Spring 2020 Banding Season, Week 8: June 1—5

Jeanne O'Rourke | June 12, 2020 |

The Landbird Conservation Team

EVAN: TUESDAY, JUNE 2—CENSUS

A cool morning with overcast skies led to a few singing migrants lingering about the property. Census began with a singing Mourning Warbler and concluded with a singing Acadian Flycatcher; the sneezing call of which is an uncommon occurrence on the property. Most understory wildflowers are fading into the lush green vegetation of the summer. A white-footed mouse had taken up shelter under one of our new coverboards and we had our first Gray Tree Frog taking up residence in one of our sampling tubes! Hopefully the first of many. During the farm survey, the sun came out and revealed a beautiful mackerel sky. The blue-eyed irises are showing in the bogs and hordes of grackles are feeding on invertebrates in the lowered water levels of the Bennet Bog. Sea ducks have mostly been replaced by copious lobster pots and the howls of gray seals have supplanted the usual snarls of harbor seals.

Net Lanes: https://ebird.org/checklist/S69964714

Farm: https://ebird.org/checklist/S69966527

Seawatch: https://ebird.org/checklist/S69968105

Jack-in-the-pulpit

Gray Treefrog using one of our PVC tubes

Mouse under a coverboard!

Brown Thrasher

Summery scene at the Big Bog

TREVOR: THURSDAY, MAY 28—BANDING

This week we ran the same cluster of 5 mist nets as last week, near a sheltered lily pond; then added 6 more nets on Cranberry Hill, between the big bog and Scook’s Pond. The day started equably in the 50’s F and nets were closed just after noon when temperatures reached 78°F. Spring migration of landbirds has entered the last 2 weeks, so it was no surprise to hear American Redstarts, Magnolia, and Blackpoll Warblers singing, with a steady chorus of Common Yellowthroats plus an Alder Flycatcher and a Yellow-billed Cuckoo. It was, however, a surprise to catch the first Canada Warbler and see a Tennessee.

More local breeders that had been banded in previous years turned up in the nets – the oldest being a 5+-year-old female Common Yellowthroat with a well-developed brood patch, banded a. We have now recaptured 33 different birds this season that were first banded in previous years. The prize for worst cryptic behavior is awarded to a House Wren on a dead snag that scolded me loudly through a mouthful of food and then dived into its nest hole a few inches below.

Trevor’s observations: https://ebird.org/checklist/S70052270

Female Mallard using one of the bogs

Sarsparilla

Eastern Bluebird parents guarding a nest in one of our nest boxes

Turkey Vulture

Furro bee on a daisy

Peck's Skipper

ALAN: THURSDAY, JUNE 4—CENSUS

Thursday certainly felt like summer to me. Donned in Chaco sandals and lightweight clothing, I was up to the challenge. It felt downright tropical as I slinked down the overgrown paths, making sure to pause in the patches of shade. At one such moment, I was thrilled to hear a Yellow-billed Cuckoo let out its whooping call, and seconds later a rustling on the back edge of the bog revealed two roosting Turkey Vultures. I had several encounters with a pair of Brown Thrashers and was fortunate enough to get some photos of one singing from the crown of a tupelo tree on the farm (see farm checklist!). Hopefully, the pair decides to set up shop here for the summer. In addition to the birdlife, I worked methodically through the farm meadows looking for insects. I was able to photograph several first of season butterflies, including Peck’s and Tawny-edged Skippers. I also saw the first Common Ringlet butterflies of the year.

Net Lanes: https://ebird.org/checklist/S70049524

Farm: https://ebird.org/checklist/S70049530

Seawatch: https://ebird.org/checklist/S70049540

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