Something is Veery Interesting

A great day was had at the banding site. We captured a lot of birds and even one we never had banded before. You can check out that report here.

On the way home, I decided to run through Mead Garden again. The usuals were there but it was fairly quiet. On the way back to the van I noticed some folks I know sitting on the ground taking photos. I couldn't see what they were shooting at yet so I took the next best shot.



Just what were they so focused on? A young Veery, judging by the tanned edges of the feathers.



This bird was very tame. It allowed my friends to scoot in really close and they took photos for along while as it picked at berries from the ground before heading back into the shade of the Beauty Berry bush. Must have had a long flight last night or it is not feeling that well. Most thrushes bolt when approached.

That was all the energy I had after a long banding session so I headed out. Of course, I swung around the local lakes on the way home. Waiting for me at Lake Emerald was another nice Wood Duck on the Cypress limbs.



Time for a shower. Nice enough shots for a 15 minute stop.

Work Walk

Needed a walk during lunch. Headed back around to the wooded area across the street. It was pretty productive during the Spring. Now to see if I can find anything during the Fall.

I could hear Cardinals but not much else. Suddenly a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher fluttered by and after a bug. It caught it right in front of me so I tried to get a shot. It flew off too quickly. I walked around a tree to see if it was hiding on the other side. Instead, I found Blackburnian Warbler feeding way up above me.



Heading deeper into the woods I spotted a Northern Parula feeding in a Chinese Tallow tree. It stayed in the dark shade so I looked around for some other subject. Surprisingly, I didn't have to wait long. Thrushes began to fly in right past me and gathered in another nearby tree. Most were Veery but a couple of Swainson's Thrush joined in. We have started to catch these species at the banding site so they are migrating through in good numbers.



That was it for the rest of the walk. Kind of disappointing but those 3 species were new for my in these woods. I finished out my shift and swung by the pond up the road to see if the American Coot was still here. Yep. Stayed year round. Also in the pond was a critter I hadn't seen in months.



At least it still hasn't eaten any of the regular birds!

2nd Official Banding Day

Day 2 of our new Lake Lotus banding project. Not a ton of birds around but we did make it in time to start grabbing some migrants for the Fall season. Day 1 was on the 14th but it was kind of a trial run. Net positions are still being tested.

Always nice to see a male Black-throated Blue Warbler.



In the same net, but a little later, we captured another migrant: an Ovenbird.



I was hoping for some thrushes in this new area and, sure enough, we captured this Veery near the edge of the woods.



Other birds were captured bringing in a nice variety to the day. Could make for an interesting location.

New Birds at Wekiva

Birds continue their southern run and we had a few new birds for the season out at Wekiva today.

I was bringing in a Veery when I heard some noise over at net 10. I strode over to see a Chickadee in the net about midway down. I was hanging the bag containing the Verry when it up an bolted straight back out again! Dang.

Don't fear, though, as our day ended with a return visit.

The Veerys were increasing in numbers. I was very pleased with this shot. Make it look so soft and fluffy.



The first real surprise of the day was our first of the season Worm-eating Warbler. I think we may have had only 1 last year but it could have been zero.



That was good enough but the best was yet to come. The guys making a net run showed up all excited and announcing they had retreived an Acadian Flycatcher. Excellent! However, when it was brought out of the bag it looked a bit more suspicious to me.

More like a Traill's Flycatcher. Different feather coloration than an Acadian. Different shape to me, too.

We took measurements to eliminate certain species but I kept seeing that open mouth every other time I turned around. Very yellow-orange. Not pinkish. That screamed Alder (one of the two types of Traill's) in the back of my head.

We took a ton of photos from every possible angle and I sent some off to be double-checked. The reply came back: Probable Alder. Definitely not Acadian. Alder it stall be.



Had a growing count for the day but that missed Chickadee still bugged me hours later. I ran the net lanes one more time to determine if we should stay open or go home. I figured it was time to go. On the way back I was told there was a bird waiting for me to take a picture of.



Ain't he cute? Caught in the same net as the bird I lost earlier. I will pretend it is the exact same one.

We had one more surprise before we left. A pair of Eastern Kingbirds flew into the tree above net 9 right next to the banding table before continuing on their journey.



That's what I call a good day.

Thrushes Return

I know I mentioned that migration was upon us but, to me, it really gets going once the Thrushes start arriving.
Today at Wekiva we got our first Veery.



They arrive first and then come the Swainson's, Grey-cheeked, and Wood Thrushes. A welcome sight.

Also, we had a few more migrating Warblers. Leading the charge was a gorgeous female American Redstart.



Next up was a Northern Waterthrush. Not a Thrush at all, despite the name.



Finally, we are still seeing a large number of Prairie Warblers. Prairies are one of the earliest migrants to kick off the season.



Things begin to heat up now. Weather thinks about cooling down, too. We hope. Very humid mornings still in the scrub.