Gray, Misty, Cold, Windy.

Need more descriptors than that? We were convinced that the fog and clouds were going to be burned off after the sunrise. Not to be. Temps were supposed to be in the mid-60s, but the morning started at 51 degrees and stayed there all morning with gusting winds. No one warmed up. Not even the birds.

Our first American Robins flew over mid-morning (a week late), so there was that.

Not long after dawn, Andrew had a House Wren pop out of the grass a few yards away by Net 19. He managed to direct it around the nets in the area and back into Net 19 for our first bird of the day.



Our only other capture of the day was a Gray Catbird.



In the gloom, Wood Storks were gathering on the neighbors lawn near the marsh. Eventually, 6 juvenile birds had gathered together and trolled the shallow waters from time to time.



Most of us got closer for images as the birds stayed around all morning. This Stork seemed to be more in control of the others. More importantly, do you notice anything different? A band! We do not have a permit to band waterfowl or waders so we have sent info to the FWC to see if they know where this bird was first banded. Stay tuned.



One of the other Wood Storks seemed a bit more refined with its fluffed feathers. Adult Wood Storks have black bills, by the way.



Almost hidden in clear view, a Limpkin was preening next to the storks.



A Great Egret flew in to search the marsh near the storks, too.



As a sign of Fall, a single Maple leaf dropped quietly into the water as we got photos of the birds. Look closely and you can spot a tiny water spider to the left of the leaf.



We closed up and headed home. Mentioning Robins earlier reminded us that typically when they arrive so do the first Hooded Mergansers. Andrew found the first pair just up the road in their Winter hangout in Maitland Center.



In the adjoining pond, a Pied-billed Grebe searched for similar grub. Both birds love crayfish, tadpoles, and small fish.



The next cold front is approaching and the forecast has stayed fairly steady. Could be rain early Sunday. If the rains are present from 5-7 AM then we will not be banding. Please check the blog before deciding to join us. The call will be made by no later than 5 AM.
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, December 1st.
All nets will be opened by 6:30 A.M.

Pea Soup

A dense fog dropped into the area as we arrived at the banding site before dawn. It made for an eerie setting for putting the nets up. There was no sound save for occasional drips from the trees as the condensation gathered. Would the birds sleep in? Eventually, our Barred Owl pair called to each other before reconnecting.

We almost didn't see our first bird in the gloom. It was at the end of Net 6. This is not a terribly productive net but it paid off this morning. It captured only the third Wood Thrush we have banded here.



An Eastern Phoebe was brought in from Net 21 by the lake. They are still calling all over the property.



Back next to the woods in Net 4 was a recaptured White-eyed Vireo we first banded a month ago. They tend to nip.



Things remained pretty quiet. Time for a trip out to the lake. Did we mention it was foggy this morning?



In front of the fishing pier was a small flock of birds. A juvenile Wood Stork, Snowy Egret, White Ibis, and Common Gallinules were feeding side by side.



A Great Blue Heron soon joined them. The river had deposited a lot of sediment in front of the pier. The water is getting more shallow here after every flooding rain.



An Eastern Phoebe was taking advantage of Primrose Willow stalks to perch and hunt from.



Over in the cattails, a Marsh Wren played peek-a-boo. The Willow tree next to the Wren was later filled with birds once the fog began to burn off, including Orange-crowned, Prairie, Myrtle (Yellow-rump), and Palm Warblers, Blue-headed, and White-eyed Vireo, Common Yellowthroats, and House and Carolina Wrens. Northern Cardinals were busy eating Tallow seeds.



Even when Blue-gray Gnatcatchers drop down right in front of you they don't sit for long. Too many bugs to snatch!



Bowl and doily Spider (Frontinella communis) are on property pretty much year-round but they are especially easy to see when the fog is around.



We captured a couple of House Wrens. This one was first banded 2 years ago.



We have been waiting for the first Ruby-crowned Kinglet in the net and today was the day.



We tend to capture more females than males so it was great to have that shock of red that gives the Ruby-crowned Kinglet its name in our hands.



As we were taking the nets down we captured two more birds. Gray Catbirds were mewing in the vegetation all morning but were not flying around too much.



This is the third week we have banded Hermit Thrushes. They are definitely back in the neighborhood.



Temperatures are slowly dropping as we head through the month. The upper 40s are forecast in about a week. Time to break out the jackets.
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, November 20th.
All nets will be opened by 6:15 A.M.

2016 Orlando Wetlands Festival, Pt. 2

We continue our hike where we left off in Part 1. At this part of the walk we had a lot of LBJs (Little Brown Jobs) fluttering past near the shore. They would disappear into the grasses. Every now and then one would hop out into the open like this lovely Savannah Sparrow.



Ankle deep in the water were a few Glossy Ibis.



A few yards away, a Great Egret prepares to snag a snack.



The Snowy Egrets were using the vegetation to skip across the water in search of a quick meal.



There was a nice surprise near our destination (searching for a Flycatcher) at the far side of the park. Shifting near the opposite shore was a nice, pink Roseate Spoonbill.



We could not find the flycatcher but there was a perfectly posed Wood Stork up in a Pine Tree.



Did we mention that Purple Gallinules were all over the place today?



This American Alligator was practically asking for its picture to be taken. OK.



Another nice surprise today were many American White Pelicans on the property. One flock of juveniles was right along the berm scooping out fish left and right.



They would often form a line and herd the fish toward the shallower waters.



Spring must be closer than it seems. This Palm Warbler was molting into breeding plumage already.



This is a blurry photo but an ID shot was in order since we don't see too many Caspian Terns this far inland. It was flying almost as fast as the Tree Swallows!



Back in the reeds, a tiny bird was flitting about just out of sight. Eventually we got some good views of a male Common Yellowthroat.



As we got closer to the banding table Maria spotted something moving near the reeds. Turns out it was an American Bittern! Usually, these birds stay hidden in the reeds and can often be mistaken for them. Oddly, this bird was in the open and moving towards us...



We took 60 photos of this beautiful American Bittern and helped a birding hike group spot it as they passed by. Might never get this opportunity again.



By the time we got back to the banding table we could tell the day was shifting. The wind had picked up so our chances of getting many more birds had now dropped.



The hiking group we helped spot the Bittern paid us back by alerting us to a bird in the nets. An Ovenbird. A common bird during migration but not out here at this time of year.



A very elated visitor got to release the Ovenbird.



Even if the catch rates were down we had birds at the right time most of the time when groups stopped by.



Another visitor gets to release a Gray Catbird.



Our nets this years stretched just around the corner but is was a good thing we checked all the way around. At the very end of the net we had a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Probably the same one that had been flying back and forth around the banding table all morning. Andrew was asked to go onto a passing tour bus to explain banding and to let visitors get some photos.



Another Myrtle Warbler is added to the day's tally.



Our final capture of the day was a Palm Warbler. The earlier photo out on the berms was a Western Palm but this was an Eastern, or Yellow Palm, also molting into its Spring plumage.



One more happy child gets to release our Palm Warbler.



Lynn captured a perfectly posed Gray Catbird that avoided our nets but it is a good representative photo since we heard so many today.



Overall, all reports were very positive about the day and the overall event. This was our 3rd best catch rate at the Orlando Wetlands Festival and we all had a great time. Back to home next Sunday. Might be a little chilly, but not too bad.
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, February 28th.
All nets will be opened by 6:20 A.M.