It is getting really windy due to a strong gradient between high pressure in the Atlantic and low pressure in the Caribbean that also includes Hurricane Eta who is about to cause major problems for Nicaragua and Honduras. Our nets are protected by the trees so we were able to band today, although if it gets much windier we will have to close. Land areas are currently under a high wind warning while the ocean is under a gale warning. Today featured a little more than half of the numbers as yesterday but the species lineup was quite nice, including two first-of-the-seasons: Tennessee warbler and Myrtle warbler. The 2260 birds captured so far puts 2020 in third place for overall numbers: second place 2015 with 2324 captures is in reach but there is almost no way we will beat 2006’s 2561 captures.
Left: Tennessee warbler Right: Myrtle warbler (photos by Brian Cammarano)
Most banding stations along the Atlantic coast are swarmed with Myrtle warblers, AKA ‘butterbutts’, in fall migration. They are also abundant in South Florida, but they take so long to trickle down here that we often don’t catch any before closing.
| SPECIES | NEW | RETURN | RECAP |
| Chuck-will’s widow | 1 | – | – |
| Gray catbird | 8 | – | – |
| Northern parula | 1 | – | – |
| Tennessee warbler | 1 | – | – |
| Black-throated blue warbler | 3 | – | – |
| Black & white warbler | 2 | – | – |
| American redstart | 1 | – | – |
| Myrtle warbler | 1 | – | – |
| Swainson’s warbler | 1 | – | – |
| Ovenbird | – | – | 3 |
| Common yellowthroat | 1 | – | – |
| Painted bunting | 4 | – | – |
| # BIRDS CAPTURED | # SPECIES | # NETS | NET HOURS | CAPTURE RATE (BIRDS/100NH) | |
| DAILY TOTAL | 24 | 11 | 22 | 124.75 | 21.64 |
| SEASON TOTAL | 2260 | 52 | 23 | 9659.8 | 27.17 |