Phoebes and Pine Warblers

Some new captures for the Fall season today along with the expected lot. Ruby-crowned Kinglets continue to flow in but we are still waiting for the cooler temperatures. Today was VERY humid.

We actually were able to end the day by observing many butterflies and other insects.

I have been trying to nail down a sighting of a Bay-breasted Warbler this season as they have been reported all over the state this year. Just not having much luck. Most are out near the coasts and some nearby but I just can't get out to see them.

Work, work, work. Scouts, Scouts, Scouts.

When we first opened one particular bag, I thought I might be close to the Bay-breasted I was looking for but it ended up being a the first in a series of Pine Warblers. First of the season for us even though they live in and around the park. Here is the first, a youngster.



If I would have had information that this bird and 2 others were captured together in the same net, I wouldn't have been so hopeful as they turned out to be a family. Jr. just happened to be first out. Luck of the draw. Here is Momma:



...and Poppa...



Still, a nice round of netting.

Just as we were getting ready to leave for the day, 2 more bags were brought in. Both contained our first Eastern Phoebes. They have been heard in the park for a couple of weeks but these were the first we were able to band.



On the way out, we enjoyed the butterflies including a Queen...



...a Tiger Swallowtail...



...and even a Lynx Spider I found before heading home.

First Palms banded for Fall 2007

After finding the Palm Warblers at home, we finally banded our first Palms of the Fall 2007 season. We actually had both varieties.

First up was the Western Palm right after dawn.



Even after some thought it might be a Yellow (Eastern) Palm due to a little yellow on the breast, an actual Yellow Palm dropped in later in the day.



Note the overall yellow including into the supercilium.

One other notable catch was a beautiful Black and White Warbler.



Topped off a nice mix to a good day.

Palms Arrive

Having read reports online about Palm Warblers being seen along both coasts of Florida I was still wondering why we hadn't netted any at Wekiva. I heard one a couple of weeks ago but they were still not showing themselves to me anywhere.

Just before leaving work today a little bird dropped into a pine tree outside my window at work. Finally, a Palm Warbler appeared. It was pumping it's tail in proper Palm fashion as it moved along the pine needles and then dropped down into the low shrubs at ground level.

I noticed I was smiling as I sat at my desk.



This shot was taken four years ago on the Cady Way trail on a bike ride with my oldest son. One of my favorite Palm shots.

Maybe we can band some next week.

Catbirds Still Rule

Still getting a usual mix of birds but the color of the recent weeks is still dominated by gray.



Look familiar? It does to us! Still a limited number of Warbler and Thrush species but it appears many of them are keeping to the West or diving over the Gulf of Mexico after arriving near the Florida Panhandle.

In the past 2 weeks we have banded 157 Gray Catbirds.
Still awaiting Palms and Yellow-rumped Warblers.