Today was a flycatcher day again at Clear Spring Ranch banding. I opened after the rain passed, about 45 minutes late, and didn't expect much. It seems the rain knocked down a lot of birds, as I caught MANY that were overloaded with fat, like they had expected to get further along.
Today was "Get to Know Your Traill's Flycatchers Day". TWO Alder Flycatchers were banded (after an FOS ALFL yesterday), and FOUR more Willow Flycatchers, (two yesterday). These weren't calling, but were ID'd by measuring how Primaries 9 and 10 compare to the other outer primaries, in the hand. The ALFL MAY have had a slightly longer Wing to Tail aspect, but I wouldn't have been able to tell otherwise.
In addition 2 W Wood-pewees, and FOUR more Dusky Flycatchers. I usually get 5-6 flycatchers per spring. Again, this year is different!
Also banded: 55 total birds-
Yellow Warbler 12
Com Yellowthroat 3
MacGillivray's Warbler 2
YB Chat - 6
N Waterthrush (same bird banded 5/19, still hanging around)
Swainson's Thrush
Mountain White-crowned Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow 5
Song Sparrow 2
Black-headed Grosbeak (ad M)
Lazuli Bunting 2
Indigo Bunting (ad F)
Bullock's Oriole 3
Not bad for a day I thought would be a washout. #2 day for numbers this spring. (#1 for Flycatchers!)
Good birding,
Steve Brown
Colo Spgs
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