Fast Start, Fast Stop.

We were hearing birds calling even before dawn so there were high hopes that today would be better than last week. However, our hopes were dashed. Started strong but got quiet real quickly.

Just after dawn, Andrew made his way down the lanes and spotted a male Northern Cardinal in Net 10. As he approached the net, a shadow came rushing out of the woods across the river. A Barred Owl was honed in on the bird. A quick shout of "Hey!" and the owl veered off and back into the trees just at the end of the net.

It was flushed deeper into the woods and then the remaining nets were checked. On the way back, there was a large shape in the net where the Cardinal had been. It was the owl. It was taken out and sent on its way back across the river. Dopey bird...



The Northern Cardinal was brought to the table, banded, and sent on its way.



Then a recaptured Brown Thrasher was brought in. It was first banded as a juvenile nearly 2 years earlier.



Next up, a Hermit Thrush.



And that was it. All we could do then was some bird watching. The Limpkin pair has been all the way up the river and today they in the river and then in the trees.



The Myrtle Yellow-rumps are showing up. Finally. They were more content to feed in the Tallow branches today, though.



Anhinga were present in large numbers all along the edge of the lake and across from the old Net 21 site.



Up in the forest, Andrew was visiting Oscar. He absentmindedly removed a random piece of bark from a pine tree and was surprised to see a large Cuban Treefrog. Weird.



Before we wrapped up for the day, the ladies were busy watching the Pileated Woodpecker pair as they flew in and dug holes in the pines behind Net 13.



Next week has to be more productive. Right?
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, December 3rd.
All nets will be opened by 6:30 A.M.