...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.
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