Saturday, February 18, 2017

SNOW BUNTINGS INSTEAD OF ALGONQUIN

A mix of male and female Snow Buntings in and around the traps.
 The first weekend in February we were suppose to head to Algonquin Park for an overnight with friends. But, I was struck down with a nasty stomach flu on Jan. 27th, and had been home for a week recovering from that. I knew I wouldn't be up for the trip to Algonquin on the weekend, but as I was feeling some what better, I also knew I needed to get out and get some fresh air in my lungs.  

We knew Rick and Nancy from the Ruthven Bird Banding station were banding Snow Buntings out their way, so we decided to join them for a while. Not much walking, and not too far of a drive. I could handle that. I hadn't had a good look at Snow Buntings in over a year, and I think it had been even longer since we had seen Rick or Nancy, so we were looking forward to it.

Click on Photos to Enlarge.

These birds are well camouflaged out in the fields.
Me with Rick and Nancy getting some birds out of the traps.
Getting weighed!
Males have white secondary coverts.
These birds fly great distances to be here for the winter, even from Greenland!
Dark secondary coverts indicate a female.
Getting some grit from the road to help digest the corn used for bait.
They put on a lovely flying display.
Rob helping Rick bring in the traps.
It was a very cold and extremely windy Saturday morning, but it was also a very enjoyable one. And we may still try to get to Algonquin Park before winter comes to an end.

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