may 15th 6 new species

sharp shinned hawk 

After the first net check we knew the white crowns had moved in but we never thought we were about to almost catch 100 in one day. The feeder nets and the j trap were working well and we were kept us hopping. the bulk of all the birds were captured before 10 am but we started putting the nets up at 530 this morning and it will get earlier yet as sunrise keeps creeping earlier. Thanks to the dedication of volunteers  Rick Caldwell, Barbara Babinski and Nicole Blackburn and our bander in charge Chris Sukha. Unfortunately we got too busy to get a photo of the catbird that rounded our new species total to 6 birds today.   I think the warbler wave is going to hit by the weekend  and we cannot wait. Reinforcement are coming and we will be ready with 5 more  banders and people who can run the nets. look to future blogs for more exciting news from the Hilliardton Marsh as we continue to monitor the spring migration.

northern water thrush

lincoln sparrow

rusty blackbird

nicole  with the first sharpie of the year which she banded 

Rick Caldwell with a common yellow throat I was sure this was a good photo of both....not!!! Well at least rick looks good !

Today's totals  May 15th

1 sharp shinned hawk
2 downy woodpecker
2 least flycatcher
13 red winged blackbird
2 rusty blackbird
4 pine siskin
1 purple finch
12 american goldfinch
7 american tree sparrow
2 swamp sparrow
1 lincoln sparrow
12 white throated sparrow
98 white crowned sparrow !!!!!
10 nashville warbler
6 orange crowned warbler
1 norther water thrush
1 common yellow throat
1 ruby crowned kinglet
1 grey catbird

186 birds  22 species