Teslin Lake update - August 15th

Abril (L), Shyloh and 4 species of Empids

From Aug 11th through Aug 15th Teslin Lake averaged 93.3 birds/day and 0.77 birds/net-hour (excluding rain day Aug 11th when no banding took place) for a total of 373 birds banded. The banding highlights included two more Belted Kingfishers on the 13th, a juvenile Dusky Flycatcher together with 3 other species of Empids from the same net-round on the 15th, and season firsts Yellow-bellied Flycatcher on the 12th, Boreal Chickadee on the 14th, and White-crowned Sparrow on the 15th. The top five species banded during the period were Alder Flycatcher (185), Yellow Warbler (90), Swainson's Thrush (16), Wilson's Warbler (15), and Northern Waterthrush (11). The current season top five species banded are Alder Flycatcher (250), Yellow Warbler (185), Swainson's Thrush (65), Yellow-rumped "Myrtle" Warbler (62), and Blackpoll Warbler (41).

Observation highlights for the period included increasing number of birds in active migration flight, including Greater White-fronted Geese (103 on the 12th, 269 on the 13th) and Northern Harriers (9 on the 13th). Brood of five Ruffed Grouse have been patrolling the net lanes. The most interesting shorebird sighting was a flock of 10 Semipalmated Plovers on the 14th.




from left to right juvenile Dusky, Least, Yellow-bellied and Alder Flycatcher (in middle photo Dusky and Least and Alder and Yellow-belly have changed places)


juvenile Semipalmated Plover

Photos ©Jukka Jantunen

The complete list of bird banded at Teslin Lake Bird Observatory this season as of August 15th (the last 5 days in brackets).

Sharp-shinned Hawk - 2 (1)
Spotted Sandpiper - 2
Solitary Sandpiper - 3
Belted Kingfisher - 5 (2)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 3
Downy Woodpecker - 5
Northern Flicker - 1
Western Wood-Pewee - 1
Alder Flycatcher - 250 (185)
Least Flycatcher - 10 (3)
Hammond's Flycatcher - 19
Dusky Flycatcher - 3 (1)
Northern Shrike - 1
Warbling Vireo - 14
Black-capped Chickadee - 26 (9)
Boreal Chickadee - 1 (1)
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 9
Swainson's Thrush - 65 (16)
Hermit Thrush - 1
American Robin - 9
Bohemian Waxwing - 1
Tennessee Warbler - 3
Orange-crowned Warbler - 14 (5)
Yellow Warbler - 185 (90)
Yellow-rumped "Myrtle" Warbler - 62 (7)
Yellow-rumped "Audubon's" Warbler -1
Townsend's Warbler - 4
Blackpoll Warbler - 41 (10)
American Redstart - 29 (1)
Northern Waterthrush - 36 (11)
Common Yellowthroat - 14 (1)
Wilson's Warbler - 32 (15)
Chipping Sparrow - 23 (2)
Savannah Sparrow - 4 (1)
Fox Sparrow - 1
Lincoln's Sparrow - 2 (1)
White-crowned Sparrow - 3 (3)
Slate-colored Junco - 30 (4)
Brown-headed Cowbird - 1
Purple Finch - 1
White-winged Crossbill - 1
Common Redpoll - 3
Pine Siskin - 1
= 930 (373) birds of 44 species
0.285 (0.77) birds/net-hour