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.

A Better View of the Redhead Pair

The Redhead duck pair are still out in the lake with the Ring-necks. This time I caught them awake in more interesting light.



Not a lot of variety this year so I will have to settle for these pretty little waterfowl.

Surprising Swallow-tailed Kite Find

It has been a pretty bird-less couple of weeks for me. Just not much out there this time of year but I have been checking the local lakes everyday. Today I had to head over to the banding site for one of our Summertime weeding chores before we begin banding birds again in August. As we headed out toward the middle of the net lanes I could hear a strange kind of chirping that I could not identify right away.

Once we got more out in the open we could see them. Ten Swallow-tailed Kites roosting in the snags above us!



A pair of Swallow-tailed Kites nested here earlier in the year and we knew the two chicks had hatched. At that time there was only one additional Kite hanging around that we could tell.



A couple of weeks ago, Richard and Christine reported that they found seven in this same spot.



I am thinking that this is one of the chicks as it is so fluffy.



I consider this another candidate since it has a bunch of tan on the feathers instead of this solid white of the adults. But I am no Kite specialist...



As I carried on with my hacking and weeding I heard the calls again. Upon looking up, I noticed all of the Swallow-tailed Kites soaring above me. Seven were riding the thermals in a spiral while three others circled closer to my head.



I haven't had a good opportunity to photograph Kites in flight in a long time so I was thrilled to get a few shots in today.



This bird was even preening as it flew!



A minute later and the Kites gave out a series of calls and joined together before zipping off to the East to forage. Another day in paradise.

Checking in on the Swallow-tailed Kites

My son and I finished banding raptors as noted in the previous post and I wanted to go by our banding site to check on the new Swallow-tailed Kites at Lake Lotus. Hey, it was on the way home, so why not?

We arrived at the site and headed through the gate and we were quickly greeted by another critter with a Swallowtail but it was a butterfly. A beautiful Tiger Swallowtail.



Nearing the banding table we could hear the call of an adult Swallow-tailed Kite. He was soaring in quickly and landed at the nest, probably with some food, and then sped off again. It took a couple minutes to get Patrick in the proper spot to see the nest. I mentioned earlier that there is only one exact spot to see the nest and that spot is just below the banding table. He found it and we both took some photos.

Up in the nest was one of the juveniles. You can just make out the tan coloring on the feathers of a younger bird.



We will have to come back out to do some weeding soon and hopefully we can get some better views of the young. So glad we have access to witness this brood growing up.

Another Week, Another Swallow-tailed Kite Shot

I thought that last week's visit by the male Swallow-tailed Kite was going to be all we would get at the banding site. Nope. He came back to the same spot again this week to preen as we took even more excellent shots. My favorite of the bunch was this one.



Could be having young ones to watch in a bit. Can't wait!

Swallow-tailed Kite

We had a very pleasant surprise at the banding site today. If you aren't checking that site for our weekly discoveries I will sum up.

Every year there are several Swallow-tailed Kites seen soaring overhead at Lake Lotus. They are more and more common in the area now and we know of breeding sites as close as Wekiwa Springs. Not long ago we had a few fly in and then got some shots of them landing over our banding table to copulate and then fly off to a pine tree nearby. We were hoping they would nest here and it appears that they did build a nest just 50 yards behind us. Problem is, you can't really get a good look at them from that angle.

Then, as we were walking the net lanes, we spotted a nice bright black and white male sitting just across the river against a beautiful blue sky. Best views of this bird at rest for me. Ever.



He sat and preened a while as many of us got supreme photos before he headed back out to gather food and nest material for his girl up at the nest. If they are successful, we should be seeing some young birds sometime before Summer. Nice!

Swallow-tailed Kites Breeding at Lake Lotus

I have always wanted to get a shot of a Swallow-tailed Kite perching in a tree. They return from South America in early February and breed in the States but are often seen soaring over areas instead of stopping on a tree limb unless you find a roosting site. Today at the banding site we had a very unexpected chance to get some shots of these incredible birds.

We were banding a couple of birds and then preparing to head back out. Ranger Frank was hanging out for a bit and we spotted a Kite flying in and it actually landed just above the banding table.



Swallow-tailed Kites are so striking in the air and with their black and white feathers they really stand out against the sky. The day was suppose to be clear but we only had a few minutes of blue before the clouds moved back in.



I had to work fast to shift camera settings as three of us snapped photos as fast as we could. Who knew how long she might stick around?.



The female Swallow-tailed Kite spent a while watching us as we move around far below her. I loved the angle I finally got showing the wing and tail feathers crossed behind her.



How do we know this was a female? Well, shortly after that last shot the male flew by with nesting material and headed to a nearby tree. He then surprised us by calling and he swooped in to land behind her.



The Swallow-tailed Kites copulated as we watched, sometimes nuzzling each other during the coupling.



A minute later, the male flew off to look for more material for the nest.



We spotted the nest site and will mark it the next time we return for banding in the first week of April. It might be a very exciting chance to photograph these birds as Spring advances. What a morning, even with a lower capture rate than we would have liked. Can't beat Nature at show us some unexpected wonders.

The Latest Lake Lotus Stroll

Another week returning gear to the banding site. Yesterday we had a roller coaster day out at the 2nd Annual Lake Apopka Wildlife Festival and Birdapalooza with early and late rounds of birds and sharing information to the visiting public. The full post of our banding day is posted at my other blog that you can read here. Those days are long and we usually take our usual banding days off to regroup and to get things back in place for the next weekend at 'home'.

As I walked the poles back into our banding area I quickly noticed a calling card along the path just inside the gate. Seems the bears have been wandering around. Not too long ago, either. At least they left the stuff at the table alone this week.



Next, I spotted something a bit sweeter. Stands of Lobelia were blooming along the net lanes in growing force.



I got the poles reset and decided to check the rest of the lanes to make sure things were in order. Northern Parulas were feeding in the treetops and singing like mad around the riverside. The hard part is seeing them in the foliage and getting a shot of them but their calls are easy to recognize as they trill overhead. One of the first returning migrants in the year, Northern Parulas nest and breed here and throughout the state. A definite sign that Spring is right around the corner.



I made my way to the end of the net lanes to find a lurking Gray Catbird watching me as I replaced net markers. A few other species flitted through the willows but nothing in great numbers.



Once I had things back in place I contemplated where I could possibly put a new net in the future by measuring out space nearby. Still don't think I have room to put another one out there. I double-checked by measuring the existing net setup and decided it definitely was not possible. Yet.

Just as I finished my final measurements, I looked up. There, just across the river, was an American Alligator soaking in the morning sunlight.



I have flushed her over the past few weeks as we checked nets and we even had some nice shots of babies born last year in the same spot. Never saw her up in the open before, though. The bull gators stay out in the center of the lake but we will definitely have to watch our step as the season wears on.

I talked to her a bit (who else was out there?) and she stayed put and only briefly wagged her tail very slightly. We parted ways and I returned home. Still want to get a net out there in a new spot to catch more birds where they roam. Thinking, thinking...

Lake Lotus Stroll

We decided not to do our usual Sunday banding stint since we were at the Orlando Wetlands Festival all day yesterday but I still had to haul all the gear back and get set for next week. Once I got everything back in place I decided to take a stroll down the net lanes and see if we were missing anything. It was actually pretty quiet so I didn't feel guilty about sleeping in for once.

I actually didn't even hear much bird activity until I reached the the end of the lanes. I spotted a pretty male Yellow-rumped Warbler on the opposite side of the river and tried to get a shot. Before I could get him to turn around, a female flew directly in my direction to capture a bug and landed not far from me. I'll take that one, instead!



The Wild Radish plants have really come in strong this year. When we first ID'd this plant a couple of years ago there were a couple blooming radish. Now, they are spreading all over along the river.



The only spot that did have a lot of activity was around Net 21, our final net on the property. Dozens of Yellow-rumped Warblers were feeding among the willows.



Closer to the water, a Swamp Sparrow scurried about in the grasses but never would come out into the open fully. I could hear several more calling on the marshes.



One more Yellow-rumped Warbler for the day. Seems like they are beginning to fuel up for their long trip North soon.



I was hoping to get a shot of a Ruby-crowned Kinglet but it stayed deep in the shadows. Above the Kinglet, a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher appeared and fed right in front of me. Pretty easy pickin's for it and for photos



It was a nice relaxing walk after my morning labors. Now I had to head back home for more chores.

Returning Ruby-crowned Kinglet

For those who are not aware, I run the Wekiva Basin Banding Station along the Little Wekiva River out at Lake Lotus in Altamonte Springs, Florida. The NEXRAD radars have been showing huge amounts of birds migrating lately so I thought I would do a little ground-truthing to see if anything had decided to land. Seems like the weather has been very good for traveling of late so there have not been many birds actually stopping on their trek. Good for them, slow for birders.

I did not see a lot of birds out there but I could only arrive after 9 AM and most of the good activity wraps up around then. Plus, ground crews were making a lot of noise along the Little Wekiva on the park side so there was not much chance of seeing many species. I did hear some buntings so I hope to capture some next Sunday.

I headed out but was compelled to stop and go out close to the river at one point. Just had a feeling, ya know? As I scanned to branches hanging over the river I spotted some movement and raised my binoculars. Could it be? Yes! My first Ruby-crowned Kinglet of the season.



I thought I noticed something else about this Ruby-crowned Kinglet. It was flitting about so quickly so it was making photographs difficult but I kept trying. I had to confirm my suspicions. Ah, yes. There it is. See it?



Magnified to 200% might help. This is a Ruby-crowned Kinglet we have banded in the past! It has returned on its long journey, perhaps many times. Only recapturing it will let us know for sure and next Sunday is our first chance to find out.



Banding is a science that allows us to track birds as they move through our world (or as we move through theirs) and catching them in the first place is a bit of luck. More difficult is recapturing them in the future to derive any real data. We do recapture a number of birds as they return. Site fidelity is one of the things we look for and birds are amazing in the way they will return to the exact same spot year after year, often to the day, during migration.

Time will tell and I will post an update if we recapture this bird.

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Oh, one more thing I almost forgot! I often watch for reflections on spider webs after first seeing one years ago. As I walked past Net 6 I noticed a Spiny Orb Weaver making a web. The Sun was shining brightly through the trees and with just a little tug...rainbows.



Just have to stop and look and the wonders will appear.

Lake Lotus Science Incubator Dedication

Seminole County has been running a new thing called the Altamonte Springs Science Incubator since last Fall. Part of that involves taking county school kids on field trips to the water treatment plant and to Lake Lotus and engaging them in scientific experiments in hopes of getting kids to take up science or related avocations as a profession. The park rangers developed teaching modules and the program has been well received and on May 10th they finally had the official dedication which featured local leaders and partners.

I arrived well before the crowds and decided to do a little birding before the speeches began. The newest thing you cannot ignore is the new sign at the parking lot. They threw this thing up in a couple days not long ago.



I headed out to the pier but did not find many birds but I was glad I spotted a Green Heron hunting just before the boardwalks heads back into the trees.



It was fun to watch it stalk and it eventually moved to another spot in front of me for another nice pose.



Under the shade of the cypress and oaks, a Golden-silk Spider sits in wait. Not the best shot of this species I have but it does show off the 'golden' webbing that provides the name.



At the end of the boardwalk I almost stepped on this Eastern Click Beetle.



Back at the sign, the rangers posed with the school kids that arrived to help out later in the morning.



Since the kids were going to be shown what they would be helping with I headed back toward the pier to get in position for some photos. On the way out I found a Southeastern Five-lined Skink. A beautiful little rainbow.



I was hearing a lot of American Redstarts this morning but they were usually high up. I focused on one of the males and, thankfully, he popped out into view for about 4 seconds before disappearing again.



Suddenly, a Tufted Titmouse family flew in. The adults were being harassed by all the kids in tow. One of the adults paused briefly across the river and I got a shot. If you look closely, really closely, you can just make out that this is one of the birds I have banded. Another of our locals with a successful brood is great news.



Out at the lake, Frank showed one set of students what they would be doing when they had to show the guests one of the elements of the Incubator modules.



The middle of the pier had a larger setup where Steve instructed another set of students.



Out of nowhere, a pair of Red-shouldered Hawks flew by and then off into the maple trees along the lake.



I won't show all the different speakers for the event. You wouldn't know any of them anyway. After they spoke, I grabbed my parting gift (a little flip-cube with the partner names on it) and headed toward the parking lot. I was actually pretty surprised to hear Cedar Waxwings still calling from the area of the Cherry Tree over on our banding side. It took me a few minutes but I could finally make a few of them out hiding in the leaves.



Thanks to the rangers for thinking of me and inviting me to this dedication. Glad to be part of the family for the past 5 years and this new funding will offer students a great opportunity. If we can ever swing it, we hope to get a weekday or two to be out at the banding site so they can get that experience, too.