Well. Didn't See That Coming...

Ending migration right now so we had no idea what we might find today. Our first bird at dawn was a second year Brown Thrasher. They breed here but are still pretty secretive in the area.



Things quickly grew quiet but Christine came down to announce that she had a bird in Net 2. At first she thought it might be a Common Yellowthroat but changed her mind and that it should be given a closer look. Once we did...hmmmm. Turned out to be a new bird for us. Last week we had male Connecticut Warblers and this was our first ever female.



Then we returned to normal by catching local birds. This female Northern Cardinal was a new capture but definitely breeding now. That squint shows how mean she was. "Give me one chance..."



Later we caught a male Northern Cardinal who resides just down the lanes. We later recaptured another that has a territory near the end of the lanes.



Yet another female Connecticut Warbler was captured in Net 17. Wow. Again, it was 10 years ago that we captured this species at Wekiwa Springs and it was at the exact same time of year.



The next check of nets began and Phyllis called that we might like a photo op of a turtle. We thought it was in the river but this girl was up on the net lane. A Florida Cooter (Pseudemys floridans) climbed all the way up on our side to find a nice spot to lay eggs.



We were briefly distracted by calls overhead as a pair of Swallow-tailed Kites sailed high in the sky.



Meanwhile, the Cooter moved directly in our path to Net 4 and began to dig holes to deposit her eggs.



On closer inspection, she actually had three holes working. Later, Phyllis noticed eggs in the holes.



Our photo efforts had to end since we suddenly had some birds in Net 11. A pair of Tufted Titmice. One recaptured adult that we first banded as a young bird last year was the first to be processed. She was still growing in her brood patch and looking all scruffy.



Think birds aren't dinosaurs? Just look at those awesome talons on Titmice!



Next up was the other Tufted Titmouse. A baby who was full of attitude.



Just after being banding it demanded to be released.



Then relented to be photographed for a more respectful pose. We released the pair together by the river. Mom went one way and the chick the other. Mom called for her child and they soon reunited a few feet away before getting back with the flock.



Two weeks to go in Session 8. Will most likely be filled with local breeding birds but you never know...
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, May 22nd.
All nets will be opened by 6:00 A.M.

Party Isn't Over Yet

Just when we think it is going to turn back into a locals-only kind of weekend we were really surprised to get a bunch of migrants thrown into the mix. Even better, they were migrants that are pretty rare for this area this time of year.

Right after sunrise there was a bird in Net 9 that looked out of place. Approaching the bird it was clear it was Bird-of-the-Day right away. We had not caught a Connecticut Warbler in about 10 years and that was at the old banding site in Wekiwa Springs!



While we were finishing up with the banding of the Connecticut Warbler, a second one was caught close to the table. Wow. The first bird was actually recaptured 90 minutes later just down the lanes. Birders hearing of the find came out later and reported hearing a few more.

Next up was a Veery. Typically, they are only seen here in the early Fall. Odd thing about this bird is that it was a juvenile and still retained its juvenile plumage from tip to tail.



Then we had a lovely little Common Yellowthroat.



A local Carolina Wren was recaptured. We first banded this bird 3 years ago and it is still doing quite well and has a brood patch so it either is currently tending a nest or fledglings.



The Barred Owl family was still easy to find but they weren't as active as last week which forced us to close a few nets. Most of the crew got to be amused as a squirrel decided to test the new baby. Brave little rodent. The adults do occasionally take them for lunch.



Becky had a very feisty new female Northern Cardinal. That is not a smile on her face. Cardinals bite. Hard.



Northern Cardinals are nesting now, too, and with all the vivid color she is in full breeding mode.



Later on we recaptured a male Northern Cardinal.



Checking the end of the net lanes we flushed a Green Heron next to Net 21.



Andrew dared to wander out to the lake's edge even though it is getting overgrown and very wet after recent rains. It was worth it, though. Feeding in the Willow at the end was a very late Yellow Warbler. This is another rare find that should be up North by now. Not one complaint except that it flew over to Net 21 to bathe in dew and preen but went around the net. We have never banded a Yellow Warbler. They love the higher branches.



Heading back toward the table, Chris spotted a Blackpoll Warbler along the river. There are large flocks moving through the area right now but they are another species that is difficult to catch.



We then caught a very small male Downy Woodpecker and released him back near the nest tree in the snags by Net 16 where he was captured.



In Net 7 Maria had Northern Parula. Like the wren earlier in the morning, we banded this bird 3 years ago.



One of our visitors got to release the Northern Parula.



While we didn't get that Yellow Warbler a family of Tufted Titmice moved through to feed. When we do capture them it usually most or all of the flock since they stick so close together. We only got 2 of them but the rest of the family was right there watching us as we extracted a recaptured adult...



...and a newly fledged juvenile. Check out that gape on that cute little thing! We processed the birds and then released them together by the river so they could head back to the flock.



It didn't really sink in until we were leaving how awesome a day it really was. Three rare birds and plenty of data on the local birds. Maybe, just maybe, we can have one more weekend of migrants. Please? Three weeks to go in the season.
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, May 15th.
All nets will be opened by 6:05 A.M.