Signs of seasonal change were evident on the Mt. Mansfield ridgeline Wednesday night and yesterday morning. Vocalizing has diminished, the first dependent fledglings are begging, free-flying juveniles from lower elevations have appeared, and early failed breeders (or non-breeders) are dispersing. Brendan Collins and I arrived on the ridgeline at 5:30 pm, wondering if we'd escape several bad-weather cells moving from the west. We had already pushed our schedule back a day because of severe storms (wind, rain, hail) that raked the mountain (and much of north-central VT) on Tuesday evening. Heavy rains had also fallen at midday on Wed., and scattered thunderstorms were in the forecast through at least dusk. We decided to open nets, and good fortune prevailed, as the cells passed to our north. The dusk chorus was as quiet as it ever gets in June, other than White-throated Sparrows, which were in strong voice. We heard only half a dozen Bicknell's Thrushes, with very few songs. As predicted, yesterday's weather was much improved, and netting conditions were excellent. Clouds still lingered on the ridgeline at dawn and the early chorus was weak, but activity picked up as the rising sun brought warmth and brightening. White-throats continued to dominate the vocal airwaves, but Bicknell's and Swainson's thrushes called and sang through the morning. We ended up capturing 62 birds, including free-flying juvenile Red-breasted (4) and White-breasted Nuthatches (1), and a yearling Black-throated Blue Warbler. The most surprising catch of the morning may have been an adult female American Robin, who showed no evidence of breeding (i.e., no incubation/brood patch) and was well into primary molt, a good month or more ahead of schedule. Several fledgling robins were heard or seen, and at least one pair of Yellow-rumped Warblers was feeding fledglings. Tuesday's violent storms may have taken a toll on some ridgeline nests. Most evidence was indirect - we caught a surprising number of previously unbanded adults for such a late date in the season: 8 Blackpoll Warblers (6 males, 2 females), 9 Yellow-rumped Warblers (8 males, 1 female), and 7 White-throated Sparrows (5 males, 2 females). The one active Blackpoll Warbler nest we were following had failed - its 4 eggs had hatched, but one chick of 4-5 days age was found dead just outside the intact nest, clearly from exposure. The female was nowhere to be seen. Mansfield's exposed, high-elevation ridgeline is a harsh place to live, and extreme weather events like Tuesday's probably cause higher mortality - especially of nests and young birds - than in nearby low elevations. If the failed Blackpoll nest was indicative of others, the storm's effects could explain the appearance of so many unbanded adults in our nets, as mate bonds and territory fidelity broke down following nest losses. Few of these migrants will be able to summon the energy to attempt a second nest at such a late date. It will be interesting to document adult and juvenile captures over our final 4 weekly netting sessions. Banding totals: Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch 4 free-flying juveniles White-breasted Nuthatch 1 free-flying juvenile Bicknell's Thrush 11 (8 males, 3 females) Swainson's Thrush 4 (3 males, 1 female) American Robin 2 (1 male, 1 female) Blackpoll Warbler 13 (9 males, 4 females) Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 yearling male Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 14 (11 males [9 new], 3 females) White-throated Sparrow 11 (7 males, 4 females) View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S30487886 ________________________ Chris Rimmer Vermont Center for Ecostudies PO Box 420 | Norwich, Vermont 05055 802.649.1431 x1 http://vtecostudies.org/ <http://vtecostudies.org/> To post messages, send e-mail to: [log in to unmask] Set your e-mail application to PLAIN TEXT ONLY to post messages. To contact the list owner: [log in to unmask] To unsubscribe: E-mail this command to [log in to unmask]: UNSUBSCRIBE UV-Birders To change your e-mail address: E-mail this command from your old address to: [log in to unmask]: CHANGE UV-Birders [new e-mail address] Web based archives and subscription management are available at: http://listserv.dartmouth.edu/Archives/uv-birders.html