Oddly Quiet, But a Nice Variety

Something seemed off. Traffic was really busy at 6 AM. Not normalfor a Sunday anytime. Things were too quiet in the lanes for most of the morning. There was a front approaching, but that was not to get to us until the afternoon. Just felt...weird. However, we did have an OK day with some variety along the way.

Common Yellowthroats are still moving through, like this juvenile male.



Finally got a Black-throated Blue Warbler today. This is a juvenile male. You can tell by the white specks on its throat.



Eastern Phoebes were heard around this morning and we were fortunate to catch one of them as the winds picked up.



We were really surprised that we got a Wood Thrush. It was smack in the middle of the lanes at Net 1.



Another Common Yellowthroat of the 5 caught today. This is an adult male.



House Wrens are actually singing their Spring songs for some reason. We got 2 of them this day.



Western Palm Warblers have been seen all over the Central Florida lately. Now, we are starting to see them here at the banding area.



Rounding out the morning was a late-ish Swainson's Thrush. They usually come in before the other Thrushes. Will take it.



Going to be a bit chillier this weekend for the first weekend of November (!). Hope the Buntings swing back. Should be hearing Robins soon!

Note: Daylight Saving Time ends! Set your clocks BACK an hour to be sure you arrive on time.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Swainson's Thrush	1	0	1
Wood Thrush	1	0	1
Gray Catbird	1	0	1
House Wren	2	0	2
Black-throated Blue Warbler	1	0	1
Common Yellowthroat	5	0	5
Eastern Phoebe	1	0	1
Western Palm Warbler	1	0	1
Totals	13	0	13

______________________________________
Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, November 2nd.
All nets will be opened by 6:20 A.M.

A Couple of Bright Spots

We arrived after 4 1/2 days of rain. The river was nearly cresting the banks but did cut of Net 21. The whole area was still pretty wet. We still had a couple interesting birds join us today.

Our first bird was a recaptured Northern Cardinal who was processed and released before Connie brought in the Birds-of-the-Day. First up was a our first Orange-crowned Warbler in 3 years. Typically, they hang out in the Willows by Net 21 but this one was a hundred yards up the river in Net 14.



Not far from that, a Wood Thrush was in Net 12. We have had several this year which is rare.



A recaptured juvenile Carolina Wren was processed and then we recaptured a Brown Thrasher banded 4 years ago.



As we considered closing nets, Alex was heard calling that there was a bird in Net 15. It was a female Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. They are difficult to capture. They see the nets and often just stop and fly over them.



Robins are finally back and we await Waxwings, Goldfinches, and Yellow-rumped Warblers. The latter is the only speices we do catch in the Winter. Nets are always half-full!

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Carolina Wren	0	1	1
Wood Thrush	1	0	1
Northern Cardinal	0	1	1
Brown Thrasher	0	1	1
Orange-crowned Warbler	1	0	1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	1	0	1
Totals	3	3	6

______________________________________
Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, November 26th.
All nets will be opened by 6:30 A.M.

Nice Mix at the End of October

The humidity was up again today but that did not deter us. The mosquitoes, though, were happy and very aggresive all morning. Cooler weather should be here soon.

First bird just after dawn was a female Indigo Bunting.



Soon after that, a very angry recaptured Carolina Wren.



Common Yellowthroats ruled the day. and we had all ages and both sexes. This is a juvenile male.



We got a couple of Gray Catbirds. They were staying mainly back in the woods.



We primarily catch Western Palm Warblers but today we got a rarer, more yellow, Eastern Palm Warbler.



Next up, a handsome Swainson's Thrush.



It has been a while since we have captured a female Black-throated Blue Warbler. A nice surprise.



White-eyed Vireos that migrate through the area are usually adults and full of fat. Today was a juvenile also loaded with fat.



Most people consider this male Painted Bunting to be Bird-of-the-Day. What do you think.



An unbanded Northern Cardinal turned out to be a juvenile most likely hatched here in the Spring.



Our final capture was another candidate for Bird-of-the-Day. A Wood Thrush.



A nice end to a busy month. Hope we can keep the numbers up through November.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Common Yellowthroat	5	0	5
Carolina Wren	0	1	1
Gray Catbird	2	0	2
Wood Thrush	1	0	1
Swainson's Thrush	1	0	1
Indigo Bunting	1	0	1
Painted Bunting	1	0	1
Eastern Palm Warbler	1	0	1
Black-throated Blue Warbler	1	0	1
White-eyed Vireo	1	0	1
Northern Cardinal	1	0	1
Totals	15	1	16

______________________________________
Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, November 5th.
Remember it is time to FALL BACK!
All nets will be opened by 6:10 A.M.

Was Suppose to be Chilly...

We were really looking forward to this morning having cooler temperatures as forecast all week. Instead the last of the clouds dropped rain just before we got there and it just made things humid until mid-morning. Otherwise, it was a nice enough day.

House Wrens started our day.



New visitors Denise and George arrived in time to start releasing birds.



The adult male Common Yellowthroats are now arriving in larger numbers.



When we first set up and sat by the banding table we heard a new sound back near Net 2. Our phone apps correctly ID'd annd we soon caught a Wood Thrush. These are the most infrequent visitors of the thrushes so they are always a joy to band.



Adult female Common Yellowthroats are also arriving.



We captured 4 Carolina Wrens today. 2 of them were new, younger birds.



One of our visitors, Llory, waved us toward Net 14 saying there was a yellow bird in the net. It wasn't yellow, though. It was an all-over green female Painted Bunting. Andrew was wondering when we were going to catch one again.



Another species has finally arrived to the banding site. Western Palm Warbler.



Llory got to release several birds during the session.



It has been a bit, but we were hearing Eastern Phoebes out near the lake. Then we caught one.



Then another Western Palm Warbler.



THEN another Eastern Phoebe!



We ended the day as we started with a last House Wren.



Not a bad day. Still looks like we will have another good week next Sunday.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Common Yellowthroat	5	3	8
Carolina Wren	2	2	4
Gray Catbird	4	0	4
Wood Thrush	1	0	1
Western Palm Warbler	2	0	2
Northern Cardinal	0	1	1
House Wren	2	0	2
Painted Bunting	1	0	1
Eastern Phoebe	2	0	2
Totals	19	6	25

______________________________________
Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, October 22nd.
All nets will be opened by 7:00 A.M.

Net 21 Gone Again. Still Plenty of Fun

We were greeted by thickening fog and pleasent temperatures. Seems like we get at least one really foggy morning during the Fall. There were also a few rounds of rain the past couple of days. Since the water is still receding from Ian, that is all it took to cut us off from Net 21 again.

Starting off, we caught a House wren and then we were pleasently surprised by our first Wood Thrush in six years. Back then it was also a very foggy day.



That was soon followed by our first Ovenbird of the day.



A bit later we got a nice male Black-throated Blue Warbler.



The Western Palm Warblers finally started hitting the nets even though they have been in the Central Florida area for weeks. Flood gates have opened and we ended up with six by the time we wrapped up.



Got our second Ovenbird next.



There is nothing more heartwarming than seeing the joy on a childs face as they release a newly banded bird.



We got a recaptured Carolina Wren and Jenny got a close up with those impressive talons.



Giant Swallowtail pupa were found in a nearby tree getting ready to change.



We can't get to Net 21, but the Great Egret can as it forages along the flooded river.



Just under the water, a Water Beetle settles in between feedings.



At Net 19, a sneaky Anole peeks out of the top of the pole. Pete?



A smaller thrush was captured in that same net a bit later. Turned out to be our first Hermit Thrush of Fall.



Another House Wren was brought in.



Then the feeding flock of 5 Western Palm Warblers hit the nets at the same time.



Surprisingly, it has been two years since we have captured a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. They are heard every year but somehow they evaded us during the pandemic.



We closed out the day with a final House Wren and we took a closer look at their interested feathers around the eye.



Now we move into November and hope the water drops some more and we can have all of the nets open.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Ovenbird	2	1	3
Carolina Wren	0	1	1
Western Palm Wabler	6	0	6
Wood Thrush	1	0	1
Hermit Thrush	1	0	1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	1	0	1
Black-throated Blue Warbler	1	0	1
House Wren	3	0	3
Totals	15	2	17

______________________________________
NOTE: Next Sunday is time to Fall BACK! Plan accordingly.
______________________________________
Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, November 6th.
All nets will be opened by 6:10 A.M.