Slow Start, Strong Finish.

It was an odd sort of day but full of surprises as we got later into the morning. Conditions were ripe for any migrants to be passing through but it took a while to get any in the nets. We did start the morning with our first migrant: an Ovenbird.



We recaptured 2 Northern Cardinals during the day. One was a male banded last year and the other was a female we banded about 4 years ago. Both were in the same areas that they were originally caught so they seem to have their territories secure.



We took trips down the nets lanes and as we waited for new captures we watched the baby Barred Owl which is still hanging out in the middle of the property.



Later on, it did its best vampire impression.



Nearby, the Blackberry bushes that Richard planted last year bloomed and have started to produce a lot of fruit.



Caterpillars started coming out after the sun broke through the clouds.



The Painted Leaf plants are showing more color and appear to spread near Net 14. Fine by us.



Gray Catbirds are still around but not for much longer. They should be leaving for slightly more Northern climes where they breed.



Another nest along the river is now full of Red-shouldered Hawks testing their wings.



It is hard to get a clear view through the branches but we could see that there are two fledglings up there. The adults have been quietly searching for food during the day.



We finally got a Northern Waterthrush that Alease found in Net 21. They tend to head South along a point farther up the river but come back North by the mouth of the river at Lake Lotus.



Momma Barred Owl was not seen for most of the morning but she eventually flew in to snuggle with her offspring.



One of our best surprises of the morning was seeing the male Swallow-tailed Kite perching across the river in full view. Hopefully, we will continue to get more great shots as they continue to tend the nest and raise their brood.



Just a bit later, a Tricolored Heron was fishing along the bank just below the same location. They tend to stick to the lake so it was nice to see one near the banding table.



Before Lynn left, she brought back a couple of good birds. We don't catch Mourning Doves too often so it was another nice surprise for the day.



She also had a male Northern Parula. They breed here in the park but typically stay high in the treetops.



Our last run produced three birds. One was the female Cardinal shown above. the next net held a female Downy Woodpecker. Last week we caught a male. Pileated and Red-bellied Woodpeckers also are breeding in the park.



Two nets further revealed a male Black-throated Blue Warbler. This is the last push for this species and males come through first. Maybe we can net a female before migration ends.



Not a bad day. Average for this time of year. The month of May should see us catching hatched Carolina Wrens and Northern Cardinals before we shut down for June and July.
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, May 4th.
All nets will be opened by 6:15 A.M.

Slow But Exciting

Once again, rains moved through the night before and left us with some soggy sneakers. Fortunately, the weather cleared overnight and we only had to deal with a bit of a chill through the morning.



We captured a new Gray Catbird first off but things were really pretty slow. Richard repaired a nest box that was compromised last year. Now, we have it set up with added flashing around the tree trunk in hopes that predators will be kept at bay. Susan, Richard, and Andrew pose after the handy-work. Perhaps the Wood Ducks will use it again.



Richard and Susan began to check the other boxes. Down below the banding table, box 3 only held a single Flying Squirrel.



As Susan and Richard continued to move on to other boxes, Andrew headed up the lanes to check the nets. He noticed a single Mourning Dove feather floating down from above. There was no sign of the bird so he moved along and noticed a bunch of feather around Net 15. A dove had been in the net at least briefly. Then they all began to notice more and more feathers along the net lane.



Andrew continued to scan for signs of a predator with prey in the trees. Suddenly, Susan was shouting up ahead, followed by Richard calling out for assistance. Up in Net 1, Susan was holding the net closed to contain a Cooper's Hawk. And the Mourning Dove. Andrew came in to extract the hawk.



Richard continued down the lanes to get the other volunteers over to witness the catch. Picture time!



Lynn got a great close-up of the hawk before we headed back to the table to take information and band it.



Andrew took his own close-up before processing the data on this bird.



To verify the proper band size needed, we use measuring tools that confirm that the right band size is applied. All the while avoiding those formidable talons!



We placed a holding bag over the Cooper's Hawk upper body to keep it calm and to avoid any chance of a bite. While Becki held the hawk in place, Andrew secured the lock-on band.



We decided to bring the now deceased Mourning Dove along with us in hopes that if we placed in near the net lanes the hawk would find it later after release. Nothing else we could do for this bird now.



Once banded, the Cooper's Hawk was set free and flew over the river and then back into the woods, no worse for wear.



Whew! That was a rush for all of us. Cooper's Hawks are not rare in the area and we nearly caught one last year, but Red-shouldered Hawks are more common.

Time to check nets again and Christine noted the recently deposited Bobcat scat near Net 22. The cat is here, but not often seen, and always uses this spot as its bathroom.



Nearby, several Eastern Phoebes were haunting the Cypress trees. They were hunting but not calling much. There were three of them in this small area but not coming close enough to the nets.



Another bird that keeps taunting us are the American Goldfinches. They are close to Net 21. So close...



Out along the mouth of the river, Becki scans the flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds cruising from the marsh to over the pier.



Forster's Terns were soaring over Lake Lotus and a pair of male Anhinga were vying for positions in the trees and chasing one another into the sky.



The resident Osprey was hunting overhead and posed in the wind before plunging into the lake in search of food.



Back in the willows, a few Palm Warblers were moving through and they were joined by a lone Orange-crowned Warbler. Only a Western Palm Warbler from this flock was captured today.



Back by the table we recaptured a Hermit Thrush while Ranger Frank stopped by for a visit.



In a quick rush, we caught three Ruby-crowned Kinglets. The Sun was warming the area and birds were finally coming out to feed.



An odd discovery. While we were busy with the day, some bird seemed to have dropped its breakfast. A Gizzard Shad was resting on a sand spit in the river. Puncture wounds confirm it was held by some bird at some point but no one saw this event happen.



That concluded our day and the air was finally getting warmer. One last view of Net 1 with a Mourning Dove feather still clinging to it reminded us of our earlier capture.



You never know what might show up in the nets. Today's Cooper's Hawk was a nice surprise and all of the other captures and observations made for a full morning. Some of us will head to the Gulf to round up sparrows for a friend's project and if the weather is not too cold we will be back at Lake Lotus next Sunday.

NOTE: Wind chills are forecast to be near freezing on the 19th. We are staying home for our comfort and the safety of the birds.
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, January 26th.
All nets will be opened by 6:50 A.M.

Getting Quiet, Hot

Would it be more babies this week or slim pickings? Unfortunately, the latter. Just not much moving around today as the humidity finally creeps in. We did capture a Brown Thrasher right before sunrise.



It was not in a mood but we needed to tighten that band a bit more.



A bit later we caught one of our adult Carolina Wren pairs together in Net 4 but we didn't take photos as we have plenty of them. However, Maria finally made it back out and took a lot of shots around the riverside. Such as this one showing that the next crop of Muscadine Grapes are beginning to set.



Still blooming strong for another year is the Partridge Pea near Net 2.



Even grasses can be pretty in their own right.



Maria and Susan headed down Andrew's trail that leads to the lake.



Anyone know what the name of this bug is?



An Ichneumon wasp wanders around in search of food. We believe genus Eutanyacra.



We began hearing the now familiar calls of the local Summer Tanagers. Andrew decided to try and get some shots.



However, they stay so far back across the river it is proving difficult. See that tiny red dot...?



Great-crested Flycatchers do come a little closer but not by much.



Meanwhile, a native Green Anole turns from green to brown. Or is it turning brown from green?



Time to go home. One more surprise as we captured a Mourning Dove in Net 18 just as Christine was about to close it up!



Mourning Doves are often too hard to catch as they are too big for the mesh size in the nets but we do get a few.



One more week before the end of Session 3.
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, May 29th.

All nets will be opened by 6:00 A.M.