Spring 2020 Banding Season, Week 2: April 20—24

Jeanne O'Rourke | April 29, 2020 |

Sunset over the front of the property. Photo by Lizzie Schueler, Manomet's new President.

The Landbird Conservation Team

Alan: Tuesday, April 21—Census

It was a frosty start Tuesday morning, but the calm winds and sunny skies quickly warmed me up. I found the Manomet woods to be in a similar state as last week, hosting many species typical of the “first wave” of migrants. This included many each of Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Pine Warbler, Palm Warbler, and Ruby-crowned Kinglet – but not a single Yellow-rumped! Several Hermit Thrushes (pictured below) hopped along the trails and I heard the “chewink” of the Eastern Towhee from the undergrowth.

I took a moment to check one of our recently deployed coverboards next to Lily Pond, designed to provide shelter for small animals. While there wasn’t too much underneath it, I did see the telltale footprints of a fox and raccoon on top (see picture below). Both red and gray fox are regular at Manomet, so hard to say which one!

The south wind picked up during the seawatch, but not before I spotted three Purple Sandpipers sitting with a Laughing Gull on a rock. Interestingly, April is by far the best month to see Purples from the bluff. This may indicate that these are migrants from farther south using the area as a spring staging area.

Net Lanes: https://ebird.org/checklist/S67575405

Holmes Farm: https://ebird.org/checklist/S67575423

Seawatch: https://ebird.org/checklist/S67575442

TREVOR: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22—BANDING

Another week of below-average temperatures, high winds and frequent rain was a challenge to banding and census efforts. Migrants are trickling in – we banded both a male and an early female Eastern (Rufous-sided) Towhee on Wednesday 22^nd April. As with most migrants, the first back in spring are usually the males, eager to claim good territories. Males are often a little larger (certainly true with towhees) and may be better able to survive unpredictable food and weather conditions early in the season, when food resources may be limited. Females follow soon after, also under pressure of sexual selection to reach the breeding areas and select the best males, before a rival female snaps him up!

Blue-headed Vireo

Blue Jay nest

Trailing arbutus

Clear skies over the bluff

Local beekeeper, Jim Lifton, tending his bees on Manomet's property

Frozen bog!

Eastern Bluebird

A day of banding from the walk-in traps ended with 22 birds processed in the lab – White-throated Sparrows again the most common species. They were a mixture of winter residents and early migrants; the latter with plenty of subcutaneous fat visible under their skin – fuel for the rest of their journey north. So far this season we have recaptured 10 birds banded in previous years:

2 chickadees and 3 whitethroats banded as hatching-year birds in the fall of 2019
A 2-year-old chickadee banded August 2018 and a 2+yr. Blue Jay and Brown-headed Cowbird
A 3-year-old Tufted Titmouse and a 4-year-old chickadee

All are known winter or permanent residents except the female cowbird.

Trevor’s full list of sightings around the property: https://ebird.org/checklist/S67889053

Evan: Thursday, April 23—Census

Another frigid morning for surveys on Thursday; there was still a thin film of ice over the shaded portions of the Big Bog. The assemblage of birds on-site was reflective of such a cool morning. Singing Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Palm Warblers and a new arrival, Blue-headed Vireo are probably headed far north of Manomet to breed before returning southward in the fall. There was also a large flock of White-throated Sparrows scratching around in the leaf litter. Joining the WTSPs were a couple Swamp Sparrows. It is always odd seeing this species far from their usual wetland haunts. Probably just more migrating bird behavior! While walking around Cranberry Hill, I startled a Blue Jay off its well-concealed nest. A welcome sight that spring is upon us. Quick checks of the frog tubes revealed a thin layer of frost within. Better luck next time!

Net Lanes: https://ebird.org/checklist/S67660767

Holmes Farm: https://ebird.org/checklist/S67662829

Seawatch: https://ebird.org/checklist/S67664680

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