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Rouge River Bird Observatory |
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Rouge River Bird Observatory |
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October 2003:31 Oct: Today we banded a late Ovenbird, and our resident Northern Mockingbird was seen near the south entrance of campus. A Gray Catbird is still hanging around.
30 Oct: A late Orange-crowned Warbler was banded today, along with an unusual Ruby-crowned Kinglet with an orange and yellow (rather than red) crown. Another Orange-crowned Warbler was seen at the sunflower fields.
29 Oct: Another (the same?) Gray Catbird was still in the banding area.
26 Oct: A Clay-colored Sparrow was found in the sunflower field at Hubbard and Southfield; the sunflowers haven't set seed yet, but there are many weed seeds there. Updates on the sunflower fields will be posted at this site. A tardy Gray Catbird was in the banding area, along with two Eastern Towhees that have been eluding the nets for days. Another Purple Finch was banded.
24 Oct: Both American Woodcock and Common Yellowthroat were found on today's survey.
23 Oct: The first American Tree Sparrow arrives.
20 Oct: Very good numbers of Hermit Thrushes and White-throated Sparrows have been present for a week or so. Today, six Purple Finches were banded (our fall average is less than two), including the first adult male (purple) Purple Finches we've ever banded.
17 Oct: The Northern Mockingbird, resident of the brush dump on campus for several years, was seen again today. It hasn't been located since our last regular surveys of the area in June, but it may have been around all summer.10 Oct: A tardy Ruby-throated Hummingbird was caught in the nets today; it's a late date for us by eight days. Good numbers of Chimney Swifts continue to migrate through -- today there was a flock of 28. An Indigo Bunting banded today is a bit tardy, but our late date is Oct 29.
9 Oct: Another Bald Eagle flew over campus today.
8 Oct: South winds have somewhat countered the improved banding conditions that have come with the warm weather, but an interesting mix of birds have been in the nets the last few days. We banded our first Fox Sparrow and Purple Finches, but also had Palm and Black-throated Green Warblers, a Northern Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson's Warbler (tied for late date), and eight Nashville Warblers. Nashville Warbler is an interesting species, with a very protracted fall migration; we've had records from late July through the end of October. Still, eight is a good number for so late in the season, and we've now surpassed our record of 42 (we're near 50 now).
6 Oct: The fall's first Dark-eyed Juncos and White-crowned Sparrows were banded today. A Purple Finch was found on the survey, and a Marsh Wren was also located, presumably the same bird found on 26 Sep. Warblers today included Orange-crowned, Nashville, Blackpoll, Palm, Tennessee, Common Yellowthroat, Black-throated Green, and Yellow-rumped.
4 Oct: The weather cooperated for long enough to produce a nice variety of birds for folks attending the RRBO open house. A Blackburnian Warbler netted today was not only a crowd pleaser, but provided an even later date than the one last week. A Common Nighthawk at dawn was a tardy migrant. Warblers still around include Nashville, Blackpoll, Magnolia, and Ovenbird.
2 Oct: White-throated Sparrows finally arrived on the 30th, and today we had our first Golden-crowned Kinglets and Hermit Thrushes. A nice adult Bald Eagle flew over campus.
