2016 Sparrow Drive

Has it been a year already since the Sparrow Drive at Weekie Wachee? Well, really more like three! The weather the past couple of years was too risky for us spending 5 hours on the road to just be rained out. The weather was much nicer this year so the volunteers from the banding site were rounded up and arrived at dawn to help set nets.

Once all who were going to attend showed up by 9 AM the marching through the grasses began. The cold front that came through the other day left the area a bit squishy and wet feet were had by all in short order.



I got a new point and shoot for Christmas and brought it along to test in the field.



A number of other banders were out for the drive, including Jim McGinity who helped extract captured birds with us.



The first couple of runs produced nothing but in this section we captured some Savannah Sparrows and other birds.



The crew finished the first circuit and headed back to the trucks to watch as some of the birds were banded.



Marianne Korosy is in charge of the Sparrow Drive and bands all the birds we capture.



A few of us held birds so visitors could get photos. Here, Tony holds a LeConte's Sparrow that was just banded.



A close up of the LeConte's Sparrow.



I got the Grasshopper Sparrow to display to answer any questions from the group.



Let the next round begin!



Since our banding crew has a lot of experience extracting bird we station ourselves at intervals at the nets to get to birds as quickly as possible.



Jim gets another bird as Lynn moves down to the next position.



Clay extracts and holds up a Swamp Sparrow. Clay helps manage this property and maintains the nets and poles used out here.



Killian has his hands full of birds in bags and heads back to the trucks with our recent catches.



We got more Savannah Sparrows on this final sweep...



...and another House Wren for the morning.



Before we loaded out, Marianne called us over to look at the Swamp Sparrow we just had banded. No of us had ever seen anything like it. This bird had a single white feather on its wing. Pretty cool.



Back near the cars, a Gopher Tortoise was trying to decide if it should come out for a snack.



We have been doing these drives for years and never think to get a group shot. Thanks to Jim for thinking about it just before the truck took all the Wekiva Basin banding volunteers back out of the preserve.



A lot of birds, a lot of fun. Until next year...

When Swans Attack!

A woman up the road at Lake Concord have been raising Mute Swans for years. Once she has too many or can't handle them se releases them into the wild. A lot of birders don't like that since they are non-natives but I don't think there is too much they can do about it at this point. The dang things have pretty much established themselves in the nearby neighborhoods.

Right now it seems like it must be breeding time. The pair in Lake Cherokee are getting all fluffy .



I counted as many as 6 in the area today so when a stranger drops in our Lake Davis pair kick them out.



Once the rival has been ejected it takes awhile to come back in for a landing.



The city introduced Chinese Geese to many parks years ago and they live side by side with the swans but this male wanted nothing to do with the goose. The goose knows it and is swimming as fast as possible in the other direction. Check out the wake!



The goose was not going fast enough, though. The swan flew over and appeared to be trying to drown the thing. It eventually escaped.



Some other ducks moved around the argument and headed toward shore. I noticed then that one was a Northern Shoveler. Haven't been too many around this Winter.



So, a little excitement in the neighborhood. Now I wait and see if we get any signets this year. Two years ago they had their first. Last year there were 7.

Lake Apopka North Shore Drive. Again.

I headed to the North Shore Drive today and got there at sunrise as is my wont. I have made 7 tries to find a reported Gray-headed Swamphen and come up empty overtime. Today it ran across the marsh right toward me! Finally.



The light was rather harsh but I didn't mind. I had my bird. It was carrying what looked like fleshy vegetation.



The Gray-headed Swamphen walked around for a bit and then stopped to eat whatever it was carrying and soon vanished into the reeds. Nemesis no more.



Just ahead, a sleepy Red-shouldered Hawk rested on a telephone pole.



It seems that overtime I get a Northern Harrier next to me they aways keep their backs to me. About time I got a side shot.



Egrets and Herons were feeding in all the swallow water as the Sun continued to climb.



Belted Kingfishers were a little more generous with poses today before flying off.



I stopped for a check on the ponds were the ducks have been lately. Didn't see any today but I did get to watch as the American Coots displayed and chased one another.



I got in the car and began to head down the road when I spotted a Pied-billed Grebe just outside the driver side window. Would have liked more light on my side, but...



An angry looking Great Egret searched for a meal in the canal.



Again with the full framed Great Blue Heron!? Hey, I can't help myself.



A lone Palm Warbler flitted around the small branches poking out of the water next to the car.



Not much on the backstretch today except for another Belted Kingfisher.



On the final turn an American Kestrel hunted and rested next to the sod fields.



A typical day at the Drive but now I have a little more weight off of my shoulders. Thanks, Swamphen!!

More Hooded Merganser Fun

Time to check out the Hooded Mergansers again on the way home. They are only here a relatively short period and for some reason I still get a lot of enjoyment of watching and photographing them. They weren't doing all the mating rituals like they were last visit but were nice and close just swimming around like this female.



Several males were still around, as well.



I love all the different shapes these bird can make with their head feathers. From full circles to medium squared-off tabs.



The females are usually seen diving for food often and their head feathers are usually flat but even they can get that styled up round look.



How about a nice dart-shaped triangle?



The Hooded Merganser will be heading out sooner than I like to think about. For now, I can get the pleasure of hanging out with these amazing divers for a little while every Sunday.



Had some better lighting today. A lot of rain in the past and forecast for the near future. Wonder how they look with drops all of the surface. Hmmm...

Cedar Waxwings at Work

I have been lamenting not seeing that many Robins and Waxwings this year. We had a bird rain shower blow through while at work and I heard the Cedar Waxwings flocking across the parking lot. Once the rain let up I had to walk around to the adjacent business to get the light right. A huge flock of Waxwings were sitting in the trees after feeding on the invasive Brazilian Pepper in the growth between our businesses.



There are a couple of birds with orange tips on them which you don't see that often. Moments later they all flew off to the West and vanished over the trees. Hope this is not the last flock of Waxwings I get to photograph this season.

Titmice and Chickadee

Heading out of the house again and I heard the birds moving toward the feeder so I had to run back for the camera. This time I was able to ease out of the front door to get some closer views. The Tufted Titmice were first to the feeder and eyed me briefly.



It quickly grabbed a sunflower seed before taking it back to the shrubs to eat it.



Then the continuing Carolina Chickadee joined in as the Sun began to dip behind the trees.



Still enjoying the Chickadee. Stick around, little guy. The new tail feathers look good on you!

Hooded Merganser Flock

Once our banding sessions are done this time of year I take a detour through Maitland Center to see if I can find Hooded Mergansers in the retention ponds. They arrive in small numbers earlier but by now there are dozens of them feeding and swimming between ponds. They also begin to perform courtship displays now and I got lucky to be there at the right time today.

Not going to make too many comments since I have so many shots but will elaborate about some images. Just enjoy the views. I always seem to get them in this formation under cloudy skies but I love these little divers. We begin with a female.



Next, a few male portraits.









Another female checks out the suitors around her.



A view of a male more head-on showing how thin they can appear.



Not sleeping. Just fluffing out those head feathers.



How about a little tail feather crown?







The tension is building...



Males begin to size one another up.





Now, the displays start! Head wagging and swimming toward each other in signs of supremacy.



My favorite part is when they paddle their feet and rare up out of the water. The female up front is even getting into the action!



One male stretches his neck toward his rival.



Another tilt to the skies.



Then relax.



Puff up that belly and crest.



Now thrust!



Sometimes you can look cool only so long until the wind ruins your perfect quaff.



Finally, a winning male follows a female to pair up.



A great half-hour hanging out with the Mergansers. I should have a few more weeks to get shots. Can't wait!