Summer residents are arriving

The summer migrants and residents are pouring through. This morning I heard my first black and white warbler of the year and the first great-crested flycatcher. The yard is full of blue-gray gnatcatchers and I spotted a band on one. Most likely I banded that bird in a previous year. Hopefully it will go into a net and I can find out.

I just checked a nest box that a pair of bluebirds have adopted. Five eggs inside. The adults have stayed even though a local mockingbird really tried to run them off.

The climbing roses are in full bloom; some of the clematis are covered in saucer sized blooms (well a bit smaller than a saucer). In the vegetable garden I'm picking radish and the other cool season crops are coming along.

Oh and talking of nesting. Across the lake there was a pair of Canada Geese accompanied by goslings munching grass.

Banding news. No banding in February or March as weather unfavorable or other commitments. The rain and wind finally gave me a break in April and I'll write these sessions up separately.

New endeavor

This year I plan to keep a running tally on the bird species banded.

SPECIES BANDED: January 16

*American Goldfinch - 2
*Brown Thrasher - 1
*Carolina Wren - 1
*Hermit Thrush - 1
*Myrtle Warbler - 1
*Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
*White-throated Sparrow - 8

* new species for 2010
~ new species for banding station

TODAY’S BANDING TOTAL
species: 7
individuals: 15

YEARLY BANDING TOTAL (2010)
species: 7
individuals: 15

RECAPTURES TODAY
(with sex and original banding date)

Carolina Chickadee - U - October 4, 2009
Carolina Chickadee - U - November 8, 2009

YEARLY RECAPTURE TOTAL (2010)
species: 1
individuals: 2

Sparrows rule

The temperatures finally warm up to reasonable banding weather in North Carolina, though there is still ice on shaded parts of the lake. A Cardinal was singing. White-throated Sparrows were the most common species banded today; followed by a pair of American Goldfinch, a pair of recaptured Carolina Chickadees, and singles of Brown Thrasher, Hermit Thrush, Carolina Wren, Myrtle Warbler and Ruby-Crowned Kinglet.



On the lake during the cold snap I've counted more Ring-necked Duck then ever before. My count was at 100 one day.

On the gardening front. I've started to remove weeds and prepare one of the vegetable beds; I'm working on seed orders; and the blueberry bushes are pruned.

Kinglets coming through

A short banding session this morning as a front is coming in. Disappointing in the number of birds as only one went in the nets. However that bird is a male Ruby-crowned Kinglet so the kinglets are coming through here. Earlier in the month a White-throated Sparrow went in a net. I've not seen or heard one since then but they are probably here.

The dogwood berries are uneaten, so far. Starlings are beginning to mass in trees across the lake so probably not be long before a flock of starlings comes to eat the berries. There is very little activity at the bird feeders.

Successful end to the season

I ran my last MAPS banding session on Sunday for this season. The number of birds banded was much higher than I expected for this late in the summer doldrums. There was high humidity and I ended the session early because of a downpour. Six birds banded and one recapture. The recapture was a female cardinal and one of the first birds I banded at this station. She was originally banded exactly two years ago as an AHY. The new bandees were mainly fledglings and several still had sets of feathers growing in.

Unusual visitors

Now this is a beautiful bird to find in your yard; though admittedly his call is harsh. For several weeks this male and female came visiting. I'm assuming these birds are a neighbor's outdoor pets.

Fruits and snakes

No connection between these two topics. The raspberry crop was lovely and now the blueberries are ripening. I've been enjoying fresh fruit salads, fruit smoothies and yogurt with fresh fruit. Lovely.

There is color in the garden from the local snakes as well. I rescued a Scarlet Kingsnake from the pool. Then later in the week watched an Eastern Kingsnake move through the pine straw and dead leaves. The alternative name of Chained Kingsnake is very apt. The snake's patterning immediately brought to mind linked rings. I've since learned that the Eastern Kingsnake eats venomous snakes -- immune to the venom.