Today I banded with Libby and Sandra and we had a fairly slow day. We only caught 3 birds, 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets and a single Wrentit. One of the Ruby-crowned Kinglets and the Wrentit were recaptures meaning that they have already been banded and processed before. Only one of the Ruby-crowned Kinglets was a new bird.

Today at Palo we did have some other birds of note that did not make it into the net. At least 2 male Allen’s Hummingbirds were detected. One was at a feeder only 5 feet from the banding lab, and another was displaying. Several other male Selasphorus hummingbirds were detected due to sound that comes from their wings when they fly. Unfortunately my experience in telling apart Rufous and Allen’s in flight is not up to par to have done that (in fact I dunno how possible that seperation is). Multiple California Quail were around as were Spotted Towhees, Winter Wrens, Ruby and Golden-crowned Kinglets. A single Black Phoebe and a single Hermit Thrush were also present on site. I hope tomorrow that I can get a few pictures of some of these birds on my day off.

~Chad (3/15/06)