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.
So wonderful.
ReplyDeleteHopefully you meant the 29th and we would be very glad to see you. Look around the property. We typically park on Hibiscus Street (the east end of the property).
ReplyDelete