A Little Better

The predicted rain did not materialize much over the past week but we did catch a few more birds. Only two weeks remain in our 2011-2012 Session. Then we pack up for the months of June and July. By then the humidity should return and we will all be happy sleep in.

Still, work to do today so we got things in gear with the help of a visitor, Lauren, and listened to the dawn chorus at sunrise. The Barred Owls were not heard this morning but Richard and Christine did see one fly across the road as they approached the parking area. No Towhee calls, either, but we did finally get a Chuck-wills-widow to give us a few calls before the morning began.

Our first catch of the day was an infrequent animal. A Little Brown Bat. We do get one or two every session but we usually don't get a good photo. Andrew used a holding bag to secure the bat while Christine managed to free its legs and wings. We then walked it back to the table for a photo and then released it safely into the morning air.



A few minutes later, Charles announced that was something in Net 3. The bat had just flown in that direction so we feared the worse. Fortunately, it was our first bird of the day. A Common Yellowthroat.



Shortly thereafter, Richard returned from his round and delivered a Red-winged Blackbird which Lauren got to band. Add another adult female to this species list.



Things soon grew quiet and we did our rounds and kept an eye out for anything special. Nope. The bull gator did finally glide across the lake but there was not much activity anywhere for a stretch. We did notice that the Button Bushes are moving into full bloom. Such an intricate and fascinating flower.



During one run we noticed some little noises that seemed to be coming from an overhead branch in one of the dead trees near the end of the net lanes. Closer inspection revealed a pair of Downy Woodpeckers coming and going to a small hole where the chicks were calling for food. Here, the male makes a quick leap from home to find more insects.



He didn't usually have to go too far. We followed the sounds of some baby Cardinals into the shade and the woodpecker zoomed in. He inspected each branch and crevice before making a catch and returning to the tree.



When things get too quiet, Andrew hops the river. Some smaller gators were seen and Purple Gallinules waded through the vegetation on the far side of the lake. Closer to the pier, a Common Gallinule poses in all its silky glory. Love those feet!



Along the boardwalk next to the river a Red-shouldered Hawk flew off but led to the discovery of another that has recently left the nest.



With things being quiet we decided to call it a morning. Just as we were closing the nets we made 3 more captures. Out near the lake we got our second Common Yellowthroat.



Over at Net 9, Charles got two juvenile Northern Cardinals. Both females. You can easily tell the younger birds by their black bills and yellow gape still present. Cardinal bills turn their familiar orange as they reach adulthood.



That wraps our morning! Forecast is again calling for a better chance of rain for the next week. We shall see...
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, May 20th.
All nets will be opened by 6:00 A.M.

Fast Start but Quick Quiet

A nice crisp morning at the banding site but not much movement by birds. We did catch a good number of birds and, once again, half our captures were Gray Catbirds. We did manage to get some other interesting captures like one of our resident pairs of Carolina Wrens. They have taken up house behind Net 17 in the woods but wander out from time to time.



Common Yellowthroats live nearly year-round in the marshy areas of the park but we used to catch them farther up river this time of year. Seems there may be a decline in this species over the past couple of years. This male was caught by the marsh.



Also down by the marsh are the flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds. One of the reasons we set Net 21 down there was to hopefully catch some. Mission accomplished today as we captured two adult males.



Just beyond Net 21 is the point where the Little Wekiva enters Lake Lotus. We have a trail that leads to the mouth of the river and often do some bird watching from there. Way out in the middle of the lake a bull Alligator follows a smaller gator toward the eastern cove.



Closer to shore, a Common Gallinule wades in.



Nearby, a lone remaining American Coot putts around the pier area. Most Coots have headed back North throughout Central Florida.



A pair of Boat-tailed Grackles searched for food and took baths in the shallow water while showing off their beautiful blues and purples.



Then, out of nowhere, a juvenile White Ibis strode out to do a little foraging.



One of our final capture of the day was our second Northern Waterthrush in as many weeks. Seems they go up through here during the Spring and down farther up in the Fall.



Earth Day celebrations at the park are next week so we will be there (see below). It will be interesting to see if we catch our old friends we have banded there over the past few years.
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, April 22th.

NOTE: This is Earth Day at Lake Lotus! We will not be at our usual spot but inside the park itself. We will be doing banding demos all day until 3:00 PM. Parking is available at the tram lot across the street from Lake Lotus. The main hours for the event are from 10 AM to 3 PM. There is a bird watching tour that begins at 7:30 AM. Call 407-293-8885 if you plan of attending the birding tour.

All nets will be opened by 7:00 A.M.

Mixed Bag, Big Surprise

Sit back. Long post. Not that that is a bad thing.

Limpkins were calling just before dawn but not much else seemed to be active until just before the usual Dawn Chorus. As we headed back to the table to get ready for the first lane runs, the loudest calls were from Brown Thrashers. Carolina Wrens chimed in and Cardinals swept back in forth in the gloom. Andrew checked Net 2 on a hunch and found a recaptured Ovenbird. As he was extracting that bird Richard called out that more birds were being brought to the table.

Christine was returning with the formally heard Brown Thrasher and another member of the flock. She dropped them off and headed back out down the lanes. The Thrashers consisted of a new bird and one recapture.



As we prepared to band the new birds, Christine shouted, "Owl!" just down the way. We looked for our gloves (and couldn't find them!) and headed down near the river. We met up with Christine to find a Barred Owl in Net 11.



Without protection, we had to size up the options for getting this strong predator safely out of the net. Owls have extremely strong talons and sharp claws that are capable of major damage to tender flesh. Andrew had Christine recline the owl backward and tested reflexes by dropping an empty bag onto the bird's feet. No sign of movement. The owl seemed completely relaxed.

Deep breath...grab those legs...then find a way to get behind the head while the birds claps its beak, looking for something to either grab or to scare us.



Extraction complete! Andrew looks a bit serious but that was more due to the fact that we were trying to get all the quick shots we could before release. Plus, owls are extremely strong.



We love our local pair of Barred Owls. So beautiful and so potentialyl deadly to prey. Just after this shot we released our bird and it was quickly met by its mate in the tree across the river. A nice catch and release. We could have banded this bird but we know it lives here and banding it wouldn't serve much purpose. It only roams about in a one mile zone year after year so...



Such an interesting start to the day. However, things soon grew quiet after we recaptured a House Wren and Carolina Wren. Time for some looking around while we wait. As the Sun rises, a Day Flower opens to greet the morning.



The willows are nearing full bloom, attracting insects and birds after the insects.



The Redwinged Blackbirds are getting more active out in the Cattails and the males are singing loudly since last week. More secretive are the females which stay lower in the reeds.



Not many Warblers were seen today. They are mainly staying in the branches and on the marshy water edges, like this Myrtle (yellow-rump) Warbler, picking off insects.



Out at the lake, the Common Gallinule pair finds a place in the sunlight.



Farther out, one of the Limpkins feeds along the shoreline.



Blue Jays were on patrol this morning as the raptors woke and we managed to capture a new member of the flock.



This younger bird was very busy today. We actually recaptured it at the end of the day in a different net.



Back to watching Nature and Maria found a lot to photograph.



Tent Caterpillars are forming their colonial nests all along the river.



Other winged creatures were out today starting with a Gulf Fritillary.



Not often seen around the lanes, a Pearl Crescent butterfly warms itself along the way.



We are still looking for a positive iD on this pretty moth. It was hard enough to find in the first place!



Our final bird of the day was an Orange-crowned Warbler that we first banded in the same net location a few weeks ago and it was photographed in that area last week. Must like it here.



These tiny warblers get their name from the orange feathers that are not often seen when they are feeding in the trees.



As we headed out to close the nets for the day we nearly tripped over one the of more deadly snakes out there. A 4-foot Coral Snake was hanging around some fallen logs. It was seen here a couple months ago but we couldn't get a good shot of it. Remember, 'red next to yellow can kill a fellow' and keep your distance! In fact, it is a good idea to avoid snakes in general.



Temperatures may lower closer to normal next week and more adventures await!

UPDATE: We will not band on the 12th. Temperatures are predicted to be near freezing and the wind chill to be below. We will get to the Wetlands Festival on the 18th and hope to be back out at Lotus on the 19th.
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, February 19th.

All nets will be opened by 6:40 A.M.

Beginning 2012

A light fog greeted us as we began our new year at Lake Lotus. We had hoped that birds would be up and at 'em but they were rather quiet today. We only netted a few birds. The first of the morning was a migrant Hermit Thrush.



Next up, one of our previously banded Whip-poor-wills. Definitely Bird of the Day and caught just a few feet from where we have caught it two other times over the years. Talk about site fidelity!



Slow days allow us to focus on the other wonders in Nature. Dew-laced mornings always reveal spider webs easier like the abundant Bowl and Doily Spiders that are set up all over the net lanes. Look closely and you can see the spider near its bowl.



Farther up the lanes, Maria found a nice web coated with dew.



A bit more eerie, an Orchid Spider seems to grasp the sky.



We also wander down to the end of the trail to look out at Lake Lotus to see what we can see. The rising Sun provides a calm look at the Window on the Lake building down on the boardwalk.



On the small sandbar, many birds come by to rest. Palm Warblers were grabbing bugs throughout the morning and eventually other birds stopped by. Like the resident Limpkins.



Joining that bird was a Wintering Wood Stork.



Nearby, a Common Gallinule swims by on the calm waters.



An nice find near the lake was a male Northern Cardinal. Better yet, we could easily see that it was one of our banded birds.



Traveling back up the lanes, we find some other interesting things. Recent rains are springing up mushrooms off to the side.



We noticed a lot of droppings all up and down the lanes today. Since we have not been here in a few weeks things had time to get back to 'normal'. One massive area of droppings contained some owl pellets. Breaking them open revealed small bones that owls cannot digest. Probably from small rodents.



Close by was a collection of vertebrae. A snake?



Weather will shift. Willows are beginning to set buds which will bloom and bring insects. Which brings more birds. Can already feel the next waves building. Can't wait!
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, January 15th.

All nets will be opened by 6:40 A.M.