September 26, 2013

Today will be short and sweet - we are a bit tired.  Migrants are still moving through but today seemed quieter.  We banded two Swainson's Thrushes, a Northern Cardinal, an American Redstart, and a Northern Parula (and no Ovenbirds).  We also recaptured two hatch year Northern Cardinals that were both banded on September 19.

We were visited by a photographer from the Palm Beach Post who was taking pictures of the property to supplement an article featuring the new tours that Audubon of Martin County will be doing at Lakeside Ranch Stormwater Treatment Area.  Not sure how the banding photos will work into that story if they do.

Swainson's Thrush

Photo by Nancy Price

You can see the buffy eyering on this species that was not present on yesterday's Gray-cheeked Thrush.  The wing measurements and features are also different.

Northern Parula - applying the band

Photo by Bill Eaton

Northern Parula

Photo by Jane Wiewora

Northern Parula

Photo by Bill Eaton

Today was the first day this fall that we saw Northern Parulas on the property - glad we were able to band one.  It was our second Northern Parula to be banded.  Welcome to Bill Eaton who we hope will be taking more photographs!

Northern Cardinal - recapture

Photo by Bill Eaton

Tomorrow is a day off for the birds and for us.  Next scheduled banding is Tuesday, October 1.  Nets up at 7 am.  We will likely do an unscheduled banding on Monday September 30.

September 25, 2013

Today we (the two Nancys) couldn't resist trying for more migrants.  It was fairly noisy this morning. Numbers were definitely down but diversity was still fairly high.  One new bird for the property, one new county bird for Nancy Price (Yellow-throated Vireo which we did not catch), and one new banded species for me.

We banded a total of 4 birds today, the now expected Ovenbird and American Redstart, a Gray-cheeked Thrush, and a Scarlet Tanager.  Nancy Price spotted the tanager in the strangler fig when we listened to jays and other birds mobbing this new visitor.

Barred Owl

Photo by Nancy Price

Barred Owl

Photo by Nancy Price

It was fun to see all the attention the birds paid to this owl.  Tiny Blue-gray Gnatcatchers kept buzzing around it.

Prior to the owl we banded a Gray-cheeked Thrush.  Its wing and feather measurements (and bill color) assured us that it was not another Bicknell's Thrush!

Gray-cheeked Thrush

Photos by Nancy Price

The female Scarlet Tanager was caught in a net in the butterfly garden.  We think it may have gone to the bird bath for a drink.    I love the up close photo as you can see the strange bill notch that tanagers have.  The bird was not going to stay still for pictures until it bit me.  Luckily it is nowhere near as painful as a cardinal

Scarlet Tanager

Photos by Nancy Price

We will set up again tomorrow at 7:30 am but may not stay too long if we are not getting birds in the nets.  Hope to see you there.

September 24, 2013

One of the biggest challenges of banding in south Florida is dodging the rain.  Another is having tall trees and species that like the treetops.  We have been anticipating more birds (for days) and today it happened only to be rained out and/or some of the birds of the early morning decided to move on.

We were only open about two hours but in that short time we banded six birds.  When we first arrived the chip/call notes of warblers seemed to be everywhere.  We saw at least 4 Cape May Warblers but that species still eludes banding here.  Our first two birds were warblers: a Hooded Warbler and Ovenbird.  I really need to find out how Andrew takes such good pictures of birds in his own hand!

Hooded Warbler

The next bird completed the thrush family.  Last fall and this spring we had all the others (Swainson's, Hermit, Bicknell's, and Gray-cheeked) but we were missing Veery.  Now this species is on the Possum Long property list and my banding life list (#75).

Veery

Photo by Nancy Price

Veery

Photo by Nancy Price

You can see the reddish color surrounding the spotting indicating Veery.  The spots on the coverts lets us age this bird as a hatch year.  

We got a second Ovenbird and as we were about to release it two birds hit the net near us.  A Red-bellied Woodpecker and a Mourning Dove.  Both are big birds and capable of escaping the nets before getting truly caught.  Though they are fairly common on the property this is only the second Red-bellied and third Mourning Dove we have banded.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

both photos by Jane Wiewora

Sometimes not evident in the field, you can see the red belly when the bird is in hand.  

We will attempt to have a few nets out tomorrow.  We will meet at 7 am.

September 23, 2013

Birds are predicted to be heading our way following a stalled weather front that should arrive tomorrow or the next day.  We will take advantage of possible migrants and will be out and banding as often as possible this week.

Today (with the front still stalled north of us) we banded 5 new birds.  As has been happening for the past few weeks first we had an Ovenbird.  The next bird was another hatch-year Blue Jay.

A White-eyed Vireo (only our third) was banded.  It was a hatch-year bird based on the dark eye instead of the white eye of an adult. Up close this was a fun way to see the hooked aspect of a vireo bill.  The bird was snapping at everything so we offered it a paperclip and it snapped at it and held on long enough to get the photo.  

White-eyed Vireo

Photo by Jane Wiewora

White-eyed Vireo

Photo by Nancy Price

As vireos are sometimes slow to move around, Jane was able to catch a post-banding photo.

White-eyed Vireo

Photo by Jane Wiewora

Then we got a male Downy Woodpecker, likely the mate of the female we caught this spring.  The red feathers at the back of the head were whispier than I expected.  You can clearly see the white outer tail feathers with their black spots.  With a retained older brown covert feather and a secondary (inner wing) feather growing in (at arrows) we know this bird was at least 3 years old (after second year).

Downy Woodpecker

Photo by Jane Wiewora

Downy Woodpecker

Photo by Jane Wiewora

Downy Woodpecker

Photo by Nancy Price

Our last bird was a hatch year male American Redstart.  Though it resembles the female but it is a bit more orange especially under the wing and it is starting to show a black head feather.

American Redstart - hatch year male

Photo by Nancy Price

My unending thanks to Nancy and Jane who make this project possible!  We will meet around 7:15 tomorrow morning and hope that if there is rain that it will let up.  If not, watch this blog and come join us if the weather permits banding.

September 18, 2013

Today we ran an impromptu session as we knew there were migrants on the property but once again rain was in the picture.  We met later than usual and set up only 3 nets.  In hindsight we maybe should have put a net or two around the Beautyberry.  It poured and we shut the nets.  It stopped and we opened them.  The birds came out to feed.

We caught a total of 7 new birds today and recaptured an Ovenbird from September 10.  We saw a previously banded Brown Thrasher and an Ovenbird.  The best place for birds today was a Beautyberry patch.  Though the photo is backlit it shows the dark understory is where we saw multiple Ovenbirds, a Black-throated Blue Warbler, Blue Jays, and Northern Mockingbirds.  Birds were eating the berries and figs from the nearby Strangler Fig.  If we band tomorrow there will be nets there.

Beautyberry

Photo by Jane Wiewora

We ran into Alex Boerner, photogapher for the Stuart News, who previously wrote a fantastic piece about the banding station (see February 26).  He took lots of pictures today and he held a Ovenbird.  Here I'm holding one so he can photograph it.  You can see we got soaked this morning.  See the photo gallery at http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2013/sep/18/bird-watchers-monitor-species-count-in-martin/ 

I love the one of the American Redstart being released.

Ovenbird

Photo by Jane Wiewora

We banded 2 Ovenbirds, 2 Black-throated Blue Warblers, 2 American Redstarts, and a Blue Jay today.  Really pretty good for 3 nets.

Black-throated Blue Warbler (male, hatch year) see white on throat

American Redstart - male

Photo by Jane Wiewora

American Redstart

Photo by Jane Wiewora

Blue Jay

Photo by Jane Wiewora

Next scheduled banding September 24 but we will likely be out tomorrow around 7 am - especially if the forecast is for early (daybreak) rain with morning clearing.

September 17, 2013

Banding was canceled to day due to rain but it wasn't a total loss.  Nancy Price and I checked out the migrants and there were quite a few.  Nancy saw a flycatcher that was not a phoebe today.  If we can refind it there'd be another new bird for the property.  Yes, another - today we added Summer Tanager to the property list.

There were several warbler species including Ovenbird, American Redstart, and Black-throated Blue Warblers (all good news as these species do end up in the nets).  Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Red-eyed Vireos, and a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird were also found.

Next planned session will be September 24 but in all likelihood we will band whenever there is a break in the weather.

September 13, 2013

Just a short post to update a new bird to Possum Long - of all things a House Sparrow.  Being among suburban houses, we had long ago expected this species.  The first one landed in our nets during an impromptu session.  Typically introduced species are not banded but we would like to see if more House Sparrows are detected at the growing numbers of feeders at Possum Long and is this one going to be around.

House Sparrow

Photo by Nancy Price

Other birds banded were 2 Ovenbirds, 1 Blue Jay, and another Brown Thrasher.  With the rain and wind shift we had hoped for more migrants but they did not occur.

Ovenbird

Photo by Nancy Price

Blue Jay 

Photo by Nancy Price

Brown Thrasher

Photo by Nancy Price

The Blue Jay is a hatch year bird based on the absence of barring on the wing feathers just under my thumb. The Brown Thrasher is an adult based on the wonderful bright yellow eye and extensive molt.

Next scheduled banding still September 17.

September 10, 2013

Finally a bit of action.  We had to delay opening due to rain but the forecast indicated clearing.  We set the nets up fairly fast and we were hearing more birds than in the past few weeks.  First in the net was the Brown Thrasher we originally banded on August 13.

Brown Thrasher

Photo by Jane Wiewora

Then the warbler wave came - small but an improvement.  First we had a male Black-throated Blue Warbler (BT Blue).  The extent of white at the base of the primaries indicates he was an adult (after hatch year).  The lack of black streaking on its back indicates it is not of the Appalachian subspecies.  

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Photo by Jane Wiewora

The next bird was also a BT Blue but it was a hatch year female.  It made for a nice comparison of features.  Females have a very different appearance than the males but they both have bright soles of their feet.  The female's eye line and arc show well here.

Black-throated Blue Warbler - female

Photo by Jane Wiewora

The white base of the primaries (also seen on the males) is one of the key ways one tells a female BT Blue and the one on this hatch year bird was very limited.

Black-throated Blue Warbler - female

Photo by Nancy Price

Then it was on to the Ovenbirds.  We banded two, both adults.  The Lake Lotus Banding Station gets Ovenbirds that return to the same location in subsequent years.  We are looking forward to that happening.

Ovenbird 

Photo by Nancy Price

Ovenbirds spend a lot of time on the ground and have big feet to support them.  Doesn't this bird look small in comparison to the banding pliers??

Ovenbird 

Photo by Nancy Price

The final warbler was a Black-and-white Warbler.  These birds are known for clinging to limbs much like a nuthatch.  The feet, especially the claws, are really a bit strange - they may be worn by the bark or maybe just longer and stronger.  

Black-and-white Warbler

Photo by Nancy Price

We noticed a lot of activity near some Beauty Berry at the front of the property.  We are looking forward to the fruit ripening soon and attracting more birds to that area.  This is where we had thrush activity last fall.  The oak tree there had at least 6 Northern Mockingbirds, some Blue Jays, at least one Northern Cardinal, and one or two Blue-gray Gnatcatchers.  We added a net just in case.  We were rewarded with the capture of a hatch year Northern Mockingbird.  

Northern Mockingbird

Photo by Jane Wiewora

It was very vocal, rarely closing its mouth.  The spotted breast is visible, indicating it was a bird born this summer.  These spots do not last very long so it may have recently fledged, probably the reason for the ruckus in the oak.  The light gray eye, not yet yellow, is also a sign of its young age.

Lastly we recaptured a Northern Cardinal.  It wasn't "28" but twice as good ("56")!

Northern Cardinal

Photo by Jane Wiewora

Rain and Turkeys near the nets closed us down but we will be back next week for our next regular banding session will be on September 17.  Nets to open at 6:30 am.  Hope to see you there.

September 6, 2013

We did another impromptu session today and banded two birds, a hatch-year female American Redstart and a hatch year Northern Cardinal.

 American Redstart

Photo by Nancy Price

American Redstart

Photo by Nancy Price

Northern Cardinal (hatch year)

Photo by Nancy Price

Possibly more exciting were some of the birds we saw but did not band (but wish we could!).  There were several Blue-gray Gnatcatchers wheezing around the property and a Prairie Warbler.  We saw at least two Brown Thrashers leading us to think they are only around in fall migration.  We also had a first documented Eastern Kingbird.  Hopefully we will have more migrants and more captures in the upcoming weeks.

Eastern Kingbird

Next regular session still September 10.

September 3, 2013

Today with 4 people participating we were able to run all 9 nets.  My thanks to Crystal Conway, Nancy Price, and Jane Wiewora for their hard work.  We keep hearing reports of birds to the north of us (and south) but today was still quiet.  We heard a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and maybe other chip notes but we only caught one migrant.

Jane learning photographers grip with Eddie our training bird

Photo by Crystal Conway

First off we got a new male Northern Cardinal.  He was born this year (hatch year) but had grown in most of his red feathers and his bill was mostly orange with some traces of black.  

Northern Cardinal
Photo by Jane Wiewora

We also caught and banded an Ovenbird.  It was an adult with beautiful fresh feathers and it still had some fat.  It may still have a way to go.

Ovenbird

Photo by Jane Wiewora

Lastly we recaptured "28".  She was originally banded in March and her band number ends in 28.  We have caught her the last 3 weeks.  She is fine despite this and shows good growth of the tail that had been molted.

Northern Cardinal "28"

Northern Cardinal ("28") - tail regrowth

We spend the slack time appreciating any nature we come across.  The butterflies are fantastic right now:  Giant Swallowtails, Gulf Fritillaries, Ruddy Daggerwings, Zebra Longwings, and more.  Spiders weave their webs much to our dislike as we have to walk through them in the morning.  Then again, sometimes they are quite beautiful.

Spider web in the trees

The Wild Turkeys were back.  They took a walk down the street, stopping at the stop sign!  Glad they stayed away from the nets.

Wild Turkey
Photo by Jane Wiewora

Next regular banding session will be September 10 with nets opening around 6:30 am.  If the birds start arriving we may do an impromptu session.  Please contact me if you want a phone call if we do this.