Session 5 Comes to an End

We had to miss another week in May due to rain but we got the final Sunday for Session 5 in with no problem. Migration came to an end about a week ago, though, so it was definitely quieter along the net lanes. We still found enough to keep us busy and interested.

Many fledgling are coming out to play. We band what we can but some we just have to watch like these Red-shouldered Hawks. The adult is on the left next to one of the two juveniles from the nest.



Thankfully, this year has been cooler and less humid and the river gave up a steady mist all morning.



Most of our captures today were Carolina Wrens, young and old.



Behind Net 17 is a stand of dead trees. Woodpeckers love them and Becki found a Downy Woodpecker pair returning to the nest they have hollowed out. The male, at least, is banded. We could hear the new babies calling from inside the trunk.



Lynn was finding all sorts of things along the lanes. Dragonflies are everywhere including this Needham's Skimmer.



Smaller Damselflies prefer the shadier areas. This male Blue-ringed Dancer rested on one of our 'bridges'.



A female Blue-ringed Dancer liked to hang out in the grasses.



In a lower branch over the river, a Barred Owl surveyed the water and grasses for most of the morning.



Behind the Downy nest we found another species using the trees. A Red-bellied Woodpecker flew over and into a nest hole.



The Red-bellied Woodpecker stayed in the nest for a while before flying off for another buggy meal.



Down near the marsh, where Andrew nearly stepped on a snapping turtle earlier, an appropriately named Marsh Rabbit tried to avoid detection. This is only the 2nd sighting of a rabbit out here.



While hoping another Carolina Wren would fly into Net 21 a Blue Jay beat it to the punch. From out of nowhere it flew straight past the wren into the net. Becki banded the bird back at the table.



The Blue Jay, like most every other local bird we have captured the past couple of months, showed a brood patch.



A juvenile Bald Eagle flew over toward Lake Lotus later in the morning.



On the final check of the nets Andrew heard a buzz off to the right. He discovered it came from a mating pair of Robber Flies. They were pointed out to Lynn and Becki and they took some time to get some close-ups.



Time to sleep in for a couple months of Sundays. We will head out for a bit of maintenance in the Summer but Session 6 will begin the first week of August. If we find anything out here of interest we will post but otherwise this spot will be quiet until we start up again. There will be the annual report posted once all the data is compiled before the next session.

Thanks for reading!
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, August 4th.
All nets will be opened by 6:15 A.M.