A Nice Variety Before the Wind

A good chance that anything could happen today so we set out as usual to get what we could before the wind kicked up as the day broke. Our first bird of the day was an Eastern Screech Owl. It was a recaptured bird that we first banded nearly a year ago. They always look so sleepy when in the hand but it quickly flew off after the data was collected.



As we were discussing how the House Wrens were occasionally being heard but not caught, we did manage to get one.



We did get two Northern Cardinals today. One male was a recaptured (photo not worth the while) and a female that was showing a brood patch.



We are getting near the end of Thrush captures so it was nice to had a Hermit Thrush today.



Despite knowing that it is the start of gator breeding season, Andrew took one more trip out toward the lake since it was a bit cool. The most interesting find was that a flock of Cedar Waxwings were out in the willows picking at all sorts of items.



It was difficult to get some good shots as the wind was picking up but we were lucky to catch a flight shot showing the wax tips on the tail feathers.



Seeing some scat on the make-shift walkway where the lane floods made us wonder as to the animal that left a present. Time to check the trail cam. We know Andrew as he sets nets before dawn...



...but who is this dude showing up the day before walking the trail on a closed property on a Saturday?



An earlier night found the raccoon family parading toward the lake.



Possums was beginning to increase their activity in the middle of the night.



The thought that the scat animal was a Bobcat was later confirmed. Many shots in the daylight and night showed our cat strolling through the area in the next 2 days.



What this is...we are not sure. Shot seems to not be a possum. Too bulky. Thoughts?



We did get a couple more birds before the winds shut us down. Always nice to get a Ruby-crowned Kinglet recapture. We might be getting more as we head toward Spring migration.



Connie had a bird at Net 20. She thought it was possibly a Thrush species. Well, she was close. At least by name. She had returned with a Louisiana Waterthrush (actually a warbler) that make a rare appearance in early August and moving back through in the Spring. A nice end to the day!



Weather forecasts are all over the place. Next Sunday is Easter and April Fools Day. Interesting...
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Easter Sunday, April 1st. No foolin'...
All nets will be opened by 6:45 A.M.

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.

Quick Note

Happy Valentine's Day! Banding knows few holidays. We can celebrate later in the evening.



We had a couple of visitors today and one got to release one of our banded Gray Catbirds.



We didn't get a lot of birds today but it was a pleasure to capture one of our local Brown Thrashers.



More birds could be heard our by the marsh but they weren't coming as close to Net 18 as we would have liked.



Across from Net 21, an American Goldfinch was feeding on the willows.



Hard to see but the white specks over the far side of the lake are Forster's Terns. They sometimes fish closer to this side but not that often.



Just before heading back to the table, a small flock of Cedar Waxwings sped over the lake. Not too many Waxwings or Robins this year for some reason.



Saturday, February 20th, We will be at the Orlando Wetlands Festival and probably not banding Sunday after a long day there. Gets kind of exhausting after setting poles and nets, banding all day, and then packing up all the gear again. We should be back on schedule on the 28th.
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Saturday, February 20th.
All nets will be opened by 7:00 A.M. Festival starts at 9 AM.

Slow But Steady

It was only suppose to be a 10% chance of rain but we had to leave a little early today as the sprinkles got pretty hard just after 9 AM. We close all nets if there is rain for the safety of the birds. Still, we had a pretty good day that seemed quiet but we were catching birds at a leisurely, but steady, pace. There are plenty of Gray Catbirds sticking around for now.



We were treated with the high-pitched whistles of Cedar Waxwings as they fed at the tops of the Florida Black Cherries all morning. This is usually the last tree we see them at before they all head North.



Common Yellowthroats are starting to move around again. This female was captured out near the lake where they are heard most often.



A female Ruby-throated Hummingbird was captured and released at the nets. We do not have the special permit to band hummingbirds.



In the middle of the net lanes we captured a Tufted Titmouse. Another flew into the net as this one was removed but escaped before reaching it.



The Tufted Titmouse flew up to a nearby tree after release and couldn't make sense of her new jewelry.



An adult Carolina Wren was caught next to where the Titmice were. Most of the local adult birds captured today had brood patches so babies are just emerging or not too far from heading into the woods.



Red-shouldered Hawks were seen several times carrying nest material and cruising the area.



We have finally gotten some good rains and the vegetation shows it. Even the fungus are reawakening along the trails.



A male Common Yellowthroat was captured, also down by the lake.



Butterflies are making a bigger appearance. Zebra Longwings were visiting the Spanish Needles.



A Northern Parula was foraging around one of the tangerine trees and headed directly into a net across the lane.



Finally, another baby Carolina Wren from the same spot as the one we banded two weeks ago and joins the numbered and was released back to the family site.



A nice mix even on a day cut short by rain. One month remains in our banding session before we take a two month break. Still a chance for some migrants next week.

NOTE: No banding on the 5th. Rained out.
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, May 12th.
All nets will be opened by 6:10 A.M.

The Morning After

Back at the banding site after the Birdapalooza event yesterday, we sacrificed sleep (Daylight Savings Time also kicked in) and headed into the morning ready for whatever might greet us. Just after we set nets and got the table in order, we only had to walk a few feet to see our first bird on the day in Net 3. A Northern Cardinal.



We had a visitor on hand. Phyllis joined us and supplied some photos along the way. Back at the table, we recorded the info for the Cardinal which was banded previously just down the lane so it is still on territory.



Our next bird was a recaptured Swamp Sparrow we banded earlier in the year.



Charles, Christine and Andrew record the next set of data.



Up next, a Gray Catbird flew in. Finally, a new bird for the day.



As Phyllis remarked, it only takes seconds to get the band on a new bird, which is quickly released safely back into the wild.



Another recapture, a female Northern Cardinal.



Over the river, a Barred Owl flew in for a bit and then we sighted the other of the pair preening in the branches.



We had a Red-shouldered Hawk hunting around the banding table all morning and at one point we watched it with some sort of prey to eat. It was hard to tell, but we are speculating that is was a frog.



Out on the lake, a Pied-billed Grebe foraged near the fishing pier.



Closer to the net lane, a Red-bellied Slider soaked up the sunlight for most of the morning.



Yellow-rumped Warblers were still around but mostly staying out in the willows hawking insects over the lake.



Still, we managed to capture a couple of them before the day was over.



As we closed the nets for the day, we began to hear the high-pitched calls of Cedar Waxwings. They were in the oaks near the Barred Owl sightings and were gleaning from the branches.



A nice morning out by the lake. Birds are beginning to move North and we hope to begin capturing more migrants for the next few weeks.
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, March 17th.
All nets will be opened by 7:00 A.M.