Migrants and More

We bagan with low wind and some slightly humid air as a front was pushing in. Winds began to kick up around 9 AM. Mostly cloudy by mid-morning and we wnded up with some interesting captures.

After a large move of Gray Catbirds last week we thought they must be about out of here. But, they are still around and we caught 3 of them. Should be gone in a week or so.



Walking the lanes, there was a little shadow at Net 5. Turned out to be a junenile male Painted Bunting. Wish we had better lighting at dawn, but...



Our newest visitor, Sarah, got to release the Painted Bunting.



Ovenbirds are moving through. We captured 2 new ones and saw others moving through the woods.



We then caught a Mom Cardinal out hunting for food for her chicks. A bit later we caught a male.



Then things got quiet. Real quiet. We walked the lanes for over an hour without any real sound of birds. Eventually, we recaptured the Common Grackle we first banded a couple of weeks ago out by the marsh in the same net back then. Nearing the end of the day, we caught another Grackle not far away.

Blackbirds and Grackels don't usual get captured as they are a bit bigger for the mist nets to haul in. They can usually get out so it is a pleasure to have them in hand.



We also processed a couple of Carolina Wrens and believed the day was over when we caught the Bird-of-the-Day. A Hooded Warbler.



Hooded Warblers are rare in our woods. They usually come North along the Gulf, but when they are here they glow so bright in the low light of the net lanes are alway a joy to discover.



We processed the bird and Alex was releasing the bird. It was a little tired and stayed in his hands for a minute befor flying off at full speed.



Our final bird of the day was a male Common Yellowthroat. More yellow to end the day. Other warblers were heard and seen. Wish we could have got them. Maybe next week before the push finishes up.



Should have another pretty good week heading toward May. Weather looks good for the last migrants.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Carolina Wren	1	1	2
Gray-catbird	3	0	3
Northern Cardinal	1	1	2
Ovenbird	2	0	2
Common Grackel	1	1	2
Painted Bunting	1	0	1
Common Yellowthroat	1	0	1
Hooded Warbler	1	0	1
Totals	11	3	14

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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, April 21st.
All nets will be opened by 6:30 A.M.

Holy Cats...

Looks like everything is about to head out soon. Lots of birds sound around but we only captured two species today.

Gray Catbirds were hitting about every netand the ones they didn't hit they were still on one side or the other. They are very active and about to head North. We captured 13 new birds and one we banded last year.



We captured 3 Carolina Wrens along the way. Most with brood patches. Babies are on the way!



We usually get our last warblers and buntings around Earth Day. Hopefully that remains the same this next Sunday.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Carolina Wren	1	2	3
Gray-catbird	13	1	14
Totals	14	3	17

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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, April 21st.
All nets will be opened by 6:30 A.M.

Things Begin to Tick Up

Beautiful weather today. Winds did not pick up until 9:30 and we wrapped up starting at 9:45 when the air changed and all activity dropped to zero. Still had some migrants getting ready to move North so it was a pretty nice day.

First bird up was a Gray Catbird. We caught 3 today. They are getting restless and about to move out.



Next was an Ovenbird. We had 2 today.



Then, a recaptured House Wren.



We captured 4 Carolina Wrens along the way.



We ended with a new male Northern Cardinal.



So, busier. Still waiting for the wave to show up for Spring migration. We still usually get some migrating warblers through Earth Day. Stay tuned.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Northern Cardinal	1	0	1
House Wren	0	1	1
Carolina Wren	2	2	4
Gray-catbird	3	0	3
Ovenbird	2	0	2
Totals	8	3	11

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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, April 14th.
All nets will be opened by 6:45 A.M.

Quiet. Hopefully, Before the Storm.

We were hoping for migration to arrive today but no such luck. Turned out to be a very quiet day after a noisy danw chorus. But, we did have a nice surprise at the end of the morning.

An early Common Yellowthroat gave us some hope that the day might be good.



Followed by a recaptured Gray Catbird first baded a couple weeks ago. Then we spent most of the morning walking the lanes in bordom.



Andrew decided to throw in the towel 30 minutes early. As nets were beginning to be put away, a bird was being walked back to the table. It turned out to be a Common Grackle! We have banded some at the Orlando Wetlands Festival but this is the first here at Lake Lotus.



This Common Grackle is probably a female based on the very obvious brood patch.



Hopefully, things start to pick up next week.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Common Yellowthroat	1	0	1
Gray-catbird	0	1	1
Common Grackle	1	0	1
Totals	2	1	3

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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, April 7th.
All nets will be opened by 7:00 A.M.

A Familiar Face Before the Wind

Two weeks in a row? Weather is beginning to be a little more cooperative. But, it didn't last too long for today.

First bird of themorning was a new Gray Catbird.



Then we got a nice migrant. A Northern Waterthrush. Better yet, it was a recapture. We had to dig through our data and were pleasently surprised to find we banded this bird as an adult almost excatly 6 year years ago! In the same area it was first captured. Thats site fidelity for ya.



Alex got to release our Northern Waterthrush.



Next up was a new Carolina Wren. Very sharp claws on this little bird.



We caught a recaptured female Northern Cardinal banded not too long ago. Seems she has chipped her bill up somehow since we saw her last.



Our final bird of the morning was an adult male Northern Parula.



The winds were steadily increasing all morning and we threw in the towel a half hour earlier than normal. Nets were way to visible and winds also send the insects into the woods and away from the net lanes so the birds don't move through them as much. Next Sunday looks to be a very nice day.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Northern Cardinal	0	1	1
Northern Waterthrush	0	1	1
Carolina Wren	1	0	1
Gray-catbird	1	0	1
Northern Parula	1	0	1
Totals	3	2	5

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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, March 31st.
All nets will be opened by 7:15 A.M.

Heading Into Migration

Nice to be back out after so many rainy Sundays. Dawn chorus was very loud but not too many birds were flying. Everything seems to be looking like breeding is on.

Connie called that she had a bird in Net 14 and thought it might be a Swamp Sparrow. Indeed it was! Usually they are lurking down by the lake's edge but this one ventured up the river.



Jenny always thinks that her bird photos make them look like Muppets. Because she makes them stare into the camera that way.



Our new volunteer, Alex, got to release our first bird of the day.



Soon afterwards we had a House Wren.



Northern Cardinals very loud right now as they set up house. We captured a male and later a female with a begining brood patch. Babies are on the way.



Gray Catbirds are heading out next month but we did hear them and got two today.



Blue-gray Gnatcatchers are also getting louder and busier. We usually don't catch them until they get distracted by chasing one another around. Today we got a nice adult male.



You can easily tell the adult males by that bold eyebrow. He was a great looking guy.



Caterpillars are dropping out of the trees. Food for all the migrating birds, but sometimes they fall on us banders. Like this Eastern Tent Caterpillar.



Time to head out and see if our luck holds out so that we can band again next Sunday. Should be a nice day and we look forward to arriving migrants.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Northern Cardinal	1	1	2
Swamp Sparrow	1	0	1
House Wren	1	0	1
Ovenbird	1	0	1
Gray-catbird	2	0	2
Blue-grey Gantcatcher	1	0	1
Totals	7	1	8

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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, March 24th.
All nets will be opened by 7:10 A.M.

No Banding March 10th

Rain still forecast for the AM when we set up. Not going to chance it. Maybe we can get some fun birds for St. Patrick's Day.

BUT, remember to Spring Forward.

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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, March 17th.
All nets will be opened by 7:15 A.M.

No Banding March 3rd

More rain predicted all Sunday. Sleep in and hope for next week.

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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, March 10th.
All nets will be opened by 7:30 A.M.

Typical February with Visitors

When we arrive in the mornings we always wonder what we are going to find. This morning we discovered a large chunk of oak tree had fallen and missed the pole for Net 7 by less than an inch. We were still able to set the net and the rangers will have a little chore next week.



Spring has sprung a little early. At least thats what the Northern Parulas are telling us. They are back on their breeding grounds (here) in good numbers. But they stayed high in the trees today. Must trees are in bloom and attracting the most insects.

Lower to the ground was our first Northern Cardinal, a female.



Then our first House Wren in quite a while.



Eastern Tent Caterpillars are popping up in several spots along the net lanes.



Jenny came back from Net 21 with a recaptured Yellow-rumped Warbler. It was first banded 12/22 as a juvenile and is now molting into its breeding plumage.



The UCF Knighthawks joined us today to observe banding and do a little bird watching.



Next up, a male Northern Cardinal.



Another sign of Spring: Lobilia are begining to bloom all over.



Our final bird of the day was a Western Palm Warbler molting into his rusty crown.



It was a typical late February but things should pick up soon for Spring Migration.

Be sure to check back to the blog by Saturday to make sure we are banding. Rains are forecast from Saturday through next Friday.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Northern Cardinal	2	0	2
House Wren	1	0	1
Western Palm Warbler	1	0	1
Yellow-rumped Warbler	0	1	1
Totals	4	1	5

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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, March 3rd.
All nets will be opened by 6:30 A.M.