Seasons

Some Rare Birds From Each Banding Season

Fall 2010

Stilt Sandpiper – one banded on Aug. 26, the first ever banded at TCBO
Cliff Swallow – three banded on Aug. 16, the first ever banded at TCBO
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher – on banded on Sept. 30, the first record for the Thunder Bay district
Townsend’s Solitaire – two banded on Oct. 10 & 22, the first ever banded at TCBO
American Kestrel – six banded, the previous high was 2 in 2007
Common Nighthawk – 31 banded over the season
American Three-toed Woodpecker – 6 banded, the highest season total ever
Yellow-shafted Flicker – 83 banded, a record fall high, the previous high of 64 was set in 2007
Pileated Woodpecker – record high of 14 banded, the previous high of 9 was set in 2000 & 2001
Gray Jay – a record high of 120 banded, the previous high of 64 was set in 1995
Northern Mockingbird – one banded on Aug. 11, the second ever banded in the fall
Savannah Sparrow – a record high 388 banded, the previous high of 269 was set in 2005
Grasshopper Sparrow – one banded on Oct. 18, the second ever banded in the fall
Red-throated Loon – 21 observed between Aug. 7 and Oct. 21
Red-shafted Flicker – one observed Sept. 16
Yellow-breasted Chat – one observed Sept. 20
Vesper Sparrow – one banded Sept. 12, the first ever banded in the fall at TCBO

Spring 2010

Black Vulture – one observed on June 8, the first record for the Thunder Bay District
Great-crested Flycatcher – one banded on June 19, the first ever banded in the spring at TCBO
Field Sparrow – one banded on May 21
Golden-winged Warbler – one banded on May 18
Northern Cardinal – one banded on May 27
Western Tanager – one banded on May 5
Brown Thrasher – two banded on May 21 & May 28
Pileated Woodpecker – six banded, doubling the previous spring high of 3 set in 2004
Red-bellied Woodpecker – one observed on May 2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird, the first bird of the season was observed on May 15
Sedge Wren – one observed on May 17 & May 20
Western Kingbird – one observed on May 18
Monarch Butterfly – the first of the season was observed on May 21
Dickcissel – one observed on May 27

Fall 2009

Red-throated Loon – 33 observed between Aug. 12 and Oct. 17
Harlequin Duck – one observed on Sept. 27
Parasitic Jaeger – one was observed on each of Aug. 10 & Sept. 27
American White Pelican – 2 were observed on Sept. 25
Ruby-throated Hummingbird – the last of the season was observed on Sept. 12
Northern Hawk Owl – one observed on each of Sept. 18 & Oct. 1
Long-eared Owl – one banded on Oct. 23
Yellow-billed Cuckoo – one banded on Aug. 7
White-breasted Nuthatch – one banded on Oct. 21
Black-billed Magpie – one observed on Oct. 1
Western Kingbird – one observed on Sept. 15
‘Oregon Junco’ – one banded on Oct. 19

Spring 2009

Orchard Oriole – one banded on May 20, the first ever banded at TCBO
Chestnut-collared Longspur – one banded on May 30, the first ever banded at TCBO
Blue Grosbeak – one banded on May 19 , the first ever banded at TCBO
White-winged Dove – one banded on May 22, the second ever banded in the spring
Red-headed Woodpecker – one banded on June 5, the second ever banded in the spring
Lark Sparrow – one banded on May 31 and two observed, May 31 & June 25
Connecticut Warbler – one was banded on June 2
House Wren – one banded on June 1
Pine Siskin – 4,777 banded over the season breaking many records
Nashville Warbler – 424 banded, the highest spring total ever
Myrtle Warbler – 706 banded, the highest spring total ever
Common Chaffinch – one observed & photographed on May 4
Red-throated Loon – 99 observed on May 4, including a flock of 54 & a flock of 25
‘Pink-sided (Oregon) Junco’ – one banded on May 12
Grasshopper Sparrow – one observed May 21
Black-billed Magpie – one observed on June 3, the first spring record for TCBO 1 Franklin’s Gull – one observed on June 4
Red-bellied Woodpecker – one observed on June 5
Great Gray Owl – one observed on June 6
Whip-poor-will – one heard calling on June 10

Fall 2008

House Finch – one banded Sept. 14, the first ever banded at TCBO
Townsend’s Warbler – one banded Aug. 4, the first ever banded at TCBO
Wood Thrush – one banded July 3, the first one ever banded in the fall at TCBO
Red-throated Loon – 45 observed over the season
Harlequin Duck – two were observed & photographed on Oct. 22
Great Black-backed Gull – one observed & photographed on Aug. 16
Boreal Owl – three were banded on Oct. 19 & 21
Black-backed Woodpecker – 19 banded down from 44 in 2007
Three-toed Woodpecker – 3 banded
Red-bellied Woodpecker – one observed on Oct. 20
White-breasted Nuthatch – three were banded between Oct. 12. & 22
Connecticut Warbler – one observed Aug. 29
‘Oregon Junco’ – three were banded on Sept. 25
Fox Sparrow – five were banded on Sept. 25
LeConte’s Sparrow – three were banded on Sept. 28 & 29 and Oct. 6

Spring 2008

White-winged Dove – banded on May 27
Three-toed Woodpecker – banded on May 17
Red-bellied Woodpecker – banded on June 3rd, observed June 8th
White-breasted Nuthatch – banded on May 1st, 14th, 29th
Prairie Warbler – banded on May 29th
LeConte’s Sparrow – banded on May 7th
Field Sparrow – banded on May 12th
Lark Sparrow – banded on May 13th and 24th
Vesper Sparrow – banded on May 14th
Oregon Junco – banded on May 18th

Fall 2007

Pacific Loon – observed on Aug. 4
Harlequin Duck – 2 on Oct. 16
Sandhill Crane – 5 on Sept. 12
Red-necked Phalarope – 2 on Aug. 17
Red-headed Woodpecker – Oct. 1
Bell’s Vireo – banded on Sept. 21
Golden-winged Warbler – banded on Aug. 24

The following species were banded for the first time ever at the Cape in the fall:
Herring Gull, Peregrine Falcon, Green-tailed Towhee, Bell’s Vireo, House Wren.

Spring 2007

Red-bellied Woodpecker – observed on May 16
Yellow-throated Warbler – Observed on May 18
Western Kingbird – banded on May 20th
Grasshopper Sparrow – banded on June 2nd
Lark Sparrow – banded on June 1
Northern Cardinal – banded on May 9
Golden-winged Warbler – banded on May 8
Marsh Wren – banded May on 31

Fall 2006

Sabine’s Gull – observed on Oct. 20
Red-bellied Woodpecker – observed on Oct. 19
yellow-billed Loon – observed on Oct. 14
White-winged Dove – observed on Oct. 13

Spring 2006

Ash-throated Flycatcher – banded on April 26, District first
Harlequin Duck – 2 observed on May 8
Coopers Hawk – May 12 and May 23
Green-tailed Towhee – banded on June 10, District first
Prairie Warbler – banded on June 20

Fall 2005

Pacific Loon – Aug. 22-23, Sept. 20
Bonaparte’s Gull – 3 on Aug. 6
Caspian Tern – Aug. 6 and 12
Western Tanager – Aug. 24
Great Black-backed Gull – Oct. 26
Harlequin Duck – Oct. 11, 15
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Oct. 10
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher – Oct. 23-27
Townsend’s Solitaire – Oct. 20
Western Kingbird – Oct. 13-15
Storm Petrel sp. – Oct. 19

Spring 2005

Pine Warbler – first ever banded at the Cape in the spring, May 5 and May 10
Eartern Meadowlark – Banded on May 12
Grasshopper Sparrows – banded on May 19, May 28 and May 30
Lark Bunting – banded on May 23
Kentucky Warbler – banded on May 12
Red-throated Loon – 225 observed (77 on May 1)
Parasitic Jaeger – observed on May 25
Dickcissel – observed on May 28
Lark Sparrow – observed on May 19
Audubon’s Warbler – observed on May 2
Golden-winged Warbler – observed on May 18

Fall 2004

Lesser Snow Goose – first ever banded in the fall on Sept. 29
White-eyed Vireo – first fall banding at the Cape, Oct. 21
American Woodcock – banded on Oct. 21
Cooper’s Hawk – 4th bird banded at TCBO
Great Grey Owl – 2 observed near the end of October
Connecticut Warbler – banded
Indigo Bunting – late banding Oct. 23

Spring 2004

Pacific Loon observed on June 2
Caspian Tern – two observed on May 26
Red-bellied Woodpecker banded on May 19
Sage Thrasher banded on May 21
Golden-winged Warbler banded on May 19 and recaptured on May 24
Oregon Junco banded April 29 and another May 10
European Goldfinch banded on June 2

Fall 2003

Lark Sparrow banded Sept. 13 and recaptured the next day
Sora banded Sept. 15
Yellow-billed Cuckoo observed Sept. 20
Flicker integrate male with red mustaches banded Sept. 21
Red-bellied woodpecker male banded Oct. 8, another observed Oct. 11
Kentucky Warbler male banded Oct. 13
Connecticut Warbler observed Oct. 13

Spring 2003

Parasitic Jaeger immature observed on May 21 and an adult on June 1
Iceland Gull immature observed May 21
Golden-winged Warbler male banded May 22
Kentucky Warbler male banded May 29 (District first)
Western Meadowlark banded June 5
Lark Sparrow banded June 2
Oregon Junco banded April 27
Brewer’s Sparrow banded May 27 (first for Ontario)

Fall 2002

Common Ground Dove observed on August 14 (photo at top of page)
Franklin’s Gull, 1st year, seen August 21 and 22
Lark Bunting, September 3-9, banded
Lark Sparrow, two banded, September 4 and 9
Parasitic Jaeger, 2 on September 2, one on September 9
Jaeger sp., two seen, August 30 and September 2
Red-headed Woodpecker, September 18, October 1 and October 12
Red-throated Loon, 39 observed, including 17 on September 20
Western Kingbird, October 12
Golden Eagle, 19 individuals observed
Townsend’s Solitaire, October 30

Spring 2002

Glaucous Gull observed May 19
Two Ruddy Turnstones observed May 30
Purple Martin observed May 22
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher observed May 26
Golden-winged Warbler male banded May 28
Sage Thrasher banded May 15
Wood Thrush heard singing May 22
Eastern Towhee heard singing May 19

Fall 2001

Pacific Loon with a Red-throated Loon on September 30
Pomarine Jaeger seen on October 9
Great Black-backed Gull immature seen Sept. 17 – Oct. 11
Whip-poor-will seen on October 7
Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow banded on September 13
Field Sparrow banded on October 5
Virginia’s Warbler hatch year male banded on August 29

Spring 2001

4 American White Pelicans on nearby Hare Island May 12
4 Baltimore Orioles seen
Bobolink captured on May 20, 5 in total seen
Lark Sparrow captured June 8
Loggerhead Shrike June 8
Pine Warbler singing in the woods May 4
Red-throated Loon, a total of 39 seen
Wood Thrush banded May 29

Fall 2000

Chimney Swift flew by August 21
Pine Warbler observed August 30
American White Pelican: 18 on September 1
Townsend’s Solitaire seen September 30, October 3, 10, and 21
Long-eared Owl caught September 24;
Brown Thrasher banded October 14
Western Meadowlark caught on October 15
Northern Cardinal male banded October 22
Northern Hawk-Owl caught October 28

Spring 2000

Whip-poor-will heard calling on May 6
Lark Sparrow in net lanes May 13
Marbled Godwit flew over on May 13
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in treetop May 17
Golden-winged Warbler male May 2, female banded May 22
Warbling Vireo on May 27 and May 28
Red-throated Loon on May 13
Great-crested Flycatcher seen May 30

Fall 1999

Red-throated Loon: 37 birds between 3 August and 10 October
Pacific Loon on October 8
Golden Eagle: total of 39 birds on 15 days
Red Phalarope on October 22
Little Gull on October 14
Bonaparte’s Gull: five birds on four days
Iceland Gull on September 9
Red-bellied Woodpecker banded October 28
Western Kingbird: 3 birds on September 20
“Yellow” Palm Warbler banded on September 22
Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow banded on August 30
Dickcissel banded on September 19, seen October 2-3
Western Meadowlark on October 31.

Spring 1999

Red-throated Loon: 7 birds seen between May 18 and May 23
Ruddy Duck: group of 8 just offshore on May 12
Great-crested Flycatcher: 2 on May 29
Western Kingbird: 2 on May 31, singles on June 3 and 4
Purple Martin (new to Thunder Cape) on May 7, another on May 31
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher on May 25-26
Golden-winged Warbler male seen on May 28
Hooded Warbler seen on May 23
Female House Finch on May 13

Fall 1998

Jaeger (species?) – September 20
Sora – banded August 27
American Coot – 18 October
Broad-winged Hawk – 84 counted on September 3
Bald Eagle – 35 individuals counted on October 24
Western Kingbird – observed October 25
Red-eyed Vireo – October 25 (late)
Red-breasted Nuthatch – 128 birds counted on October 24
White-breasted Nuthatch – observed on October 24, 25 and 28
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – October 11
Townsend’s Solitaire – October 19, 25, 27 and 28
Canada Warbler – a late record on October 11
Scarlet Tanager – one observed on October 13
Le Conte’s Sparrow – recorded on 12 dates from August 7 to September 29
Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow – banded October 14
Rose-breasted Grosbeak – banded October 25 (late)
Baltimore Oriole – observed October 28

Spring 1998

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher – May 2
Bewick’s Wren – banded May 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – May 16-18
Sprague’s Pipit – May 29
Blue-winged Warbler – banded May 13
Painted Bunting – banded May 15
LeConte’s Sparrow – 2 banded April 30

Fall 1997

Golden Eagle – 7 from October 20 to October 24
House Wren – October 20
Three-toed Woodpecker – September 22
Red-throated Loon – September 15

Spring 1997

Western Kingbird – June 11 and June 2
Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow – banded June 8
Northern Cardinal – banded June 3
Caspian Tern – June 2
Eastern Towhee (male) – June 2
Golden-winged Warbler (female) – June 2 and banded May 31
Northern Rough-winged Swallow – May 31
Field Sparrow – May 19-25 (banded)
Willet – may 14
Red-throated Loon (21) – May 6

Fall 1996

Warbling Vireo – banded October 16
White Pelican (2) – October 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – banded September 13 & seen October 3
Ruddy Turnstone – September 4

Spring 1996

Lark Bunting (female) – banded June 3
Golden-winged Warbler – male banded May 22
Lark Bunting (female) – May 21
Vesper Sparrow (2) – May 19
Eared Grebe (male) – May 15
Western Meadowlark (2) – May 12
Willet – May 7

Fall 1995

Golden Eagle (5) – October 25
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (adult) – October 12
Red-headed Woodpecker – October 12
Yellow-billed Cuckoo (specimen) – September 26
Lark Sparrow – August 30
White-winged Dove – August 16 (banded)

Spring 1995

Dickcissel (ad. female) – June 6
Western Kingbird – June 7 and June 3
Field Sparrow – May 29-30 (banded)
Pacific Loon – May 29, also 17th (adult)
Red-headed Woodpecker – May 27
Black Scoter (8) – May 22
Harlequin Duck (male & female) – May 20
Red-throated Loon (15) – May 18 (nearly 90 from May 1 to June 9)
Western Tanager (male) – banded May 17, female banded May 15
Red-shouldered Hawk – May 12
Great Black-backed Gull (adult) – May 10

Fall 1994

Golden Eagle (10) – October 30
Red-headed Woodpecker – October 20 and October 16
Hooded Warbler (adult male) – banded October 15
Harlequin Duck – October 11 (2), September 15 and 28
White Pelican – October 10 (2), September 9 and 28
Parasitic Jaeger – October 8
Black Scoter (10) – October 5
Western Sandpiper – August 13
Caspian Tern – August 3 and July 29

Spring 1994

Western Kingbird – May 24
Great Black-backed Gull – May 24
Hooded Warbler – May 23 (2nd in District)
Golden-winged Warbler – May 20
Eastern Meadowlark – banded May 20, seen May 8
Say’s Phoebe – May 12
Red-throated Loon (21) – May 7 (daily through mid-May)
Pacific Loon (2) – May 3, also one on May 1
Blue Grosbeak (female) – May 3
Franklin’s Gull (adult) – May 1
Summer Tanager – 4 during spring 1994, 2 banded

Fall 1993

Western Kingbird – October 25
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – October 15
Surf Scoter (2) – September 15
Yellow-billed Cuckoo – banded September 14
Harlequin Duck (immature male) – September 12-14
Red-throated Loon – August 27

Spring 1993

Western Kingbird – banded June 11
Parasitic Jaeger – June 3
House Finch (female) – banded May 27
Golden-winged Warbler (female) – May 22
Red-throated Loon (5) – May 16
Surf Scoter (pair) – May 12
Eastern Meadowlark – May 12
Red-throated Loon (3) – May 11

Fall 1992

Townsend’s Solitaire – October 31
Surf Scoter (2) – October 8
Red-throated Loon – September 25
Golden Eagle (2) – September 25
Brant “black” – September 22
Willow Flycatcher – banded August 31
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – August 26

Spring 1992

Northern Cardinal (female) – June 8
Willow Flycatcher – banded May 31
Blue-winged Warbler (adult female) – May 29
Red-throated Loon (2) – May 28
Eastern Meadowlark – May 21-23
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – May 22
Field Sparrow – May 21
Golden-winged Warbler (female) – May 20
Baltimore Oriole (30) – May 19

Fall 1991

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (2) – October 9 (one banded)
Yellow-throated Vireo – banded October 7th
Harlequin Duck – September 16
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – banded September 11
Yellow-billed Cuckoo – banded September 9
Smith’s Longspur – banded September 8
Dickcissel – August 30
Western Kingbird – August 24
Willow Flycatcher – banded August 22