Sunday, October 26, 2025

Oddly Quiet, But a Nice Variety

Something seemed off. Traffic was really busy at 6 AM. Not normalfor a Sunday anytime. Things were too quiet in the lanes for most of the morning. There was a front approaching, but that was not to get to us until the afternoon. Just felt...weird. However, we did have an OK day with some variety along the way.

Common Yellowthroats are still moving through, like this juvenile male.

Common Yellowthroat

Finally got a Black-throated Blue Warbler today. This is a juvenile male. You can tell by the white specks on its throat.

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Eastern Phoebes were heard around this morning and we were fortunate to catch one of them as the winds picked up.

Eastern Phoebe

We were really surprised that we got a Wood Thrush. It was smack in the middle of the lanes at Net 1.

Wood Thrush

Another Common Yellowthroat of the 5 caught today. This is an adult male.

Common Yellowthroat

House Wrens are actually singing their Spring songs for some reason. We got 2 of them this day.

House Wren

Western Palm Warblers have been seen all over the Central Florida lately. Now, we are starting to see them here at the banding area.

Western Palm Warbler

Rounding out the morning was a late-ish Swainson's Thrush. They usually come in before the other Thrushes. Will take it.

Swainson's Thrush

Going to be a bit chillier this weekend for the first weekend of November (!). Hope the Buntings swing back. Should be hearing Robins soon!

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Today's Totals

Birds Processed New Recaptured Total
Swainson's Thrush 1 0 1
Wood Thrush 1 0 1
Gray Catbird 1 0 1
House Wren 2 0 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 0 1
Common Yellowthroat 5 0 5
Eastern Phoebe 1 0 1
Western Palm Warbler 1 0 1
Totals 13 0 13

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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, November 2nd.
All nets will be opened by 6:20 A.M.

Sunday, October 19, 2025

A Couple of Interesting Catches

A cool morning. Still wearing light jackets as we set up. We were hoping for a wave of Indigo Bunting, but that never really turnded up. We did get 2 feamles and they were calling up and down the river. Maybe next week.

Gray Catbirds were still present in good numbers, yeilding 7 of them.

We finally caught a late arrival of a Black-throated Blue Warbler. Usually get them a bit earlier.

Black-throated Blue Warbler

A couple of House Wrens were caught today.

House Wren

Finally, a new Swainson's Thrush arrived a bit later than usual.

Swainson's Thrush

Several Common Yellowthroats were caught. One adult and two juvenile males.

Common Yellowthroat

Northern Cardinals have been very vocal but evading nets. Until this ragged male was caught in Net 7.

Northern Cardinal

A few other birds were processed. An Ovenbird and an Eastern Phoebe that was calling all morning and finally hit a net.

We were closing up for the day and got our best bird right at the end. An adult Red-bellied Woodpecker! We usually catch juvenile woodpeckers out of the nests in the Spring, so this was a nice surprise to get an adult here in the Fall.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Birds are going to move back and forth through the country as a high closes in. At least it should push Melissa back away from us. How many new birds show up in Orlando? We shall see.

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Today's Totals

Birds Processed New Recaptured Total
Swainson's Thrush 1 0 1
Ovenbird 1 0 1
Gray Catbird 6 1 7
House Wren 2 0 2
Northern Waterthrush 1 0 1
House Wren 2 0 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 0 1
Northern Cardinal 0 1 1
Common Yellowthroat 3 0 3
Indigo Bunting 2 0 2
Eastern Phoebe 1 0 1
Red-bellid Woodpecker 1 0 1
Totals 19 1 20

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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, October 26th.
All nets will be opened by 7:15 A.M.

Sunday, October 12, 2025

Peak Happening Late

Peak Migration is happening a couple weeks late. Climate Change? I am no expert. Catbirds used to hit in force on Octoboer 1st. Now we are back to the 12th. A few were coming through in small numbers, but today was as if they were everywhere. They joined other migrants and locals as you will see below.

We had a nice cool blast to start the morning. Low 60s. We started the day with our first Indigo Bunting of the season. A young female. We also caught another adult female later.

Indigo Bunting

Gray Catbirds ruled the count today with 9 birds. They typically hit on the 1st. We have been hearing a couple hear and there, but this is the first big rush through the area. One new volunteer showed up to release one of them.

Gray Catbird

House Wrens are showing up in bigger numbers, too.

House Wren

It has been quite a while since we captured a Belted Kingfisher. This lady found Net 18 early on. Warning: they bite. HARD.

Belted Kingfisher

One of our 2 recaps was a female Northern Cardinal.

Northern Cardinal

The second recap was a Common Yellowthroat and another new one.

Common Yellowthroat

We thought all of the Northern Waterthrushes were gone. Still got one and heard several during the day.

Northern Waterthrush

It is always nice to get a Gray-cheeked Thrush. This is the brief time in the season to find them here as they migrate through quickly

Gray-cheeked Thrush

Ovenbirds are always a cute addition to the day.

Ovenbird

Finally, we caught a recap Carolina Wren. They have been calling like crazy, but not moving through the lanes much.

Carolina Wren

Looks like the fronts are shifting. The bigger flow of birds might head down Texas instead of the East coast. We shall see what happens next Sunday.

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Today's Totals

Birds Processed New Recaptured Total
Gray-Cheeked Thrush 1 0 1
Ovenbird 2 0 2
Gray Catbird 9 0 9
Carolina Wren 0 1 1
Northern Waterthrush 1 0 1
House Wren 2 0 2
Belted Kingfisher 1 0 1
Northern Cardinal 0 1 1
Common Yellowthroat 2 0 2
Indigo Bunting 2 0 2
Totals 21 2 23

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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, October 19th.
All nets will be opened by 7:15 A.M.

Sunday, October 5, 2025

Peak? Maybe not.

Rain was supposed to happen then it fell apart. So, we headed out to see what the situation was. It was a steady day. Not spectacular. Ranger Julian finnaly made it out with a couple of friends and we got to show them the workings of banding through the day. Only one Catbird on peak Catbird day. Oh, well. Climate is definitely changing migration, no matter what some are saying. Should have 20 Catbirds on the first week of October.

Still some action. Mostly Yellowthroats, but some nice surpizes. We did start with a female Common Yellowthroat

. Common Yellowthroat

Through the day we caught others. Like an adult male Common Yellowthroat

Common Yellowthroat

And close out witha juvenile male Common Yellowthroat

Common Yellowthroat

White-eyed Vireos are local but they also come through as migrants. When they do, they are full of stored fat and keep moving down to the Carribian. This was the case for this brid and another we will show in a bit.

White-eyed Vireo

Gray Catbirds are usually very common this time of year. It used to signal the peak of migration for us. However, we only caught one today. Next week looks better for migration.

Gray Catbird

Another White-eyed Vireo, again, loaded up with fat to make the journey to the South.

White-eyed Vireo

Got an Ovenbird along the way.

Ovenbird

Julian made it over today with a couple of friends and they got to release few birds during the morning.

Ovenbird

We caught our first returning House Wren of the season, This bird was first banded in the Spring of this year. Coming back to stay for the Winter.

House Wren

American Redstarts are calling in the upper story of the trees and we caught a beautiful feamle today.

American Redstart

An unexpected Brown Thrasher was caught at Net 24. They usually stay near the table, but this juvenile was down by the marsh.

Brown Thrasher

A nice day with 18 birds. Next week looks to be the big day, accordinging to the projections. Let's do it!

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Today's Totals

Birds Processed New Recaptured Total
Brown Thrasher 1 0 1
Ovenbird 1 0 1
Gray Catbird 1 0 1
White-eyed Vireo 2 0 2
American Restart 1 0 1
House Wren 0 1 1
Common Yellowthroat 10 1 11
Totals 17 1 18

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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, October 12th.
All nets will be opened by 7:10 A.M.