Slight Payoff After Wait

Well, that was a close one. For most of the morning we were preparing to write about the first time we were ever skunked on a banding day. Luckily, some birds started stirring later than usual.

First up was a recaptured Brown Thrasher first banded 3 years ago.



Nick got to practice the photographers hold with the Brown Thrasher before it was released.



Northern Parula typically stay high in the trees but now that the young are out of the nest the adults are coming lower to feed. we caught a few today and typically we one catch one during any outing when we do get them.



Our new visitor, Sonia, got to release our first Northern Parula.



Things grew quiet again but we did do some wildlife spotting along the way. Our Limpkins are usually out by the lake or down in the river. Today, one was in the neighbor's yard at the back of the marsh.



More and more butterflies are flying about these days like this Spicebush Butterfly.



On the river side of the marsh a female Downy Woodpecker foraged in the shade.



An American Alligator stayed just below where the Downy was all morning long. Avery even said it was up on the path at one point!



Cute little baby. It prowled around for small prey in the duckweed.



At Net 7 we caught our other two Northern Parulas, both adult males. Another bounced out of the net while we were getting these birds out.



A close-up of our final Northern Parula.



As we were coming back with the Parulas Nick spotted a sunning Black Racer behind Net 19.



The last bird of the day was a male Downy Woodpecker. Like the Thrasher that started the day, this bird was banded 3 years ago, almost to the day.



Close call and too quiet but at least we managed a decent late May Sunday. We have one more Sunday before the end of Session 8. As long as the recently developing tropical system stays off shore...
______________________________________
Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, May 29th.
All nets will be opened by 6:00 A.M.