A Trip to the Banding Site

This is a cross-post from my banding site blog but since it the only 'birding' I have done this month I thought I could share it here, too.

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I headed to the banding site to get a fell as to how much clean-up we might be doing next month especially after we had a couple of big storms roll through that could have felled some of the dead snags. Surprisingly, there was not a lot of damage and the water level was lower than I had expected. Some tree parts have fallen near Net 3 but it looks like the rangers may have moved them out of the main path.



I was also went to see if we had any beneficial beetles emerging but all of the Air Potato leaves near the banding table appear to be untouched. Just below the table in the river I spotted a few very large Armoured Catfish apparently digging out a burrow in preparations for starting a new family. Not good. These non-natives can be very destructive.



By the time I got to Net 6 I did start to see some encouraging signs. The Air Potato leaves higher up are showing some wear and tear.



A bit farther down the lane at Net 12 I noticed a lot of damaged leaves and a bright red beetle floated past me as I walked deeper into the ground cover. Under another leaf I found a pair mating. Bring on the larvae!



Behind Net 22 I found several Silver Argiopes (AR-GEE-OH_PEE) on their squiggly webs in the shade.



There was not a lot of bird activity out here today. I did spot a couple of our banded Northern Cardinals along the way and Titmice and Carolina Wrens were calling back in the woods but not much else. As I neared Net 21, a female Downy Woodpecker flew by at shoulder level, lit upon a tree trunk, and quickly faded back into the shadows. Just then, a Great-crested Flycatcher flew in across the river.



It silently followed me as I headed to the end of the net lanes but soon vanished in the direction of the woodpecker.



Most turtles dive back into the water when approached but this Red-bellied Cooter was pretty defiant as I walked the Net 21 bank. It never flinched.



The only other thing stirring in the breeze were scores of Dragonflies.



I was hoping to catch a glimpse of Swallow-tailed Kites but the only bird riding the thermals was a very distant Black Vulture.



On the way out I did some more exploring around Net 12 and found more and more Air Potato Beetles.



The adults was flying back and forth and nibbling on tender shoots of the Air Potatoes. I expect to find a lot of skeletonized leaves which will mean we can skip pulling vines, at least.



Get to work, beetles! I will come back to check on your progress soon.

Easter in Winter Park

I wrapped up our Sunday bird banding and got prepared for celebrating Easter with the at the in-laws. I got ready and ushered our youngest into the car and headed toward Winter Park. I left a little early because I had a mind to make a stop along the way.

When we reached out destination I was surprised to see a number of Mourning Doves feeding on grass seeds next to the road.



More surprising was another bird that dropped in next. A bright red House Finch!



A nice find but I was here to see the birds a little higher off the ground. I have not had time to visit the Purple Martins this year and now was the perfect time. Not sure if it was the best time for them. Seems like some argument was taking place.



I stepped out of the car to try for some closer shots and, of course, the only rain cloud around opened up. I was glad to see several apartments being occupied. Last year I only recall one pair.



The Purple Martin let me get even closer for a nice pose. What a handsome bird.



Then over to the family to spend some Easter time and get ready for lamb. I have to take a walk out toward the lake to see what I can find. The lawn next to the lake was accented with various flowers popping through. I have always had a thing for pink Oxalis.



Over to the right, a single bright yellow Cow-pea poked through the turf.



I recall Frog Fruit (Carpet weed) from my youth and used to watch the bees flit from flower to flower.



Water Hyssop is found near water sources throughout the area but is so small it is sometimes overlooked.



Up on the dock having a drying stint, a male Anhinga kept a close watch on me.



On the opposite side of the dock a stalk of Duck Potato waved in the breeze.



Dragonflies chased one another and occasionally grabbed onto more swaying blades of vegetation in the water.



Once the Anhiga flew off I headed out onto the dock to get a couple of more photos. Spatter Dock sends up closed yellow blossoms above the lake surface.



I am also fond of Water Lily blossoms. I have to get a shot of one every time I spy them in the distance.



We always hear of Dollar Weed and how hard folks try to get rid of it from lawns but they have very interesting flowers. It is called Pennywort, too.



You often find Pickerel Weed in roadside ditches of in swampy wetlands but they also turn up on the shores of lakes.



Finally, I left the lake to head back inside. I was wondering where more birds were but there was a group of skiers out on the water so they probably chased most of them away. At least a Pied-billed Grebe popped up for one last shot.



A nice Easter day, including that excellent lamb dinner.

Cloudy with a Chance of Bird Sightings

Figures. My one day to head out to Mead Botanical Gardens this week and it turns out to be the one cloudy day. Bird numbers were down and lighting was horrible. Oh, well. I couldn't even find the Barred Owl at its usual perch so I could only settle for a photo of a Blue Dasher Dragonfly out at that spot. Thanks to friend Paul Hueber for the confirming ID.



Down by the cement bridge I could only stand and chat with a Tricolored Heron for a couple of minutes.



At times, the area behind the clubhouse along the creek is productive for many warblers. It was quiet there, too, until a Western Palm Warbler dropped out of the trees. Means Winter is closing in. Palm and Yellow-rumped Warblers are typically the last species of warblers to reach Florida and stay until Spring.



Nearby, the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are busy at the butterfly garden near the pond and back in the main butterfly garden.



I was on the way out and went past the new amphitheater when I saw a couple of warblers racing from tree to tree. Again, bad light was the norm today and I had to really process this shot to confirm it was a Pine Warbler that I was trying to keep up with all along.



I probably won't have a ton of birding time for a bit as I need to buckle down on job transitions but I will still get to be out on Sunday for banding at Lake Lotus.

Memorial Day Birds

Time for our Memorial Day get together. Time to remember those that fight for our freedom and spend some family activities. Flags were flying all over the neighborhood.



Most of the boys wanted to hit the local swimming pool and I was asked tag along.



Of course, I was going along to check out the local birds. A Great Blue Heron was first spotted at the water's edge.



Just before the pool, a male Anhinga dried out just beyond the reeds.



I could hear baby Downy Woodpeckers in a tree nearby. The adults were out gathering food so I couldn't get a shot of them. Soon, I discovered a Red-bellied Woodpecker using another nest hole near the Downy nest.



Back under the oaks, a juvenile Red-bellied Woodpecker called to an adult that quickly flew in and delivered a meal.



Out at the dock, a Four-spotted Pennant rested just over the water.



Not too far away, I attempted a shot of Pickerel Weed and a Bee.



I staked out a spot to sit and try for a Downy Woodpecker shot. Instead, a Great Egret flew in and began the hunt. Eventually, it nabbed a snack.



I walked closer to get a better view of the Egret but it flew off. I was left with a view of a Two-striped Forceptail.



Back near the dock, a Sulpher Butterfly sampled the muddy areas.



A single stalk of Water Hyacinth was in bloom in the full sunlight.



I was getting shots of a Needham's Skimmer when I heard a familiar sound. A Barred Owl adult was calling back past the dock. Had to abandon my dragonflies. Had too...



While searching the branches for the owl, a Great-crested Flycatcher flew by in hot pursuit of some tasty insects and then flew off.



I knew I was in the right spot for the owl but it was difficult to find. I soon heard the raspy call of a young Barred Owl. I changed my path and just then the adult flew out past me and landed in a nearby tree.



It only took a couple more minutes to find the baby. It was deeper in the trees.



The kids were done swimming and we had to get back to fire up the grill. Not a bad tally for a fairly short time of birding.