fall warblers

the migration has stared in earnest, especially after the depression that moved through a week ago (bringing much needed rain); a plethora of species has been observed or banded, including truly migrants (i.e. no local breeders); Tennessee warbler, Blackpoll warbler, Cape May warbler, Palm warbler, Olive-sided Flycatcher for example. The Olive-sided Flycatcher is the first fall sighting! It was sitting on top of the half-dead birch, close to the station.

We also captured the first Dark-eyed Junco, a young with still traces of juvenile plumage. A Pine Siskin has been heard and seen for the past days. A whip-poor-will can be heard at night across the basin, a wonderful sound that we'd like to hear more across the province...

Lots of Red-breasted Nuthatches are being observed, and captured as well, almost the most common songbird for now. Strangely enough, American Redstarts, usually plentiful, are quite rare. Could it be that the dry conditions during the summer reduced their breeding success?