A Bit of Migration

It was a beautifully cooler morning as we headed out to see what the winds would bring us. Birdcast predicted a large migration for the overnight, but you have to add in that a lot of birds on the move are probably waterfowl and not necessarily all of the land birds we look forward to. However, it was a pretty good migrant day today.

Things started well as Connie brought in a female Painted Bunting.



Next up was one of our first Common Yellowthroats today. This was an adult male.



We caught few House Wrens throughout the morning.



Despite the number of species, we only got one Ovenbird.



Indigo Buntings are arriving in larger numbers. We got 3 today.



Gray Catbirds were heard around the property but we only got one of them.



Next up was another adult male Common Yellowthroat.



Carolina Wrens are emerging from the brush again and we caught adults and juveniles banded earlier in the year.



A big suprise today was a fairly late juvenile Veery. Typically, this species is the first Thrushes to arrive a month or so earlier. This guy is moving through a little late.



An adult Carolina Wren was finally captured after a few juvenile recaps.



Bird of the Day was reserved for the first Belted Kingfisher we have caught since 2015. We also caught 4 the year before.



We did recapture a juvenile White-eyed Vireo as the morning began to wear down. It was a bird we first banded in September.



The rest of the day was filled with Northern Cardinals. First up was a juvenile, noted by the black still remaining on the bill.



The next two birds were unbanded adults. Like this male...



...and a female just after that. Where are these new birds from? Been around for a year or so or new residents?



Hoping we can keep these numbers up for a while. Of course, it depends on the weather. We are ready for any scenario.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Common Yellowthroat	5	0	5
Painted Bunting	1	0	1
Northern Cardinal	2	1	3
White-eyed Vireo	0	1	1
Indigo Bunting	3	0	3
Gray Catbird	4	1	5
Carolina Wren	2	2	4
House Wren	4	0	4
Veery	1	0	1
Ovenbird	1	0	1
Belted Kingfisher	1	0	1
Totals	24	5	29

NOTE: Due to the new CDC recommendations, if you are fully vaccinated you are not required to wear masks, esp. at outdoor events such as ours. Get your shots and come on out. Otherwise, bring a mask. All current members at Lake Lotus are fully Vac'ed.
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, October 17th.
All nets will be opened by 7:00 A.M.

Nice October Start

Wondering if the first of the month might yeild our peak numbers as they use to many years ago. The past few have been rather hit or miss and lately arriving late. Today was kind of a mix. First bird of the day was an Ovenbird, so at least we started with a migrant.



Later, we recaptuered another Ovenbird, too. The next bird up was one of our recaptured Carolina Wrens.



A few weeks ago we had a slew of Common Yellowthroats and then they dispursed for a couple of weeks. Today, we had the next wave. The first was an adult male.



It was soon followed up by an adult female.



Another adult female was next. This one had an interesting reddish wash to the breast.



Andrew was heading down the lanes and approached Connie as she was signaling him to come closer to Net 10. She did not want to try to extract the Barred Owl that had flown in. We got that bird out and prepared to release it.



Jenny heard the news and ran down for an opportunity to hold the bird, too. She enjoys the smells of raptors (don't ask) and we all agreed it smelled of the woods. She released it toward the far side of the property.



The Common Yellowthroats kept coming in and the next one was another adult male.



Next, was a second year male. Notice the difference between the previous bird and this one and look at the not completely formed mask.



A recaptuered Tufted Titmouse was brought in soon. This bird was first banded 3 1/2 years ago when we captured the entire family at once..



Gray Catbirds were heard again early, but it took several hours before we caught 2 today.



One more Common Yellowthroat got jewerly as we headed toward shut down.



We were wondering where the House Wrens were when we finally got one as we began to ponder closing up.



We had been seeing several Painted Buntings flying about today. Especially after Connie saw a male bounce out of Net 13 earlier. We saw more near the table and the grasses are prime for feeding buntings heading into the month. Then we got a female as our last bird to end the morning.



So, birds are beginning to stream through as migration ramps up and we can't wait until next weekend to see the birds that show up next.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Common Yellowthroat	10	0	10
Ovenbird	1	1	2
Tufted Titmouse	0	1	1
House Wren	1	0	1
Gray Catbird	2	0	2
Carolina Wren	0	1	1
Barred Owl	1	0	1
Painted Bunting	1	0	1
Totals	16	3	19

NOTE: Due to the new CDC recommendations, if you are fully vaccinated you are not required to wear masks, esp. at outdoor events such as ours. Get your shots and come on out. Otherwise, bring a mask. All current members at Lake Lotus are fully Vac'ed.
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, October 10th.
All nets will be opened by 6:55 A.M.

Fall Officially Starts Now

Fall. Finally. Can you feel it? We can. Last week was a crushing weight under humidity. This morning was much more comfortable and we can hear a new change in bird calls. Is that really a Catbird in September? Yes. A weelk ahead of schedule.

Our first birds in the nets, though, were Wrens. Carolina Wrens have been calling but not moving around much. Today we captured 3.



Next up. a newly arrived House Wren. We will see them from now until Spring before they head home.



An aside: Last week, Ranger Cory said there had been Black Bear sightings in the park again for the first time in a while. When Andrew arrived to get the nets set up he found one of our new coolers pulled out from underneath the table and most of the contents were pulled out and left next to it. Net 20's first pole was also bent to the ground. Somethings bears do just for fun.



Connie brought up a Northern Waterthrush later. This mat be the last we see of them before Spring returns, but glad to have one today.



Common Yellowthroats were here today in fewer numbers than a couple weeks ago. The males took the lead this morning with our first being an adult with his full mask.



Later, a juvenile male Common Yellowthroat arrived showing his first signs of black feathers around the chin.



Speaking of that Gray Catbird mentioned up top, we did catch one to prove that our hearing was correct.



Northern Cardinals came out to play. We captured 4. Two males...



...and two females.



Bird-of-the-Day goes to our Red-eyed Vireo. They have been a little sparce this season but we do hear them nearly every Sunday.



Looking forward to a drier week before next week. Moving toward the peak of migration soon!

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Common Yellowthroat	6	0	6
Northern Waterthush	1	0	1
Northern Cardinal	2	2	4
Red-eyed Vireo	1	0	1
Gray Catbird	1	0	1
Carolina Wren	1	2	3
House Wren	2	0	2
Totals	14	4	18

NOTE: Due to the new CDC recommendations, if you are fully vaccinated you are not required to wear masks, esp. at outdoor events such as ours. Get your shots and come on out. Otherwise, bring a mask. All current members at Lake Lotus are fully Vac'ed.
______________________________________
Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, October 3rd.
All nets will be opened by 6:50 A.M.

Richard

September 22nd we lost one of our own to cancer.
My main mentor, Dr. Richard Poole.

I first met Richard and the Wekiwa Basin Banding crew just after Hurricane Jeanne when I was finding myself in the wrong park while trying to get into the banding life. I found my way to the official banding site the following week and was welcomed in with open arms and never left.

I was just an amature photographer wanting to get closer to birds not often seen up close. I put in work, learning, banding, and helping to update the blog for the original website. Eventually, we ended the project at WSSP in early 2007 and moved to a to a new location at Lake Lotus in September of 2008 because I did not want to let the legacy go.

We opened on my birthday after Tropical Storm Fay flooded the park, delaying our start by a month. The first birds we captured were two Northern Cardinals in Net 4. Richard saw me heading to the banding table with 2 bird bags and shouted: "Andrew! You are a success!" Thus, began our run that lasts until this day.

During the early years at the Lake Lotus site we cleared tons of invasive plants and removed trash from the Little Wekiva when we could reach it and trimmed and knocked down unwanted trees when the birds were few during some days.



Richard also had a passion for building bird boxes which he placed throughout the region and we monitored them every year. Unfortunately, most of our boxes at Lake Lotus ended up being apartments for Flying Squirrels. There are pleanty of snags that attracted other birds, apparently.



Richard made friends in the bird recovery community. We ended up banding raptors before release at the Avian Recovery Center and the Audubon Birds of Prey Center over the years.



Enventually, he retired from the banding level and returned to his true passion: gardening and plants in general. He planned out native speicies all around the net lanes and maintained them as long as he could. Sometimes he was accompanied by his loyal dog, Tanka.



When I was busy at the banding table or repairing net lines, he was out clearing downed limbs after storms and emproving the land on the days that he could.



I am a man of few words, so I was always thankful that Richard was there during our birding festivals to hold court about all things banding, native plants, and trying to preserve the environment in general.



Back at the banding site, Richard taught all of us about native plantings and lead new voluteers through the years in enriching the Lake Lotus area. Always with a cheerful demeanor and helpful hand.



I have spent 17 years of my life with two of the most amazing humans I have known. Richard and Christine helped me learn and grow in many ways and I am forever grateful for their time and patience. And friendship.



The last words Richard said to me were: "Andrew, I am glad you took over. You make people smile."

It wouldn't have been possible without you, sir. And Christine, and all of our volunteers and supporters.

We loved you and will miss you profoundly. Thank you for your guidence, time, and showing me the knot I tie almost every week and smile everytime I do it. Looking after your trees as long as I can.

Rest in peace.

Back to a Normal September

Locals know the weight of humidity during a Florida Summer. This morning it seemed 3 times as oppresive and the wet grass meeting our feet before dawn made it even worse. It was heavy, but we got all the nets up in time and settled in to see if we could find a day as good as last weekend.

Instead, it turned out to be a return to what September is usually.

It can also be noted that we catch fewer birds when the entire sight is dripping with leftover rain after a long downpour last night.

We began with an Ovenbird just after dawn.



A second Ovenbird was soon brought in and the participating crew watched the banding process.



Someone decided to be brave this week to release the Ovenbird.



We had 18 Common Yellowthroats last week but that seems it was the big push for them as we only captured a few today.



Our second juvenile White-eyed Vireo was banded today.



Veery have moved through and now the Swainson's Thrushes are arriving a little early.



As we headed toward the end of the day, we caught our first Black-throated Blue Warbler of the season. Females are very non-descript and a fun bird to learn when seeing them in the wild, as they are so difficult to ID for some.



Wrapped with 10 birds today which is average for our September days throughout the years. A cold front is teasing us (but might not get here) and Fall is now upon us. Bring on the migration!

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Common Yellowthroat	4	0	4
Ovenbird	2	0	2
Northern Cardinal	1	0	1
White-eyed Vireo	1	0	1
Swainson's Thrush	1	0	1
Black-throated Blue Warbler	1	0	1
Totals	10	0	10

NOTE: Due to the new CDC recommendations, if you are fully vaccinated you are not required to wear masks, esp. at outdoor events such as ours. Get your shots and come on out. Otherwise, bring a mask. All current members at Lake Lotus are fully Vac'ed.
______________________________________
Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, September 26th.
All nets will be opened by 6:45 A.M.