A New Species for the Banding Site

Not an uncommon species at all around here, but we did catch a new bird for this banding site. More on that shortly. We did capture a few more locals and Winter visitors early on which appears to be the trend this month. We catch most birds in the first hour and then dig in to habitat cleaning.

We got one recapture Carolina Wren and a new addition to the growing list of the local families. Collect them all!



There was also a new Hermit Thrush for the season.



At one point we did get two female Ruby-crowned Kinglets down the end of the net lanes.



The Bird-of-the-Day, however, was the very first bird netted. Right at dawn there was a very loud, squawking bird in the tangerine tree. Moments later, this bird flew into net 13 right behind a waiting Andrew.

Our very first Northern Mockingbird captured at Lake Lotus!



Though a very common bird, Northern Mockingbirds are seldom seen around the river and it was very exciting to capture and band this bird today.

Now if we can get a more consistent day of captures beyond 7:30 AM...

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Next Banding Day: Sunday, November 22th.

We will open nets by 6:25 A.M.

More of the Same

Another morning with a good start and then quickly retreating into quiet. Interestingly, we recaptured 2 of the three Hermit Thrushes we banded last week. Can't recall this happening before.

Here, the crew starts processing the first captures of the day.



Many of us are big fans of the Brown Thrasher. We caught 2 today.



Also snagged another House Wren.



Susan got a nice shot of a White Peacock butterfly this morning. They are very common around the end of the net lanes.



However, the most interesting bird today was this Ruby-crowned Kinglet that we recaptures from last year.



We ID'd this bird as a female last year based on plumage but here it shows and distinctive orange crest! Further reading shows that some females do, indeed, sport a few orange feathers from time to time. It will go on the list as a female for now.

Very curious. None of us has ever found a Kinglet with orange feathers before.

Storm Ida clears through this week and should usher in a new cold front. What shall we find next Sunday?
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Next Banding Day: Sunday, November 15th.

We will open nets by 6:20 A.M.

Hermit Thrushes Return

The morning was looking very promising for bird captures as calls were being heard as soon as we got outside at 5 AM. The dawn chorus was very strong with birds calling on both sides of the river nearly non-stop. Even our first run at 6 AM was good with 5 birds netted.

Then, right after 7AM, all activity halted. Maybe the encroaching cold front played a part as clouds slid in overhead. We caught no birds after 7:30. There was a Cooper's Hawk gliding past the net lanes but other than that no visible signs of predators. The birds just disappeared.

The day was not a total loss. We did band 3 Hermit Thrushes. Last year we did not get a Hermit Thrush until the first week of December.



One more, with feeling: "Tail, tail, tail!". More than one of us was thinking Swainson's Thrush in the predawn light until we turned it around. The reddish tail always gives the Hermit away.



Up and down the river was the sound of Eastern Pheobes. This one was teasing us by sitting on the tree about 15 feet from net 3. Never went in the net.



Red-bellied Woodpeckers made their undulating flights around the area, as always.



Once the place went quiet we settled in to study the other sights of Nature. In one net was a dragonfly, ID'd by friend Paul Hueber as a Blue-faced Darner.



Not in any net was one of the many White Peacock butterflies.



Along the trail is a nice Common Nightshade plant.



A bit further down, the Primrose Willow is still blooming.



Always something interesting at Lake Lotus!
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Next Banding Day: Sunday, November 8th.

We will open nets by 6:15 A.M.

Return of Another Jewel

Birds were captured in a spaced out pace this morning so it seemed actually busier than it was but we all had a good time. We even had the return of one of our 'jewels' today.

As usual, we recaptured a Carolina Wren.



Plus, we banded a new local in the form of a White-eyed Vireo.



House Wren numbers are even picking up. They are being reported widely throughout the state this week.



Still capturing Indigo Buntings. Today we had both sexes represented. First up was a male.



Always a lovely bird to witness even without being in breeding plumage.



Later in the morning we were graced with the arrival of a female Bunting.



We caught two Eastern Pheobes today in different stretches of the net lanes. Food must be abundant!



After a long draught of this species we finally caught a new American Redstart as we prepared to shut down for the morning.



A familiar sight to most birders staring up through the tree canopy. The spread tail of the Redstart.



As for the returning 'jewel', we caught and banded our first Ruby-crowned Kinglet of the season. Time to get used to their machine gun chattering in the area for the foreseeable future.



So cute. Now we await some males with their brilliant crests.



Clocks go back next week. More birds should be on the move heading toward Winter.
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Next Banding Day: Sunday, November 1st.

Remember Daylight Savings Time! Fall back.

We will open nets by 6:00 A.M.

We Don't Even Own Goats!

An interesting day at Lake Lotus. Many Catbirds were captured and banded along with the usual suspects in the form of Cardinals and Carolina Wrens. We even got a couple migrants. One was this very skinny Swainson's Thrush. Here Susan photographed the banding in progress.



You can hardly tell it was skinny with all of those fluffed up feathers.



We recaptured our speckled-eyed White-eye Vireo again.



Here, Susan releases the bird back into the woods.



We also caught a young female Indigo Bunting. In fact, most birds caught today were young birds. Interesting.



Andrew, sporting his Jay Watch hat, confirming the age of the Indigo.



Bird-of-the-Day belongs to a bird we figured we may have had a chance to capture out at Wekiwa Springs over the years as they were often calling just next to many nets at dawn. However, we never did get one. This made our catch this morning that much more surprising given that we have yet to hear them call here this year.

Finally, a Whip-poor-will! Also in the Nightjar or Goat Sucker family. These birds are referred to as Goat Suckers as ancient beliefs held that they drank the milk of goats in the field. It is more likely that they were hanging around livestock to scoop up the insects that congregate near them as the birds subsist on a diet mostly comprised of bugs they gather into their large mouths in flight.



Forgive the numerous photos but this was a special bird and we now have FOUR cameras on site instead of the usual one Andrew has attached at the hip. Case in point...



After a day at Islands of Adventure on Saturday, a sunburned Andrew poses with our special guest.



A close-up of the Whip's wing.



Once we determined the birds sex (males have the distinctive white tail feathers) and band size we banded our prize.



The Whip in an almost natural pose about to be released.



One more great shot from Maggie.



How can a morning get any more exciting? How about netting a Ruby-throated Hummingbird?



Again, we are not licensed to band this species but they are a joy to behold. Plus, actually holding them is much more exciting. She rested in Andrew's hand after struggling to get out of the net but soon departed, unharmed.



Lastly, Richard checked our nest boxes and found no birds activity but he did have to evict a Flying Squirrel. Look closely to find the squirrel running out of the box up Richard's arm.



Once it jumped from the box, the squirrel glided to the base of a nearby oak and scurried up. Maria got a shot of it as it regrouped before heading back into the treetops.



What can top this day next week? Stop by then to find out!
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Next Banding Day: Sunday, October 25th.

We will open nets by 7:00 A.M.

There They Are!

Now this is more like it! We had a great start to the morning, capturing 9 birds in the first rush at dawn. Some were the usual suspects like our Common Yellowthroats...



...the increasing House Wrens...



...and more Common Yellowthroats.



There were other surprises at dawn, though. Some expected and some not. We weren't expecting Gray-cheeked Thrushes even though they have been reported flying over for the past few days. This is the first for our Lake Lotus site.



Flying into Net 2 with that bird was our first Swainson's Thrush of the season.



Another species arriving on time and also our first of the season was this molting Indigo Bunting. They are back!



Of course, we had more expected birds such as the Catbirds up and down the lanes.



Plus another surprise. Our first Eastern Pheobe of the season.



Another bird made a grand entrance, but first...Maria found and took a great shot of a White Peacock Butterfly.



In other insect news, a large dragonfly was caught in Net 9.



Fortunately, this dragonfly was stuck in the net in such a way as to be easily extracted and held for photos later. The pictures were sent to Lotus friend Paul Hueber who knows more about them than us and ID'd it as a Georgia River Cruiser which is a first confirmed report for the park!



How do you you beat a new find of an insect in the park? Why, by getting the first Painted Bunting of the season! We decided to stay open just a little longer today as we were having such good luck and that decision paid off with Susan getting to remove this bird from the very end of the net lanes as we were about to close up for the morning.



Hard to leave such a beautiful bird but the morning was waning and the humidity was rising.



Many other birds were heard all morning but the most surprising was the arrival of two female Scarlet Tanagers in the trees near the banding tables. No photos were available but they were there along with very vocal Barred Owls at dawn and late Chimney Swifts overhead moving South.

Here's hoping for another full day.
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Next Banding Day: Sunday, October 18th.

We will open nets by 7:00 A.M.

Still Waiting for the Birds

WInds blowing from the south and east are still keeping the bird numbers down. But we did manage to get some birds. A number of them were seen escaping before we could reach the nets. We were in good company though as many visitors made it out for this extra warm October start.



Maria took the camera reigns today and captured a Ruby-throated Hummingbird down near the lake as it began to fly away.



We had another Common Yellowthroat that kept reacting to the digital signals.



Another Gray Catbird gets its band.



A White-eyed Vireo was recaptured. Its eye was still fairly dark which should indicate a younger bird. However, records show we caught this bird a year ago which has to make it an adult. Some reports of darker eyed Vireos have been recorded in Florida.

We will have to age them by plumage and mouth linings from now on.



Well, maybe we will have better luck next Sunday.
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Next Banding Day: Sunday, October 11th.

We will open nets by 6:50 A.M.