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.