September 30, 2014

We have been very fortunate managing to band despite the rain in the last few weeks.  I think the amount of rain has resulted in a few more birds being around a bit longer.  More on that as we go on.

We banded on Monday and Tuesday this week.  Both days kept us running.  We banded 13 on Monday and 9 on Tuesday.  Tuesday also had many recaptures due to heavy rain yesterday that likely kept birds from flying on last night.  In addition they may have remained just in order to eat to build up more fat stores. Some birds were well stocked while others had virtually no fat on board.

Monday we caught a lot of Ovenbirds (6) and Black-throated Blue Warblers (4).  Most of the Ovenbirds were adults.  This Black-throated Blue Warbler was born this summer.  We tell this by the few white feathers still showing in the black throat.

Black-throated Blue Warbler (male)

Photo by Nancy LaFramboise

Black-throated Blue Warbler (male)

Photo by Nancy Price

Two others were American Redstarts.  One loved us so much it was reluctant to leave after weighing! (It was not being held back).

American Redstart

Photo by Nancy LaFramboise

American Redstart

Photo by Nancy LaFramboise

So saving the best for last, we banded our first Chestnut-sided Warbler.  This one was a first-year male. This bird is obviously not named for its fall plumage.  There was a very small tinge of chestnut on its sides but that may not be quite visible in this photo.  

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Photo by Nancy LaFramboise

We also recaptured a Worm-eating Warbler that we banded two weeks ago.  At that time it had very little fat; upon recapture it was full and looked ready to move on.  

Tuesday brought the return of the Ovenbirds.  Of the 6 we banded on Monday we recaptured 4 of them. We recaptured a Northern Cardinal that was banded a few weeks ago.  It was born this summer and is almost finished molting in its fresh plumage.  You can still see some symmetric molt on the tail and one of the wing feathers growing in (see the gap?).  

Northern Cardinal

Photo by Georgia Binderow

We also recaptured a bird from last August.  Typically we never see Brown Thrashers on the property.  Last year in August I had just said that when one made it into the net.  Today we recaptured that bird.  Last year the bird was still molting; this time its plumage was quite fresh.  

Brown Thrasher

Photo by Nancy LaFramboise

One of the new Ovenbirds from today was born this past summer.  We tell this by the lighter tips on some of the wing feathers.  

Ovenbird

Photo by Georgia Binderow

We also captured a Worm-eating Warbler today.  You might call this revenge of the birds.  I'm glad it wasn't the cardinal!!

Worm-eating Warbler (Bander-eating Warbler)

Photo by Georgia Binderow

The next few weeks should also be productive.

Next scheduled session Tuesday, October 7. 2014.  Nets open at 6:45.  Hope to see you!

September 22 & 23, 2014

Well, I didn't believe that history would repeat itself but it did - twice.  We did an impromptu banding yesterday and banded one bird - another Swainson's Warbler!!  There were quite a few migrants around so we had high hopes for today's regular session.

Swainson's Warbler

Photo by Nancy LaFramboise

Today we caught the third Swainson's Warbler this fall; you'd think they were a common bird. Actually the timing is right and the weather has caused a lot of birds to stop here instead of flying right through.  We have been fortunate that we have dodged the rain these past few weeks.  There has certainly been a lot of it.

 Swainson's Warblers

Photo by Jane Wiewora

photo by Nancy LaFramboise

We also captured two Worm-eating Warblers today.  Though they are superficially similar, this composite shows the striping differences of these two warblers. 

Top- Swainson's Warbler
Bottom - Worm-eating Warbler

Photo by Jane Wiewora

There were quite a few migrants on the property the past two days including Common Yellowthroats, Summer Tanagers, Black-throated Blue Warblers, Red-eyed Vireos, Eastern Wood-Pewee, American Redstarts, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, and a Merlin.

We caught the first thrush of the season and hope for at least a few more.  Today's thrush was a Veery.  It is identified by its overall reddish color on the back and the wash through the spots.  This species was also banded almost exactly 1 year ago!

Veery

Photos by Nancy Price

And last but not least (well maybe in size), we had a Northern Parula today.  This small warbler weighed in at 6 grams!  This lovely close-up shows the tiny amount of red on this bird's chest and also shows the light underside of the bill.  Adult males have a full black and rusty red breast band.  

Northern Parula

Photo by Jane Wiewora

Next regular session will be on September 30.  Nets go up at 6:45.  Hope to see you then.

September 15 & 16, 2014

Because we had the time and we were hoping for migrants, we did an extra session this week and it turned out to be a good choice.  On the 15th we banded an American Redstart and an Ovenbird and recaptured a Northern Cardinal.  Hard to be as excited when we compare to last week's bonanza.  We wished that the Red-eyed Vireos, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Northern Parula, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Eastern Wood-Pewee, or Worm-eating Warbler that were seen on the property had paid a visit to the nets.

The recapture showed us more of the sequence that Northern Cardinals go through from plumage right out of the nest to the first molt in the fall.  Since 9/2/14 when it was originally banded, this bird has been developing more color by molting in more feathers.

Northern Cardinal
Photo by Nancy LaFramboise

During our regular session on the 16th, our only capture was another hatch-year (HY) Northern Cardinal. (Who would have ever dreamed that I was hoping for a Gray Catbird!)  This one showed unusual tail molt as it was only on one side.  Typically the feathers grow in symmetrically.  Maybe it lost its tail and it is just growing it back in.  

Northern Cardinal with asymmetric tail molt

Photo by Jane Wiewora

As is typical with HY birds, the feathers tend to be tapered rather than blunt.  This tail feather is a very good example of that shape.  (Top view of remaining tail feathers)

Northern Cardinal

Photo by Jane Wiewora

As always many thanks to the volunteers who are there despite the humidity, early hour, and quiet.  Next regular session will be September 23.  Sleep in!  Nets go up at 6:45.  May there be migrants!

September 9, 2014 A day of stripes!

The migrants have arrived and they did so in style!  Today was the day of the stripes.  Our first bird in the nets was a Northern Waterthrush, a first for Possum Long, my second ever.  The previous one was at a Painted Bunting location last winter.

Northern Waterthrush

Photo by Nancy LaFramboise

Our second bird was a record breaker!!  This bird had never been documented in Martin County that we know of.  It is a migrant bird that lurks in thick undergrowth and has probably been through the area before but no one had detected or documented it. It was also a new species for me to band.  

Swainson's Warbler

Photo by Nancy Price

You can see the difference from the above Northern Waterthrush (no streaks) and if you look at Worm-eating Warbler below you can see the rusty cap (Swainson's) instead of the multiple stripes (Worm-eating).  The Swainson's Warbler's bill is also larger.  I love its tiny feet.  

Worm-eating Warbler (from another session)

Photo by Georgia Binderow

Swainson's Warbler

Photo by Nancy Price

The next stripes of the day were those of the Ovenbird, our first and second of the season.  See the stripes?

Ovenbirds

Both photos by Georgia Binderow

Last but not least, we caught a very young Northern Cardinal.  Its bill is still dark and its crest isn't fully developed.

Northern Cardinal

Photo by Nancy LaFramboise

One of the things that a bander can look at to age a new, young bird is evidence that all of the tail feathers grew in at the same time.  An adult molts its feathers in a symmetric sequence, not all at the same time.  When the young bird is being fed, there are different colors deposited in the tail as food type and abundance varies.  Sometimes we can see these bands of color and if they are lined up, it means the feathers grew in together.  This photo was enhanced to show the faint bands on the tail that we can see when we hold the feathers up to the light.  See if you can see bands near the upper center - hopefully the photo isn't too small.

Northern Cardinal

Photo by Nancy LaFramboise

We had a wonderful session.  Migration should bring us more delights for the next few weeks.  Hope you can join us at the station or here on the blog.

Next session, September 16.  Nets go up at 6:30 am.

September 2, 2014

Today was better than expected.  No early morning captures but we finally got a few birds.  The only migrant detected on the property today was a Red-eyed Vireo so we were happy to get three for the day. Maybe next week.  We banded 2 young Northern Cardinals.  We DID get photographs but I suspect you will all be happier when Bill Eaton returns.  (Don't cringe too much Bill.)  

Northern Cardinal HY male

Photo by Nancy LaFramboise

The dark splotches on his bill and the molt we noted showed this to be born sometime this summer.

Northern Cardinal HY female

Photo by Jane Wiewora

Here's the second young bird.  It was harder to tell that this was truly a HY (hatch year) bird as the bill had lost the dark splotches more typically seen as above.  The crest on this bird and the amount of molt showed us that this bird was also born this summer.  The blue-green tones are photographic lighting effects, not the true color of the bird.

Out third and final bird was great fun - a Great Crested Flycatcher.  We frequently hear these birds but it was nice of this adult bird to visit the net.

Great Crested Flycatcher

Photo by Nancy LaFramboise

Next banding session will be September 9, 2014.  Nets go up at 6:30 am.

PS:  I have started a new page for Season Two of Color Banding Painted Buntings.  The early birds are back and numbers should increase all this month and into October.  (see Page list in upper right hand corner.)