6, Gray Catbird 5 (+5 recap), and Common Yellowthroat 3.


- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 26
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 46
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 8 (23 for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 6.25

Highlights: Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Myrtle Warbler, White-throated Sparrow, Mourning Warbler, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, and Traill’s Flycatcher.

Notes: Swainson’s Thrush and Blackpoll Warblers remain most abundant species. The first Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Myrtle Warbler made appearances today, despite unfavorable winds for migration.

Weather: Winds East. Temperature in the 70s.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Sunday, September 20, 2015
Pictured: White-throated Sparrow

- Number of Birds Banded: 98
- Number of Recaptures: 25
- Number of Species Banded: 24 (+1 recapture only)
- Top Five Species Banded: Swainson’s Thrush 24 (+6 recap), Blackpoll Warbler 18 (+2 recap), American Redstart 10, Gray Catbird 6 (+11 recap), and Gray-cheeked Thrush 5 (+1 recap).


- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 21
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 51
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 11 (23 for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 5.67

Highlights: White-throated Sparrow, Mourning Warbler, Lincoln’s Sparrow, and Philadelphia Vireo.

Notes: Swainson’s Thrush and Blackpoll Warblers remain most abundant species. Cold front came in Saturday and brought with it the season’s first White-throated Sparrows.

Weather: Winds North. Temperature in the 70s.

Fall Passerine Migration Commences in the Lake Erie Marsh Region

The Navarre Migration Banding Station began the daily 2015 fall season on August 17th. From then until Labor Day weekend, 22 species of Warbler were captured, which is quite good for this early in the migration. August and Early September represent the return south of migrant Yellow (YEWA) and Prothonotary Warblers (PROW), Baltimore Orioles (BAOR), and Flycatchers as well as the staging locally raised birds of these species.

The August warblers included Ovenbird (OVEN), Northern Waterthrush (NOWA), Golden-wing (GWWA), Black-and-White (BAWW), Prothonotary, Tennessee (TEWA), Nashville (NAWA), Connecticut (CONW), Mourning (MOWA), Common Yellowthroat (COYE), American Redstart (AMRE), Cape May (CMWA), Magnolia (MAWA), Bay-breasted (BBWA), Blackburnian (BLBW), Yellow, Chestnut-sided (CSWA), Blackpoll (BLPW), Black-throated Blue (BTBW), Western Palm (WPWA), Canada (CAWA), and Wilson's (WIWA) warblers.

Connecticut Warbler

As we begin September, Blackpoll Warblers and Swainson's Thrushes are picking up in numbers. Warbler diversity will be increasing as we traverse September.

An advantage to birds in the hand is the ability to gather demographics on species captured. This permits the determination the age of all birds and the sex of many. However, birds still sporting some of the juvenile plumage, such as these Song Sparrows (SOSP), could have their age determined in the field as well. The juvenile and basic plumage of the chest and face of these two separate Hatching Year (HY) bird and After Hatching Year bird (AHY). The loose feathers of the HY bird are noticeable with no real central chest spot in juvenile plumage. 

AHY Song Sparrow (left) and HY Song Sparrow (right)

AHY Song Sparrow (left) note spotted breast.
HY Song Sparrow (right) with loose, yellowish/tan juvenile feathers

Bill coloration is another way to determine age for many species at this time of year. Here are two female Baltimore Orioles (BAOR). Note the lower mandible is all slate gray in the AHY bird and pink or lighter in coloration for the HY bird. This would not be quite as noticeable in the field.

HY Baltimore Oriole
Note the pinkish lower mandible

AHY Baltimore Oriole
Note the slate-colored lower mandible.

In Empidonax flycatchers, HY birds have olive to buffy edged wingbars. But this Eastern Wood Pewee (EAWP) (which is not an Empidonax) also carries the same colored wing bars, a clear indication of a HY bird. 

Eastern Wood Pewee
Note the lack of a distinct eye ring and the bi-colored beak unlike Empidonax flycatchers
which have obvious eye rings. (Eastern Phoebe has an all dark beak.)

Hatching-year Eastern Wood Pewee
Note buffy olive-edged wing bars. Sitting with an open mouth, a typical behavior of flycatchers in the hand, allows the opportunity to observe the bright mouth lining.

Back of Eastern Wood Pewee
Note the buffy-edged upper tail coverts as well as buffy wing bars which is definitive of a HY bird.

Confusing as some of the fall warblers may be, getting to know slight differences is important to becoming a better observer. These two birds are often mistaken for one another. However, they are of different sizes and very different throat coloration.

Here are two quiz birds that often trip birders up in the field. They look similar (especially in the field), but note the size difference, and the difference in the coloration of the throat.

Mourning Warbler (left) and Common Yellowthroat (right)
Again, note the size difference. 

Hatching-year Common Yellowthroat
 Note the strong yellow throat. Up close it may look like a lighter colored eye ring but from a distance that will disappear or be less apparent.

Mourning Warbler
Larger than the COYE, the split eye ring may look similar on some fall COYEs.
Note the throat and chest of this MOWA are gray. The throat on a COYE is yellow.

Fall Warblers can be a bit daunting, but with time and repetition observing the field marks you can figure them out (at  least most of them).
Good luck!
Free Public Songbird Banding Demonstration at the Observatory on Saturday September 26th at 10:00 AM.