October 21, 28 & 29, 2017

Tuesday was very quiet compared to other migration days.  It turns out that Wednesday would have been ideal but we were unable to band.  Likely from now on things will be quieter but maybe we will still have some surprises in store.  The weekend had a few!

At Possum Long we banded three birds.  A Black-throated Blue Warbler, a Red-eyed and a White-eyed Vireo.  Those birds made it a good day.  We also saw the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher again and were very surprised it was still present.  Happiness all around.

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Photo by Pete Grannis (welcome back!)

Red-eyed Vireo

Photo by Pete Grannis

White-eyed Vireo

On Saturday, we returned to PB 46.  We banded a total of 9 Painted Buntings and had a recapture from a previous season.  These recaptures are giving us very good longevity and site fidelity data.  

Painted Bunting

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

For incidental captures there we were surprised to have a Magnolia Warbler.  There have been more of this species captured this season than any other.  We also had a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and a Blue Jay.

Magnolia Warbler

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

On Sunday we returned to PB 61.  We banded a total of 11 Painted Buntings and recaptured 3.  All three had been banded in March, 2016.  This means that they had flown up to their breeding places and back two times since being banded!  

Painted Bunting

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Incidental captures gave us another Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.  This is one of the smallest birds we band.  They weigh just over the weight of a nickel.  We also banded a Cape May Warbler.  Third for this season and only the fourth ever!  Note gray cheek with pale area under it.

Cape May Warbler

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Our season total of Painted Buntings now stands at 32.  

Next banding session is Tuesday, October 31.  Nets open at 7:30.

October 21, 2017 hosting Young Audubon

Saturday the banding station hosted a Young Audubon event for Audubon of Martin County.  Eight students in 4th, 5th, and 6th grades came to learn about bird banding.  They got to see birds, banding techniques, nets, and most of the aspects of banding smaller perching birds.  We talked about what can be learned from bird banding.  We did two exercises to understand a bit of the science.

A popular exercise was "how many at your feeder"?  Hershey miniatures representing 1 bird species came and went from a "feeder".  There were never more than 4 out at any one time.  When asked how many birds, the students realized that only 4 had appeared at any one time but that no one was sure if they were all the same.  The exercise was repeated with marked "birds".  It was quickly apparent that 8 birds had been seen but never more than 4 at a time.  The chocolates were then devoured.

We also repeated an exercise where a small stick is gathered to represent a bird leg.  They are measured with a leg gauge to determine band size.  Each one was told a bird species that had a leg that size.  They also used cut straws to color mark their bird leg.  We were fortunate to recapture a color banded Painted Bunting which really illustrated this activity.  They learned that the position of the colors determined a unique combination for each bird.

leg gauge

cut straws representing color banding

We banded a total of 14 birds and recaptured a few.  We had 1 American Redstart, 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, 1 Common Yellowthroat, 1 Palm Warbler, 2 Black-throated Blue Warblers, 1 Ovenbird, 2 Red-eyed Vireos, and 5 Gray Catbirds.  Some of the students were able to release birds.  They enjoyed comparing their size band from the measuring exercise to the real ones we used.

It was such a busy event that there wasn't always time for photography but here are a few photos:

Red-eyed Vireo

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Common Yellowthroat

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Black-throated Blue Warbler (female)

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Excitement for the day, besides the birds banded and sharing our project with students, was the presence of a new bird for the Possum Long property.  Robin spotted an amazing treat for all present!  Totally unexpected was a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in the top of the large ficus tree.  Typically this species feeds over fields from low trees, power lines, or fences.  The majority of its diet is large insects like dragonflies and grasshoppers.  This bird was actually observed eating the figs from the ficus tree.  I only knew of one other instance of this species in Martin county.  There are sometimes small numbers of them in open areas in western St Lucie county over winter.  This seems like an early arrival.  It is not expected to stay in the area.

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Next regualrly scheduled banding is on October 24.  Nets open at 7:15.  If it is raining hard the session will not be held.  

October 17, 2017

The last day of this 4 day marathon was relatively quiet yet exciting.  We recaptured a Northern Mockingbird that we had banded almost exactly one year ago.

Northern Mockingbird

We banded a total of 6 new birds:  1 Black-throated Blue Warbler,  1 Black-and-white Warbler, 1 Red-eyed Vireo, 1 Northern Cardinal and 2 American Redstarts.  It was the redstarts that held the excitement.  

Black-and-white Warbler

Typically a female or young male American Redstart has yellow coloring and a white underside.  The second one we caught was distinctly different.  There are color variations in most species.  Many times it is a lighter color, partially white, or entirely white birds.  There are also differences in many yellows and reds.  In this case the bird was distinctly blacker than normal.  This is called melanistic.  We are waiting to hear more about this particular bird.

American Redstart - melanistic

We are setting up for a banding event on October 21.  Young birders in grades 3-6 can come view our station.  We will post results.

The next scheduled banding session will be held on October 24, 2017.  Nets go up around 7:15 am.

October 16, 2017

On Monday we caught more bigger birds than warblers.  We did catch 1 American Redstart and TWO more Magnolia Warblers but the rest of the captures were big.  It has been hard to believe how many Magnolia Warblers are around and being captured.

We caught a good variety of the bigger birds:  Our second only Scarlet Tanager.  The white underwings are created by the flight feathers being half white and half black.  The black shows on the upper wing and the white shows on the underwing.  This is not the case with the similar Summer Tanagers.  This bird was missing its tail.  There were signs of it already growing back in. 

Scarlet Tanager

Scarlet Tanager

We also caught 3 thrushes:  2 Gray-cheeked and one Swainson's.  This Gray-cheeked does not show the spectacle that the Swainson's does.  It was carefully measured to rule out the smaller Bicknell's Thrush.

Gray-cheeked Thrush

We rarely capture Rose-breasted Grosbeaks but they had been on the property for several days and were feeding on figs, palm berries, and beautyberry fruit.  Last year when we caught another one it was feeding on beautyberry. 

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

The other birds caught and banded were 1 Brown Thrasher, 2 Gray Catbirds and 1 Northern Cardinal.

Note for next scheduled session is on the next post.

October 15, 2017

Sunday was a gift to birders and banders.  We banded a total of 21 birds of 12 species.  We saw 11 different kinds of warblers as well as many other migrants.  Remember you can see bird lists of this site on eBird.  Explore hotspots, type in Possum Long, view recent lists or all sorts of other data.

Many of the birds we banded were warblers:  1 American Redstart, 1 Magnolia Warbler, 1 Northern Parula, 1 Common Yellowthroat, 3 Black-throated Blue Warblers, 1 Ovenbird, and our best bird of the day.

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Northern Parula

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Common Yellowthroat

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Our best bird was a real surprise as they are tree-top lovers so we rarely catch them and also because in the fall they typically migrate more offshore.  Fall Blackpoll Warblers do not look like the "chickadee look-alike of warblers"  they are more streaked and yellowish.  However their feet still have bright soles.  

Blackpoll Warbler

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

The other 12 birds banded were 2 Red-eyed Vireos, 5 Gray Catbirds, 1 Northern Cardinal, 3 Painted Buntings (YAY!) and a Blue Jay.

Red-eyed Vireo

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Gray Catbird

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Continue to view the next 2 days.  Update for next session is on the October 17 post.

October 14, 2017

Because of migration we banded 4 times recently.  I have decided to post each day separately as that way I can tag the species so they can be sorted or searched for at a later date.  On Saturday we dodged rain, rain, and more rain.  We pulled the nets at 10:30 but there were plenty of birds around.

We banded 1 Gray Catbird, 3 Ovenbirds, 2 Black-throated Blue Warblers and our surprise for the day were 2 Indigo Buntings.  Both were young birds (born this past summer) one male, and one female.  On the male you can see a bit of blue on the wrist.

Indigo Bunting

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Once the rain finally stopped and we were able to reload the car, we went birding.  There were birds all over which convinced us to return the next day.

I cannot remember any other fall with so many Scarlet Tanagers, Baltimore Orioles, Red-eyed Vireos, and Magnolia Warblers.

Magnolia Warbler

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Baltimore Oriole

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Continue to view the next 3 days.  Update for next session is on the October 17 post.

October 10, 2017

Another migration banding session at the Possum Long Banding Station was completed today.  We banded 8 birds and one was a 1 new arrival.  A lot of the fun was watching the other birds high in the ficus tree.  We noted there are still Baltimore Orioles, Scarlet and Summer Tanagers, Swainson's Thrushes, and Red-eyed Vireos around.  However, alas, we did not band any of these! 

We did band 3 Black-throated Blue Warblers.  There were many more on the property.  The photo below is of a young male with traces of white on its throat/chin.  The adult male is entirely black there.

Black-throated Blue Warbler

We banded our first of the season Veery.  Glad to have thrushes on site.

Veery

Photo by Megan Ekman

In addition to 2 Ovenbirds and an American Redstart, we banded a female Painted Bunting.  I don't know how many times I have reminded people that the green ones might not be female.  However this one is and we photographed the wing to show the feathers that show this bird is an adult (at least 15 months old) and no longer has the juvenal plumage that a young male would show.  The short feathers to the right of my thumb have green edging.

Painted Bunting (female)

A few of us hung around to see if the Monarchs were returning to the property.  Hurricane Irma blew away a lot of blooms.  Nancy Price noted a female Monarch laying eggs.  We captured it and it became our first tagged Monarch for the property.  There's an event on November 11th at Possum Long and we hope to share this tagging with children attending the event.  

Tagged Monarch

Next scheduled banding session will be October 17, 2017.  Nets go up at 7:15 am.

October 7 & 8, 2017

Sometimes, especially during migration, we elect to band on days that are not at the regularly scheduled time.  We banded on both Saturday and Sunday this week and it was well worth it.  We are at the peak arrival for some of the birds.  Saturday was warbler day.  We banded 22 individuals representing 8 species of warblers.  The expected American Redstarts (3), Ovenbirds (2), and Black-throated Blue Warblers (9) did not disappoint.  We even caught one each of two less commonly caught warblers - Northern Parula and Black-and-white Warbler.  But then there were 3 highlights!!

American Redstart

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Northern Parula

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Highlight One was catching more than one Magnolia Warbler!  We have never caught three in one session before.

Magnolia Warbler

Photo by Laura Karg

Magnolia Warbler

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Highlight Two was catching a first for Possum Long Banding.  Though Yellow-throated warblers are sometimes seen on the property, we had never banded one there.  

Yellow-throated Warbler

Highlight Three was catching not one but TWO Cape May Warblers.  In all of the other years we have banded we had only caught one of these.  Two on one day is pretty awesome.  Cape May Warblers are also typically too high in the trees to catch them.  In areas where there are not tall trees, these bird can be seen down low but they prefer the upper areas in the trees of Possum Long.

Two Cape May Warblers!!

So in addition to the 22 warblers on Saturday we also banded two Painted Buntings and a Red-eyed Vireo.  The vireo was an adult with a really red eye as opposed to the two younger birds we caught recently that had dark eyes.  

Red-eyed Vireo

On Sunday we caught half the number we did on Saturday and the bird diversity on the property was much different, yet it was still a productive session.  There were still Summer and Scarlet Tanagers around and several Red-eyed Vireos.  The surprise was seeing THREE Baltimore Orioles.  We did not catch those but once again, Black-throated Blue Warblers (4) were the majority of the birds caught.   

Black-throated Blue Warbler (female)

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Other birds caught were 2 American Redstarts, a Black-and-white Warbler, a White-eyed Vireo, an Ovenbird, 2 Swainson's Thrushes, and a Gray Catbird.  Gray Catbird numbers should be increasing in the next few weeks.  

White-eyed Vireo

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Black-and-white Warbler

Photo by Laura Karg

Swainson's Thrush

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Gray Catbird

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Thirty-seven birds in two days!

The next regularly scheduled session as announced on the previous post is on October 10, 2017.  Nets go up at 7:15 am.

October 3, 2017 - banding cancelled due to weather

Banding is cancelled today due to the wind and rain.  Hopefully the weather will clear and we can squeeze in some kind of session.

Next scheduled banding will be Tuesday, October 10.  Nets go up at 7:15.

September 30 and October 1, 2017

We did a little extra banding this weekend since it is migration time.  We banded at Possum Long on Saturday and at PB 46 on Sunday.  Saturday was productive but a bit slower than last Tuesday's session.  We banded 13 birds (8 species) and saw a few that went no where near the nets.  These were the first of season Cape May Warbler, several Scarlet Tanagers, a Northern Parula, and a Summer Tanager.

We banded 4 Black-throated Blue Warblers, 3 Ovenbirds, and one each of Red-eyed Vireo, Carolina Wren, Swainson's Thrush, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Northern Cardinal, and Gray Catbird.  Of these the thrushes made their first welcome appearance.  We should get more this month.  The Red-eyed Vireo was a young bird so it did not yet have a bright red eye.  It was the fifth one of this species for the property.  The Carolina Wren was only the second one on the property. 

Red-eyed Vireo

Carolina Wren

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Gray-cheeked Thrush

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Swainson's Thrush

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

At PB 46 we were pleased to catch some of their early Painted Buntings.  They estimated they had at least 10-15 birds back.  Three were previously banded.  We caught 5 new green Painteds.  we used our new split band - so be on the lookout for yellow/light green bands.

Painted Bunting with new split band color

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

One of the buntings was a very young bird.  Just out of the nest Painted Buntings, both male and female, are green and brownish.  They molt in the fall like the adults but ALL of the youngsters stay green.  They do not molt much until the next fall (about 15 months) and this is when the male birds acquire their pretty colors.  

Earlier in the season, these hosts had a 2nd year male bird starting to grow in the bright feathers.  We had received other photos just before Bob sent this one.  It is the first time we had photos of this particular change!!

Painted Bunting male acquiring its first bright feathers (approximatley 15 months old)

Photo by Bob Ellis

Back to the youngster, you can see in the photo below that it was heavily molting and that it still had some of the juvenal brownish feathers.  (Arrow)

Very young Painted Bunting with juvenal feathers

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

We also caught another Red-eyed Vireo as well as several Blue Jays, several Common Grackles, and a Northern Cardinal.  

Blue Jay

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Common Grackle

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

We will band at Possum Long tomorrow, October 3.  Nets go up at 7 am.  It could be windy so hopefully the more sheltered nets won't blow.  If they do, we will close early.