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.

September 25, 2013

Today we (the two Nancys) couldn't resist trying for more migrants.  It was fairly noisy this morning. Numbers were definitely down but diversity was still fairly high.  One new bird for the property, one new county bird for Nancy Price (Yellow-throated Vireo which we did not catch), and one new banded species for me.

We banded a total of 4 birds today, the now expected Ovenbird and American Redstart, a Gray-cheeked Thrush, and a Scarlet Tanager.  Nancy Price spotted the tanager in the strangler fig when we listened to jays and other birds mobbing this new visitor.

Barred Owl

Photo by Nancy Price

Barred Owl

Photo by Nancy Price

It was fun to see all the attention the birds paid to this owl.  Tiny Blue-gray Gnatcatchers kept buzzing around it.

Prior to the owl we banded a Gray-cheeked Thrush.  Its wing and feather measurements (and bill color) assured us that it was not another Bicknell's Thrush!

Gray-cheeked Thrush

Photos by Nancy Price

The female Scarlet Tanager was caught in a net in the butterfly garden.  We think it may have gone to the bird bath for a drink.    I love the up close photo as you can see the strange bill notch that tanagers have.  The bird was not going to stay still for pictures until it bit me.  Luckily it is nowhere near as painful as a cardinal

Scarlet Tanager

Photos by Nancy Price

We will set up again tomorrow at 7:30 am but may not stay too long if we are not getting birds in the nets.  Hope to see you there.