Banded Palm Warbler

Our banding station group headed out to Ferndale Preserve to do a banding demo for a friend. That entry will have to go on my other blog once I get the rest of the photos edited. I will post an update to this blog when that is ready. This post is about a find on our way to take the net poles back to Lake Lotus.

We stopped at Ranch Road to look for the Say's Phoebe I have posted about in the past. This marks the 6th year this bird has come to stay the Winter far from its normal range. I have come by to see it every year. Today, however, it was hiding from us. Itis still there somewhere just not always easy to spot.

In its absence, I tried to find anything else that might be interesting. Hiding behind some structure I noticed a bird peeking out at us before flying off. It was a Eurasian Collared-Dove. I can't recall seeing any here before. Then another flew out, and another, until at least 8 birds took flight from their hiding place.



Odd. The only other birds around were an American Kestrel way out on the fences and a small flock of Palm Warblers foraging in front of us. I figured I might as well take some shots. Nothing else to see.



As I processed the photos when I got home something caught my eye. Can you see it? Here, let me circle it.



Could that be what I think it is? I checked a few more photos. Here is the bird in a profile view.



Just to make extra sure, I enlarged this image and concentrated on the bird's leg. Yep. There is a band on this Palm Warbler!



In all my years banding birds, I can't recall ever seeing a small land bird with a band outside of my banding areas. So, was this bird banded far up North where they band a lot of Palm Warblers or could it be one we banded at Wekiva or Lake Lotus? I will never know for sure. But, I do know I always band the right leg when I band so it is possible it is one of ours.

Here I was taking pictures just at random and I find I got a photo of a bird of much note. I might have paid attention in the field if it would have let me know while we were there.



Oh, wait. Maybe it was trying to get my attention...

Ranch Road

I took a trip out to Ranch Road after our banding session (which was full of interesting birds if you are interested) to see if I could say hello to the Say's Phoebe that has now made its 6th Winter stop-over. I was out of luck. All I could locate were a couple of Eastern Phoebes



Not a lot of other birds moving. While I was scanning the west fields I noticed someone peeking over the top of the small utility pole.



This female Downy Woodpecker went round and round on the pole until she decided on a specific spot to peck away, occasionally providing a profile view.



I was trying to get better shots of the Downy when I suddenly heard a strange series of calls. I looked around but could not locate the bird. Then it began directly overhead. Looking up, I found a Loggerhead Shrike nearly silhouetted against the blue sky.



Love those little white tail feathers! It has been awhile since I have seen a Loggerhead Shrike that close. Might as well leave on that note.