MIGRATION SUMMARY – OCTOBER 24^th TO 30^th, 2007

 

Pelee Island Bird Observatory (PIBO)

 

 

There were lots of migrants in the area this week compared to the previous seven-day period – eight-one species were recorded between October 24^th – 30^th compared to fifty-nine from the 17^th – 23^rd. While there were no dramatic fall-outs, kinglets and other late-autumn migrants were numerous at the start of the summary period and remained active through much of the week. Northern Saw-whet Owls were captured on five evenings as well, with twenty-two birds banded (including two foreign encounters), along with an Eastern Screech Owl.           

 

October 24^th     

 

It was active at the Point this-morning with a variety of species noted including five raptor spp., Eastern Phoebes, Blue-headed Vireos, kinglets, an Orange-crowned Warbler, Purple Finches, and six sparrow spp.  Forty-eight species were recorded and 64 birds of fifteen species were banded – mostly Ruby and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Hermit Thrushes and Yellow-rumped Warblers. The first Bufflehead of the Fall was recorded and a late Indigo Bunting was banded.  

 

October 25^th   

 

Another busy day at the Point with good numbers of Golden-crowned Kinglets (42 banded) and still lots of Ruby-crowns, with twenty-three captured. Other migrants on the day included Common Loons, Brown Creepers, Palm Warblers and lots of Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles.    

 

October 26^th       

 

Although light rain and east winds affected the morning coverage, kinglets were numerous on the census and in the netting area, along with moderate numbers of Yellow-rumps and White-throats. Two Horned Grebes and six Dunlins at the tip were new for the Fall.   

 

October 27^th       

 

More rain with strong west winds throughout the day. Not many birds in the area with the exception of two Black-bellied Plovers, a trio of Sanderlings, some kinglets, small numbers of sparrows, and the first Ruddy Ducks of the season.     

 

October 28^th        

 

It cooled off overnight and a season-low dawn temperature of 3° C helped make for an active morning. Forty-nine species were tallied including good numbers of Blue-headed Vireos, American Crows, Cedar Waxwings, Rusty Blackbirds and Purple Finches. A Red-shouldered Hawk was new for 2007. Eight Northern Saw-whets and an Eastern Screech Owl were banded in the evening.   

 

October 29^th     

 

Migrants were active again this-morning with forty-one species recorded including lots of American Robins and Yellow-rumped Warblers, smaller numbers of kinglets, White-throated Sparrows and blackbird spp., and a late Red-eyed Vireo. While waterfowl have been late arriving this Fall, Double-crested Cormorant numbers have remained unseasonably high – 4000 birds were counted on census.  

 

October 30^th       

 

A nice variety of species were noted today in small numbers including Peregrine Falcon, both nuthatch spp., Winter Wren, Eastern Bluebird and Fox Sparrow. A Whip-poor-will was observed on the road first thing this-morning. While today’s cormorant count was just 47 birds, European Starlings made-up for this shortfall, with more than 3000 individuals reported during the count period!      

 

Eighty-one species were recorded at the Point this week compared to fifty-nine last week and six Fall ‘firsts’ were tallied, which brings the season species count to 167. In all, 263 birds were banded (not including 23 owls) and three recaptured during 312 net-hours for a catch-rate of .84 birds/net-hour.

 

Cedar Waxwing photo – Claire Sanders - PIBO

 

Next week’s summary will be posted on November 8^th.   

 

Birds Documented at Fish Point  October 24^th – 30^th, 2007  

    

Date	October	24	25	26	27	28	29	30
Species
Common Loon		1	2	3	1			1
Horned Grebe				2
Double-crested Cormorant		4.2K	150	55	45	64	4K	47
Great Egret		1
Turkey Vulture			5			2		1
Canada Goose		71	60	44	78	60	40	50
Mallard			9	7	7
Scaup spp.								30
Bufflehead		7	4	1		3
Red-breasted Merganser		4	19		3	21		19
Ruddy Duck					2
Bald Eagle		2	3				1	2
Northern Harrier		1		1			4
Sharp-shinned Hawk		5	2	1		2	1	2
Cooper's Hawk		1	1			1
Red-shouldered Hawk						1
Red-tailed Hawk		1	1			1
Peregrine Falcon								1
Ring-necked Pheasant		1	5	2
Wild Turkey			4	2		6		7
Black-bellied Plover				1	2		1	1
Killdeer		1	2				1
Sanderling					3
Dunlin				6
Bonaparte's Gull						1	1	6
Ring-billed Gull		40	50	18	2	14	9	24
Herring Gull		4	30	60	14	13	7	24
Great Black-backed Gull		7	15	19	16	11	3	8
Mourning Dove			2	1
Great Horned Owl						1
Northern Saw-whet Owl		5	5	2		8	2
Eastern Screech-Owl						1
Whip-poor-will								1
Belted Kingfisher								1
Red-bellied Woodpecker		1	2	2	1	1	3	3
Downy Woodpecker		1		2		3	2	3
Yellow-shafted Flicker		3	3	2	2	5	4	4
Eastern Phoebe		2	2	1		2	1
Red-eyed Vireo							1
Blue-headed Vireo		2	1			5
Blue Jay		1				1	6	1
American Crow		60	120	6		170	36	8
Black-capped Chickadee		5	7	5	1	14	10	6
Red-breasted Nuthatch		1		2		3	1	1
White-breasted Nuthatch		1	1	3		3	3	2
Brown Creeper		4	19	3		1		1
Carolina Wren							1	2
Winter Wren		12	8	6	3	3	3	4
Marsh Wren						1
Golden-crowned Kinglet		40	100	85	27	39	20	23
Ruby-crowned Kinglet		18	37	12	1	32	9	6
Eastern Bluebird						8	6	1
American Robin		6	10	3	1	11	184	51
Hermit Thrush		10	6	9	1	4	1	3
European Starling		5	17	20	9	100	110	3K
American Pipit			3	1		5	3
Cedar Waxwing		4				28	25	10
Orange-crowned Warbler		1
Nashville Warbler						1
Black-throated Blue Warbler						1
Yellow-rumped Warbler		37	27	20	1	50	46	28
Western Palm Warbler			1				1
Blackpoll Warbler			1	1
Northern Cardinal		2		2	1	4	3	3
Indigo Bunting		1
Eastern Towhee		1	1
Chipping Sparrow		6	11
White-throated Sparrow		17	10	11	6	38	20	8
White-crowned Sparrow			6
Fox Sparrow		2						1
Song Sparrow		2	2	1	1	5		1
Swamp Sparrow				1
Dark-eyed Junco		21	23	11	4	21	19	3
Brown-headed Cowbird						4		2
Red-winged Blackbird		140	890	170	29	195	350	130
Rusty Blackbird				17	8	45	14
Common Grackle		69	810	45	60	129	32	15
Purple Finch		12	3		1	7	2
House Finch			2
Pine Siskin						2
American Goldfinch		22	3	1		18	19	13
SPECIES
Day		48	47	43	29	49	41	45
Fall 2007		162	162	164	165	166	166	167
This period		81		Previous period				59
October		24	25	26	27	28	29	30
Weather - 1 hr after sunrise
Wind direction/strength1		NW3	E5	E2	W6	WNW2	W3	WSW2
Visibility (km)		30	30	10	25	30	30	30
Cloud cover (0-10)		9	8	10	10	1	5	0
Temperature o C)		10	10	12	12	3	7	8
Precipitation				RAIN	RAIN
1 Beaufort scale