FINALLY!!!!!  Migration has made it to the south, including Bulow Creek and Tomoka State Parks!!!!  If only the mosquitoes and seed ticks would take a hike :-(

The first thing Bill and I found when we arrived at the park to band last Sunday was a Whip-poor Will sitting on top of a pipe over the administration building.  It sat for a bit then flew into the trees a bit, came back out and then finally settled into a palm tree for a nap.  We're thinking, "This is good!"  Should be a "no zero day".  By one.  We did catch one lone Black-throated Blue Warbler and then spent the rest of the 4 hours slapping at mosquitoes and scratching at ticks. 

Monday, since Joe and Judi were out of town I opted to return to TSP since it is closer and am I ever glad I did.  I caught my first Veery since Sept 8, 2009.  I had caught a Veery on Sept 9, 2008 and both these were questioned by Bird Banding Laboratory but fortunately I had the photos to back up my catches.  This year the Veery is more in line with its normal migration time. 

Each day was still a bit slow but we were getting a nice variety of birds through the week including a Yellow-throated Warbler and an Appalachian race Black-throated Blue Warbler.  And, yesterday, in front of the cold front due to arrive this weekend, hundreds upon hundreds of birds flocked into the park around 10 AM.  As I write this on Saturday I am seeing new species in my yard for the year today.  Just what we needed to feel like we are truly banding!! 

In my photos today I want to point out 2 species that are interesting and sometimes not noted in the field as these field marks are not easily spotted, especially if you are unaware of them.  First the Yellow-throated Warbler:  There are 2 subspecies, one considered western and the other eastern.  Look at the yellow spot right in front of the eye on the close-up.  This is indicative of the eastern subspecies.  It will be totally white at that point in the western subspecies.  Where there is interbreeding of the two, the yellow spot will be very faint and probably impossible to notice if not in the hand. 

The other photos are of the backs of 2 male Black-throated Blue Warblers:  There is a race known as the Appalachian race, a population of Black-throated's that nest pretty exclusively in the Appalachian mountains.  There is a very pronounced pattern of blue and black feathers on the back of the bird missing in the other predominant race of Black-throated's.  This is very difficult to see without having the bird in the hand but you will find reference to this in your National Geographic Field Guide as well as a reference to the Yellow-throated Warbler.  Check them out. 

And, Friday proved to be a busier day starting out with a lovely adult Swainson's Thrush.  The eye ring in the hand was almost golden in color.  A lovely bird to see close up.   

So things are getting good.  If you come to the park you will find lots of birds but I am pretty sure you can sit in your own front or back yard and see many species.  Don't forget to take a glance up in the sky every so often as the Peregrine Falcons, along with many other raptors, are passing over right now as well.  If you go outside around midnight or later and listen carefully, you will hear the birds migrating overhead.  The Veery has been very vocal, sometimes to the tune of several hundred chips as they call to each other.  Now there will be more Swainson's and Gray-cheeked Thrushes passing over.  In years past I have heard Green Herons in the middle of the night.  And, every so often an owl in your 'hood lets out a hoot or two.

BIRDS FOR SEPT 25-30, 2011