August 27, 2010 - Fall Migration Monitoring

The rains early last night likely prevented most migrants from moving last night as today was relatively slow. The first couple of net rounds were quite slow, however, things picked up later on. Yellow Warblers were still the bulk of the catch, but several Trail's Flycatchers, Warbling Vireos, and Common Yellowthroats were caught. A first for us was a hatch-year Red-eyed Vireo that was caught and banded mid-morning. Several Marsh and Bewick's Wrens that have been hanging around for a while were caught as well.



A Merlin and Peregrine Falcon cruised through the area repeatedly terrorizing the swallows, shorebirds and waterfowl in the ponds and lagoons. A early morning visit to the SE sewage lagoon resulted in 3 Red-necked Phalaropes and a Wilson's Phalarope being seen. Swallow numbers continue to be high (in the hundreds) and consist largely of Barn Swallows, though Bank, N. Rough-winged, Tree, Violet-green Swallows and Purple Martin were seen. Fall is definitely on the way now that more migrant waterfowl have shown up, including Northern Pintails, American Wigeon and American Coots were observed in the south pond and possibly a few more Hooded Mergansers.

Hopes are high that with clearer and calmer weather tonight more birds may be present tomorrow morning, we're bound for another big fallout one of these days.