March 15, 2016

Today we had our first indication that birds are moving.  There was a good mix of winter birds still around but in lower numbers as well as a few new migrants.

Early on we caught a Yellow-rumped Warbler.  This may well be the last for the season.  May the migrants keep coming!!

Next we had our second ever Louisiana Waterthrush.  Typical of leaf gleaners this bird would snap at any approach to its bill.  They do this when they search leaves and then automatically snap at any potential food.  Louisiana Waterthrushes are early migrants and usually hard to detect.

Louisiana Waterthrush

Photo by Nancy LaFramboise

This bird showed the large bill, white throat, and white undertail coverts that separate it from the Northern Waterthrush

Louisiana Waterthrush

Photo by Nancy LaFramboise

The rest of the birds were recaptures.  It is truly amazing how many we have had recently.  We recaptured a female Painted Bunting from  March, 24, 2015 - the last bunting we banded last year.  Since this bird left it underwent another molt and remained green, thus we know it to be female now.  We recaptured another green Painted Bunting (banded last week) and the Ovenbird we have had the last 2 sessions.  Most informative of all, we recaptured an American Redstart that we banded in October, 2013.  Not much yellow coloring in the wing given that we know it was at least 4 years old.

American Redstart

Photo by Pat Marshall

American Redstart

Photo by Nancy LaFramboise

The oddest thing we caught was a Florida Box Turtle.  It wandered into a net and pulled in its head and feet.  We moved it out of the netting but the shell had closed around a small bit of the net.  Eventually it stuck out its head and we could see that its foot was snagged on a few strands.  With gentle pulling it extended its foot and the net came off.  A group of three-year olds were touring the property as part of an early education program with our Education Committee and the Gertrude Walden School.  They really enjoyed our find.

Florida Box Turtle

Photo by Jane Wiewora

Next banding session:  Tuesday, March 22, 2016.  Nets go up at 7 am.

March 31, 2015

Could today have been any better???  Yes, I suppose we could have banded more birds.  I told the crew to be ready for early migrants like Hooded Warbler which we have banded in the past.  I told them to keep the nets low for these ground-dwelling birds.  We did see a few migrants.  But, we didn't catch any Hooded Warblers.  (Is the suspense getting to you yet?)

Today we banded a first for me, a life bird for some, a property first, and a bird not seen in the county in years.  A Louisiana Waterthrush.  Since Northern Waterthrushes and Louisiana Waterthrushes are so similar, one must take care with the ID.  Measurements, field marks, the absence of a dark undertail covert, and a long bill all supported this identification.

Louisiana Waterthrush

Photo by Pete Grannis

Louisiana Waterthrush

Photo by Pat Marshall

Louisiana Waterthrush

Photo by Pat Marshall

The red arrows show the mostly unmarked throat and the unmarked undertail coverts but the key was the bill length which was well beyond the normal range for Northern Waterthrush.

So, disappointment could have been the theme of the rest of the session but Pete Grannis discovered a perched, adult Eastern Screech-Owl and Diana Doyle soon found the 3 young.  Jean saw the 4th young so we had FIVE owls.  What a team even when it comes to finding birds.  I love this aspect of our group and our study.

Eastern Screech-Owls

Photo by Pat Marshall

Eastern Screech-Owl

Photo by Pat Marshall

We also recaptured a Painted Bunting and a Black-throated Blue Warbler (banded 3 weeks ago).  It wasn't a session with a lot of birds but I don't recall anyone complaining!

Next session April 7.  Nets go up at 6:30 am.