February 26, 2013

Today was a humming good day.  We banded two Gray Catbirds and released a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird from our nets.  We cannot band hummingbirds as that requires a special permit.  We had a quick look and let it go.  Other Ruby-throats were heard at Possum Long today.

male Ruby-throated Hummingbird

photo by Nancy Price

Apologies to Nancy Price who takes wonderful pictures when I am not moving so much.  Even though this one is out of focus I included it as you can see the red gorget (iridescent throat patch).  

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

photo by Nancy Price

One of the flowers where the Ruby-throated Hummingbird feeds:  Powder Puff

Today was warm and muggy.  The birds were very quiet.  We spent some time with photographer Alex Boerner of the Stuart News who is going to feature our new banding station and ways of volunteering .  http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2013/feb/28/volunteers-band-birds-at-possum-long-nature-in/

pretty flower noted today

Mottled Duck

Proof that the birds were present in low numbers today was our day list of 22 species and adding only Great Blue Heron to the species list for 2013.  There were both Mottled and Wood Ducks on the pond again.  We saw them perched in a pine near the house.  Maybe they are considering using the nest box???  There were no Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and only 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler.  But there was a Northern Parula singing - is this the slump before more spring arrivals?  Time will tell.

Next banding:  March 12, 2013