warblers, warblers, and more warblers!

well, the migration is not over yet! with the ups and downs of the spring weather, one day cold with northerly winds, the other warm and humid with a big push of south air, migration is on a swing at Cabot Head! we've been having slow days and incredibly busy days! On May 15, following a day of strong south wind precluding banding, birds were everywhere! we banded 84 this day, of a nice mix of species! A week later, on May 22, it was the busiest time of May for banding, with 151 birds banded of 35 species (including an incredible 20 species of warblers!). It was one of those rare days of non-stop banding, when there's no break between checking nets and banding birds! unfortunately, it didn't leave much time for observations, and i'm sure that interesting observations were missed. nonetheless, it was exciting to band that many birds, with treats like 6 Bay-breasted Warblers in the same net at the same time (when usually only 1 or 2 are banded in a spring!)...

During these last 10 days, almost all the birds not yet arrived have been observed: the first Red-eyed Vireo on May 18, the first Gray-cheecked Thrush on May 20, the first Yellow-bellied Flycatcher on May 23, bringing the total of species observed for the season at 143 for now.

There are still a few species to come, still some migrants in skies and trees and shrubs that look more and more summer-like (with the first smog adivsory for Bruce Peninsula...). Another flying migrant, a Monarch was spotted for the first time on May 24!

With so many changes in such a short time, spring is a truly fascinating season! So let's keep our eyes and ears open!

so long for now!