Moving Toward Spring

A couple of sure signs of Spring are showing. Barred Owls are becoming active (reports of a possible chick nearby), Northern Parulas are suddenly singing, and the weather is finally warming.

The big different change this morning was the Little Wekiva River which has risen quite nicely after we just had over 5 inches of rain in the area over the end of last week.



Last year, several of us were jumping from side to side to visit the park proper while waiting for birds to find the nets.



We caught a number of recaptures and some new birds. One of the recaps was this still-wintering Hermit Thrush.



We also got a new male Northern Cardinal and a recaptured female but the Brown Thrashers are moving around again and bring more smiles than the Cardinals. Nothing against Cardinals. They just bite harder...



First bird of the day was actually this new House Wren who seems to say, "Let me go, or else!"



We continue to note the flowering of local plants and trees. The Cherry Laurels are blooming like mad all over the area and now we have found that the wild cherry trees are also joining in. Along the net lanes, the thistle and Earthsmoke are taking over the ground level from the lake to near the banding table.



The sharp eyes of Christine and Susan located a pair of Black-dotted Brown Moths mating in the leaf litter along the net lanes. An interesting diversion.



Finally, we recaptured 'our' Bachman's Sparrow we banded a few weeks ago. Seems to enjoy the digs around here.



Almost time for local bird babies to emerge and time to check the nets to keep the owls from getting too curious. Wood Ducks are also very active and we hope they find the nest box near the river.
______________________________________
Next Banding Day: Sunday, March 21th.

We will open nets by 7:00 A.M.

Hermit Thrushes Return

The morning was looking very promising for bird captures as calls were being heard as soon as we got outside at 5 AM. The dawn chorus was very strong with birds calling on both sides of the river nearly non-stop. Even our first run at 6 AM was good with 5 birds netted.

Then, right after 7AM, all activity halted. Maybe the encroaching cold front played a part as clouds slid in overhead. We caught no birds after 7:30. There was a Cooper's Hawk gliding past the net lanes but other than that no visible signs of predators. The birds just disappeared.

The day was not a total loss. We did band 3 Hermit Thrushes. Last year we did not get a Hermit Thrush until the first week of December.



One more, with feeling: "Tail, tail, tail!". More than one of us was thinking Swainson's Thrush in the predawn light until we turned it around. The reddish tail always gives the Hermit away.



Up and down the river was the sound of Eastern Pheobes. This one was teasing us by sitting on the tree about 15 feet from net 3. Never went in the net.



Red-bellied Woodpeckers made their undulating flights around the area, as always.



Once the place went quiet we settled in to study the other sights of Nature. In one net was a dragonfly, ID'd by friend Paul Hueber as a Blue-faced Darner.



Not in any net was one of the many White Peacock butterflies.



Along the trail is a nice Common Nightshade plant.



A bit further down, the Primrose Willow is still blooming.



Always something interesting at Lake Lotus!
______________________________________
Next Banding Day: Sunday, November 8th.

We will open nets by 6:15 A.M.

Fall Must Be Near

Something changes in the mind once certain birds begin their arrival here in Florida. It triggers certain expectations and realizations about the world around us. Especially once one understands different patterns such as bird migration.

One of these triggers is the arrival of migratory thrushes. The first non-resident species to arrive at the end of Summer is the Veery. Today we banded our first of the new season and it definitely now is starting to feel more like Fall is almost in reach.



We also got our first Common Yellowthroat of the season. Both of these new migrants were captured in the same net but at different times. This is a net that seems to catch migrants for the most part so it must be in the seasonal travel lane.



There was also a big commotion among the feeding Titmice. We were discussing how we hardly catch any as they are so good at spotting the nets and flying over them. Minutes later we caught THREE in the same net!



We captured our 3rd Louisiana Waterthrush today. At the end of the day we also caught a Northern Waterthrush for a good comparison between the two for all of the volunteers. Check last week's entry for a shot of a Louisiana Waterthrush.



Last banded bird of the day was another migrant. A Red-Eyed Vireo. This bird had recently finished some breakfast and was busy pooping it out all over the place. Most likely Poke Berry. You can see some purple on the feathers of this bird.



Andrew heads up the trail, pruners in hand, to cut some invasives and haul a tire out of the woods. Folks used to dump all sorts of things out here before the property was fenced off years ago and we often find interesting bits of jetsam as we make our rounds.



This set of plants have been clinging onto the river bank for quite some time. We wondered what they were and finally they bloomed. Swamp Lily!



Never noticed any Primrose Willow around here before. Especially unexpected along the dry net lanes.



One more bird as we headed home. Up on a dead tree trunk near the front gate, a juvenile Wood Stork posed for a while before headed off toward the lake.



Definitely a fun day with new species showing up along the way. Time to rest up for next week.

______________________________________
Next Banding Day: Sunday, September 13th.

We will open nets by 6:30 A.M.

Two Migrants, Other Fauna and Flora

Not too uncomfortable a day. Birds were still pretty scarce but we did end up with 2 migrants and enjoyed the great outdoors, as always.

2nd bird of the morning was our 2nd Louisiana Waterthrush of the season! Last season we had only a Northern Waterthrush. Maybe August is the Louisiana Waterthrush time to pass through? More years of observations should help figure this out.



We also captured more Carolina Wrens. Nothing new but one of the birds was new so we are rounding them all up one by one.



Always fun to watch their fixation on certain points as you hold them. The body moves but the head stays at the same point in space.



Another young Cardinal joined the ranks of the banded local birds.



Our next migrant was a new bird for us at this site. A Red-eyed Vireo!



Now that we are seeing birds that have been traveling we can start checking for fat deposits on the bird's body. This shot shows that there is the yellowish fat under the feathers.



As we were closing up for the day Maria let out a short yelp of surprise. Seems a visitor was waiting inside the net poles and hopped out as she separated them. It was a very agile treefrog which changed colors as it landed on the grey-brown oak branches.

Another Cuban treefrog?



We observed many other sights as we ended our day such as the now blooming Scarlet Mourning Glory.



Right next to that plant was one of many groupings of a plant of the Old World tropics: Wild Balsam Apple.



There are also numerous Sensitive Briar plants as we head toward the exit. Their leaves fold up if touched and the flowers are a delicate marvel.



We were most excited, though, by this discovery. Susan did some quick research a short time after we left and decided on the Giant Leopard Moth caterpillar. It is also called the Eyed Tiger Moth.



This is the first caterpillar we have found actually feeding on Air Potato, one of our nemesis plant species! At least someone is helping us get rid of this plant.



Almost time for Buntings!

______________________________________
Next Banding Day: Sunday, September 6th.

We will open nets by 6:30 A.M.

The River Returns. Owls Remain on the Hunt.

Over 10 inches have fallen since our last banding session 2 weeks ago and the Little Wekiva River once more looks like a river.



It was nice to see all of that water flowing toward Lake Lotus again. Drought numbers have disappeared with arrival of the deluge.



However, even in the pre-dawn darkness, it was clearly revealed by head-lamps that we wouldn't be able to set up all of the nets. Net 10 was completely flooded near the pier. Net 13 wasn't much better.



Hard to believe that Susan and Andrew crossed this very point a month ago setting up for Earth Day with water barely to their ankles. It now runs several feet deep.



Still, most nets were raised and we caught a number of Cardinals. Most were recaptures but we did get a new one today. He was so feisty that he needed a better grip to avoid us getting bitten.



Our last bird of the day was another new bird. A Blue Jay. Though Jays are almost always heard along the trail, they usually stay near the lake and away from the nets.



As the Jay and a couple Cardinals were being collected from the nets, the commotion drew the attention of a familiar resident. This Barred Owl flew to a branch directly over the Cardinals which were waiting in bags hung on a net pole to be returned to the table.



While we waited to see if the owls would move back into the woods we did a little flower watching. One of the finds were numerous Pokeberry bushes now in bloom.



Blooming through out the area are the Elderberry plants. Parts have formed fruit while most are still brightening up the green with their brilliant white flowers.



Painted Leaf plants are found all over the Lake Lotus property and always bring a smile.



Under the abandoned feeder experiment, Sunflowers are just now about to open up.



While just off the beaten path a single Rattlebox bloom shines in the shade.



Meanwhile, the owls were still present. The wet baby was constantly begging for more food.



With that in mind, we closed up a little early leaving a parent owl to guard the area for another week.



As we left we checked on the Leather Flower from 2 weeks ago. It now has gone to seed and looks a lot like a Brittle Star. We found this seed head last year but did not know what it was. Mystery solved!



It was an eventful, if soggy, day despite being run out by hungry owls.
______________________________________
Next Banding Day: Sunday, May 31st.

We will open nets around 6:00 A.M.