Records will Fall!

Well as the Title says..........................


  Records have Fallen at the Innsfree Raptor Station  this past week! Although the weather has been far from Perfect.

 Since my last posting ,I have only been out a couple of times and Nigel got out for 1 night. In those 3 nights an additional 23 NSWO's were Banded (9 on the 4th,5 on the 8th and another 9 on the 9th). So there we stood at 104 on the season.

The 10th I was at work, as was the 11th , but that didn't matter much as it was Raining alot.

 On the 12th I was watching the weather all day and thinking it is going to be a good Owl night, but I was scheduled for work!  I was on the edge as to go to work or Book Off and try for Owls. Then I got a text from my friend Andrea " Are you going Banding Tonight?" . That was the catalyst and I decided to go Banding and Booked Off from work. I didn't notify anyone else as it was such short notice and I had to eat and go set up the Nets. I wasn't going to miss a minute of what I Hoped would be good!

Andrea, with a Nice Pair!

 Well  Andrea showed up just as I was going out for the 1st Netcheck and we caught 2. The next check we Netted 6 and I said to Andrea "this is going to be a Great Night" !

The next check was an amazing 12  Saw-whets and more calling all around. I contemplating shutting down until I processed this bunch of Owls, but then said I will be fine they are mostly Hatch-years .  I ran out of Bags and had to use my Pockets!

 A net check of 12 Saw-whets

 As we were Banding this Bunch,  Andreas friend Kathy and her daughter Elizabeth from Ottawa arrived. In less than an hour we once again went to check the nets and Caught another 11 and watched as one got out of the Netting. They were visually seen sitting in the Shrubbery at the Nets. I had to shut the Lure off and process these Birds.

 It was to say the Least " Unfreaking Beleavable"! Never before had seen so many Owls in one night and we were not done yet! After Banding  that group I set the Call on again and found 3 more Owls in the nets.
 Andrea and her Friend had to leave at this time , but I stayed and caught an additional 3 Owls,bringing my Nights total to 37 NSWO's and the Season total to 141.

 As I said " Records will Fall" and they did that night:

 Previous best Netcheck record was 11 Owls ( 10 New and 1 Foreign Retrap)

1 of 37 on the Night ! I guess it Wanted a Portrait

 New best Netcheck record is now 12  Owls  ( all New)

 Previous One Night record was 23 Owls ( set on Oct. 01 2012)

 New One Night record  is now 37Owls

 Previous One Year record was 115 Owls ( set in  2007)

 New One Year record is now 142 Owls (and climbing)

  Also since the last Blog The Hawk Banding is still miserable with only 6  Hawks Banded. Highlight was nothing less than a Hatch Year -Female Peregrine Falcon (Tundrius Race) . It is only the 2nd Peregrine I have ever Banded, but the 4th for the Station.

Female HY Tundrius Peregrine

 An ASY Red-tailed Hawk was also banded.

ASY Red-tailed Hawk

 

WOW!!!!!!!

Wow!

 What a week it has been!
  I tryed for Owls on the 26th of September in Howling winds ,and of course wound up with nothing.


1st Owl of the Season

I missed the 27th and went out again on the 28th. I was pleasently surprised by catching 12 Saw-whets on a light Northwest wind and Waxing gibbonous moon.  One was a Juvie that still had alot of Retained Nestling Plumage.The following night brought 6 more Saw-whets.

A very dark Juvie Saw-whet

 Saturday was Rained out, but Sunday did not disappoint catching 20 Saw-whets which included 1 Foreign Encounter.and 1 retrap from Thursday. The retrap had put on an extra 6 grams in 4 days.

23rd Owl Banded Oct 1 2012

 On Monday we set a new Station Record by catching 23 new unbanded Saw-whets, and Tuesday I netted another 21 new Owls.

8 Owl netcheck

  This is by far the fastest start to the Owl season and with only a week into it, there is no doubt in my mind that the Overall Station Fall Owl Record will fall! That is especially true, since the Highest 1 season record is 115 Saw-whets.

 We have not even seen the peak of the season and still have atleast 5 weeks to go. It is important to note that we are in the Peak of the Saw-whets natural 5 year cycle.

Hatch-year Female Northern Harrier

 The Hawks....................................well not so impressive. I have manged only 4 Hawks Banded in the first month of operation . The flights once again like last season have not been very conducive for our station. We still have anoth 5 weeks or more to go, so the tides can turn (we hope)!

Hatch-year Red-tailed Hawk