Fun Before the Storm

We had a little bit of a drier day for once, but our feet were still wet early on. We had a few fun birds, including an nice surprise.

First bird up was a juvenile Carolina Wren.



Our new visitor, Marie, showed up and got to help fill out data and release many of the birds today. She got to release the Carolina Wren first.



We caught 4 Common Yellowthroats today. 3 juvenile males and this adult female.



A few White-eyed Vireos were banded today. A couple of migrating juveniles were up first.



We eventually wound up with a recaptured adult Carolina Wren among all of the juveniles over the past few weeks.



They were definitely being heard and seen for a while so it was nice to finally get our first American Redstart of the Session. An adult female.



Most Northern Waterthrush are captured a little earlier in the year but some get scattered through the Fall. Nice to have one today.



With the water level receeding just a bit, we cut our way through the vegetation and got to Net 21. Wow, it has changed again! The island is being dug into and the curve to the lake has shifted again. Looks like several Maple trees will give in to the river in a while. Despite the slippery mud, we were glad to be out there for a bit. Won't be there next week, but that is a story for the end of the blog...



Setting up Net 21 was not for naught. We did get an adult White-eyed Vireo before closing up.



Cory and Lynn brought a couple of birds to the table. While we were processing the first one a bird began to call off to the left. We grabbed the BirdNet app and recorded and anylized. Result came back as an Acadian Flycatcher. Huh.

Opening the second bag we found we had...an Acadian Flycatcher! We used to catch more at Wekiwa Springs. This is only our second. Our first was 12 years ago!



On the way out, Connie found an insect we haven't seen in a few years. A Scarlet-bodied Wasp Moth (Cosmosoma myrodora). We have plenty of food for them around here, but they don't show themselves too often.



Now we wait on Ian. Big hurricane that looks to be heading this way. Should only be a Catagory 1 or less by the time it gets here but there should be a TON of rain along the way. The weekend still looks to be nice and we will see if anymore trees fall or the river changes once again. Ah, Florida.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Ovenbird	3	0	3
Carolina Wren	4	0	4
Prothonotary Warbler	1	0	1
Worm-eating Warbler	1	0	1
Common Yellowthroat	1	0	1
Northern Waterthrush	1	0	1
Veery	1	0	1
White-eyed Vireo	1	0	1
Northern Cardinal	1	0	1
Totals	14	0	14

______________________________________
NOTE: Due to the new CDC recommendations, if you are fully vaccinated you are not required to wear masks, esp. at outdoor events such as ours. Get your shots and come on out. Otherwise, bring a mask. All current members at Lake Lotus are fully Vac'ed.
______________________________________
Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, October 2nd.
All nets will be opened by 6:45 A.M.

More Rains, More Migrants

Another week of heavy rains kept us from the lake area again. We did have some fun birds along the way, though.

The river waters are way up. Standing water starts, as always, at Net 13 and works its way down toward the lake. This view is from Net 24 looking back toward Net 18.



Pivoting to the left, the water in the Cypress marsh is creeping up from the other direction.



Nets set, we carried on. Our first bird of the day was a juvenile Carolina Wren. Four Wrens were captured thoughout the day.



Most Northern Waterthrushes are found in August so it was nice to have one today.



Ovenbirds are all over the place this time of year. We captured 3 new ones this morning.



Common Yellowthroats have been rather sparce this season. This is only the 7th of the Session. Usually we have tons of them by now.



We did catch our 2nd Worm-eating Warbler for this Session. Always a nice find.



One would think our Cypress tree marsh would be a perfect spot for Prothonotary Warblers to breed, but they do show up during migration, instead. Guess we will take this time with them.



A migrating White-eyed Vireo was processed today. Used to be a lot more of them this time of year. Still, peak time is about to be upon us. See if we get more.



Our calendar bird from last year was a Veery but we had not captured one this month until now. Started to worry they would be be around this year. Next up are the other thrushes into October.



Fall is here. In Florida, that means...not much. Should be a bit warm still and hopefully a bit more cooling breeze here and there. New bird species should be moving in soon.

Lets enjoy this weekend. Hurricane Ian is projected to hit us mid-week. Might mean we don't get back to Net 21 anytime soon...or many of the nets. Everyone stay safe during the end of September!

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Ovenbird	3	0	3
Carolina Wren	4	0	4
Prothonotary Warbler	1	0	1
Worm-eating Warbler	1	0	1
Common Yellowthroat	1	0	1
Northern Waterthrush	1	0	1
Veery	1	0	1
White-eyed Vireo	1	0	1
Northern Cardinal	1	0	1
Totals	14	0	14

______________________________________
NOTE: Due to the new CDC recommendations, if you are fully vaccinated you are not required to wear masks, esp. at outdoor events such as ours. Get your shots and come on out. Otherwise, bring a mask. All current members at Lake Lotus are fully Vac'ed.
______________________________________
Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, September 25th.
All nets will be opened by 6:45 A.M.

New Bird After a Damp Week

The rains continued most afternoons last week and the water level was even higher this Sunday morning. Last week, the water was just below the bridge. This week the water was flowing over the bridge. At least this structure has withstood the surge more than any of our past pallet bridges. Still can't get to Net 21.



We usually save the Bird-of-the-Day for the end of the post. However, it was the very first bird captured today.

Funny thing is, most of us were at the table recalling how it has been so long since we have heard Nightjars in the area. Then a call comes in asking if certain birds bite or claw. Or first bird of the day was our first ever Chuck-wills-Widow! We have banded a few Whip-poor-wills, but never a Chuck. Until now...



Our next bird was a Northern Waterthrush. Most head through in August (which we are now taking off) so it was nice to have one in September.



We caught several Northern Cardinals throughout the morning. Susan, her daughter, Anna, and sister. Karen, joined us today. At first, Anna was indifferent being there. Then she got to release the Waterthrush. A bit later she was all in and wanted to release one of most 'bitey' birds we get. Brave and fully into it now!



Common Yellowthroats are fewer than normal right now. We did manage a single female. Nalida released this new bird.



Along the way today, Lynn found a number of insect observations. Like this Metallic Sweat Bee. If we could get near the lake, they would be all over the willows right now.



She also found a Mantis missing much of its arms. Odd. Unless this is some type never seen before...



Brazilian Skippers wrap themselves in leaves for cocoons. They are using the planted Cannas for now.



Hiding behind Net 1 near the river, a Redfemured Orb Weaver, Neoscona domiciliorum, sits on a battered web.



A female Black-and-White Warbler was caught near the end of the day in Net 6.



As we wound down and began to close the nets, a White-eyed Vireo flew in. This was a new juvenile.



Migration is well underway. Hoping for many more birds this Sunday and maybe we can get to Net 21 after to some clipping.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Northern Cardinal	4	1	5
Ovenbird	1	0	1
Chuck-wills-widow	1	0	1
Black-and-White Warbler	1	0	1
Common Yellowthroat	1	0	1
Northern Waterthrush	1	0	1
White-eyed Vireo	1	0	1
Totals	10	1	11

______________________________________
NOTE: Due to the new CDC recommendations, if you are fully vaccinated you are not required to wear masks, esp. at outdoor events such as ours. Get your shots and come on out. Otherwise, bring a mask. All current members at Lake Lotus are fully Vac'ed.
______________________________________
Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, September 18th.
All nets will be opened by 6:40 A.M.

Session 15 Begins

Back to banding. We felt it might be a little cooler, but forget it is still September. Fall is right over there but the recent rains have been ongoing every night, leaving us with a ton of humitity even before dawn.

The rangers did an amazing job at mowing the lanes and we had little to clean up. However, the rains were strong enough to force us to abandon Net 21 this morning. Can't get there and the vegetation looks like it will take some major work to get cleared when we can get there.



Things were very quite most of the morning, although we were surprised to hear Catbirds calling at dawn. A month early. We were hoping to catch one to prove it, but... Our first bird was a recaptured Ovenbird first banded last Fall. It was at 8:30. We did get a new capture an hour later.



Bird of the Day was then brought in. A Worm-eating Warbler. They use to be few and far between, but we are getting more in the past couple of years.



As that bird was being processed, we captured a new Common Yellowthroat. A juvenile male. Note the slight black feathers along the throat coming in.



Lynn was with us today which means some bugs and other finds. The dew did not miss much this morning, including this Damselfly.



Along the river, Apple Snails are laying eggs. New food for our Limpkin are on the way.



Cicadas are almost always calling through the day. Lynn found one and it turned out to be a new species for most of us. A Swamp Cicada.



Final bird of the day was a juvenile Carolina Wren. Its new coverts are just sprouting.



More rain flowing through the area every afternoon to night thanks to Hurricane Kate in the Pacific (really!) so it will probably be very humid Sunday. Get ready to sweat.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Ovenbird	1	1	2
Carolina Wren	1	0	1
Worm-eating Warbler	1	0	1
Commomn Yellowthroat	1	0	1
Totals	4	1	5

______________________________________
NOTE: Due to the new CDC recommendations, if you are fully vaccinated you are not required to wear masks, esp. at outdoor events such as ours. Get your shots and come on out. Otherwise, bring a mask. All current members at Lake Lotus are fully Vac'ed.
______________________________________
Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, September 11th.
All nets will be opened by 6:40 A.M.