Results from Alabama

Got 13 of 16 back the first day. One was really late (Silverboy came in about 6pm). Of the rest, the other half came in on time. Still missing 363, 372 and 390. 363 was from the 115 drop. 382 was the first bird in. He was on the B race. He's never done that well, so I sent him on the short race. I think I pulled Harlequin to the short race at the last minute. I can't remember. But, if not, he was right on time and the first bird in from the A race. He came in with two others. I think it was 385 and 377. If it was 377, he delayed trapping in and took off for a few hours (the hawk was spooking the birds). He flew up on the house to drink from the gutters. That's when I tried to shoo him away (I discourage them from drinking gutter water) and he left for a long time. However, when he was on the roof, I got a pretty good look at him. I couldn't see a racing band AND I could swear it was a pied blue check - not a pied blue bar. I think it may have been the lost 388.

The next morning (Monday, today) I didn't get out there early enough. I should've had the trap open before sunrise. A lot of times they come in at twilight in the early morning. When I finally got up there, I saw a Cooper in brown phase circling low. He took off NW. After I fed and watered the birds, that common that's been hanging around got spooked and took off really fast. "The hawk must've came back", I thought. I stepped out to watch him. She flew really fast toward the west where I saw her kit up with three pigeons - definitely pigeons. They flew off west. "Oh, maybe she's gone to tell them the trap's open", I thought. Later, as I was leaving for work - I checked again - no new birds. Just then, the common came zooming in alone. [Pictured above birds loaded for Athens, Alabama Saturday night].