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