Overcast, Windy, but Some Color

Migrants finally started hitting the peninsula last week so we were hoping for some better activity at the banding site. Alas, the overcast skies didn't deliver as hoped and the winds picked up and reduced capture chances even more. One sign that migration is ramping up was the flocks of Cedar Waxwings scarfing down wild cherries near the banding table. When they hit that tree it is usually the last time we see them until they return near the end of the year.



At one point later in the day, the Sun broke through the clouds briefly as the birds settled on a snag for a break.



We eventually captured our first bird which was a female Downy Woodpecker. It was a recapture and was first banded almost the same day six years ago.



Next up was a new female Northern Cardinal. It has been a while since we have banded a new female. Typically it is males that are moving in.



The one notable migrant species on the property were American Redstarts. Males were feeding low in the shrubs and calling like crazy. One male kept feeding around Net 1 and eventually it flew straight in the net as we watched.



Nick spotted 4 Swallow-tailed Kites circling overhead near the pines where they nested a few years ago. We only got one shot but it appears this bird is holding a clump of moss which they use to build their nest. Fingers are crossed that they pick the nearby trees again. Just before this photo was snapped we had a quick fly over of a Roseate Spoonbill! Never had that before.



Christine and Susan were checking the nets and found a Green Treefrog, (Hyla cinerea), clinging to the pole at Net 21. Nice to find the native species instead of the Cuban invasives.



Our final bird of the day was a male Northern Parula. The males are super busy feeding the chicks which are begging all over the place.



Later in the day, Andrew checked the SD card from our trail cam. No Coyote or bear this week. Mostly is was Raccoons...



...and many Opossum.



Most of the shots triggered during the day were made as the wind tossed the shadows around but we did get a nice shot of a Raccoon strolling by.



But a couple of shots that caused and audible gasp were that of the critter we were hoping to get last week. Our Bobcat, (Lynx rufus). we have long surmised that this what was using the spot as its restroom for a couple of years and now we have our definitive proof.



Photos from the following day were even more awe inspiring. The Bobcat in the daylight! What a lovely creature. So amazing that all of this wildlife lives on the property and you never see them in person.



According to our records over the years, the next two weeks should yield some fun birds as the last of the migrants head North to their breeding locations. You never know what will show up but last year we captured several Connecticut Warblers. We shall see.
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, May 7th.
All nets will be opened by 6:10 A.M.

Trail Cam

Nick has kindly donated a trail cam to the banding station. Many of us pay attention to signs of wildlife, especially paw prints and scat. We know that their are Bobcats in the area and have assumed that scat in one area is from one. The cam was placed just across from the main "restroom" and we let the cam do its job for the past week.



When one is setting a cam, one often becomes the first critter recorded...



The wind triggered some shots during the daytime but the best action was captured at night. The smallest animal we got a shot of was an Armadillo digging along the grass.



Raccoons were the most photographed. They have been busily digging out turtle eggs along the net lanes.



Opossums are often heard crashing through the underbrush when we are setting nets but you still don't see them often.



The first real surprise was a Coyote slinking up the lanes. We did find some Coyote scat, which usually contains fur, last Sunday nearby.



The biggest surprise of all was captured early in the week. A Black Bear! The ones that use to call Lake Lotus home were trapped and taken to the Ocala National Forest a couple of years ago. Compare the height to the Coyote above. That is one big bear!



The SD card was placed back in the cam Sunday. Can't wait to see what walks by this week.
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, April 30th.
All nets will be opened by 6:15 A.M.

Back to Regular Banding

Yesterday's Earth Day Festival was a disappointment, bird-wise, so we were hoping for a better day on the other side of the river today. It did get a little better but the migrants are still not here yet.

Gray Catbirds made up the highest species catch today with four birds. They will not be around too much longer.



A Northern Cardinal was recaptured down near the lake. we caught his lady in the same net last weekend.



Northern Parulas usually prefer to stay higher in the tree canopy but this male flew directly across the river and straight into Net 19, bounced out and turned to get caught. this one had chestnut coloring down both sides of his flanks.



Next up was a second year recaptured Carolina Wren.



We did manage one Common Yellowthroat for the morning, most likely a migrant.



This adult male Common Yellowthroat kept his bill open the entire encounter. If you look closely, you can see the bristles on the roof of its mouth that aid in keeping insects going in the right direction down its throat.



Out at the lake's edge, a young American Alligator keeps a watch through the cattails. The big bull is still out in the center of the lake.



Ladybugs have set up house on the wax Myrtles Richard planted not long ago.



Back in the woods, Golden Silk Spiders are still the dominant species where they set wide webs between the vegetation.



There is still at least one female Painted Bunting down in the marsh munching on seeds. The grasses are too far from Net 18 so we probably won't catch her anytime soon.



Our final bird of the day was another adult male Northern Parula. A lot of fathers are busily feeding their chicks this time of year.



Hoping for a couple waves of birds in the coming weeks as May is almost upon us. Just need a shift in winds and we should be all set.
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, April 30th.
All nets will be opened by 6:15 A.M.

Earth Day, 2017

Well, we showed up. Too bad the birds did not. It was a very quiet banding day for the 10th annual Lake Lotus Earth Day celebration and it was a new set up for us with a total change of guard since our last appearance two years ago. Several of us arrived at 7 AM to get things set up for the day.



Nets were set but nothing was flying about. Our local Barred Owl fledgeling was set up directly across from our 2nd net. We worried that maybe it would be a problem with a raptor so close to our nets but baby sat around hissing all day and never posed a threat to any possible captures through out the day.



In years past, we were surrounded by the calls of begging Northern Parula chicks as we we sat through the day. Today, we only had one over our double net setting in the woods. It was very vocal and was first seem flittering its wings in the branches overhead begging Dad for food.



It seemed like the chick was going to sit in wait but it soon flew from place to place as it followed Dad as he gathered insects.



Sometimes it was chipping, sometimes it fluffed up for a bit.



At one point it found a place in the open and was sitting surrounded by potential food. Just to the right is a spider. Still time to learn picking them off.



Dad was gathering insects frantically and was a bit harder to get in focus. It was surprising that we never got him in the nets as he fed up and down the the lanes often diving mere inches from the them before returning to stuff bugs into the mouth of his baby.



The male Northern Parula spent several minutes scaring small moths out of their hiding places, one by one, and once he had a full bill would deliver them to baby.



Meanwhile, our baby Barred Owl woke up for a little while was was shown off to a few visitors.



It was very quiet all over the property. Eventually, we captured our first bird of the day. It was a Northern Cardinal that was first banded 4 years ago and captured in Net 21 near the lake.



Out at the pier, a few baby American Alligators are hanging out in the shallows.



At the base of the pilings, a small turtle warms up in the morning sunshine.



A Tricolored Heron spent time plucking minnows for breakfast along the reeds.



Another baby American Alligator was nearby waiting for its breakfast.



Out on the sand bar, an Anhinga dries out in the morning breeze.



Just behind it, a Great Blue Heron plucks snacks from the mouth of the river just past our last net on the regular side of banding.



Just after that jaunt to the pier, we captured a Carolina Wren. It was first banded last May.



We drew a crowd to see the bird and one of our visitors got to release the Carolina Wren. It promptly flew away from the crowd...and into the demo net. At least everyone got to see how we catch birds!



Andrew went over to the opposite side of the river to retrieve an SD card (stay tuned for that post!) and returned to be confronted by Momma Barred Owl while trying to get back to the other side of the river. Photo op? Sure.



Once the card was retrieved, he noticed something moving through the leaf litter. It appeared the be a wasp riding a caterpillar at a very rapid pace. Caterpillars can't move that fast. Once he saw the image on screen something else was evident. The wasp was dragging the caterpillar which was apparently stunned by venom and probably now the food source for the wasp's larva.



Back at the table, a crowd had gathered, but for what? A Rough Green Snake was slithering through the grass and Nick was holding it to show to the visitors. It was released and made its way back to safety away from stomping feet.



As time wound down on the day we caught one more Carolina Wren also a recapture banded after hatching on property last Spring.



Another lucky guest got to release the Carolina Wren back into the woods.



This was the slowest Earth Day we have worked over the years. There are just not many birds in the area right now. It seems weather conditions have moved Spring Migration up the center of the country. Radars show most migrating birds are traveling up Mexico and into Texas and farther North. Maybe the birds that travel up the East Coast are just running late? Time will tell.
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, April 30th.
All nets will be opened by 6:15 A.M.