Tracks in the snow

Snow can reveal some of the animals in your neighborhood. Here are two sets of tracks that I found this afternoon.

This first track is crossing a single lane dirt road between two water bodies.

2010 banding statistics

Outdoor activities are curtailed while snow and ice is on the ground. Hence I turn to compiling banding statistics.

The data covers too few years to uncover trends. I have noticed a change in presence/absence of several species but data for additional years is required. Then I'll also consult other data sets before reaching any inferences.

I am pleased with the variety of species banded. This station is located in a rural/suburban landscape mix. Planning authorities are approving smaller lot developments. The proportion of woodland and woodlot size is likely to diminish within a one mile radius of the station.

This year I banded more during migration. The species caught on a Friday differed from those the following Monday. This is probably an example of how species move in groups or waves. I'll look for more evidence of this.

Individual birds from both neotropical and wintering species have returned in subsequent years to this locale. None of the birds banded here have been reported as found elsewhere and I have not found a foreign recapture so information is not available on where birds may be at other times of year.

I'll continue to band whenever possible during the winter months so that data is accumulated on wintering populations. As weather patterns change, the composition of these wintering flocks may alter.

STATION 2007-2010 (3 ½ years, includes MAPS data)

Number of species banded: 59
Number of species recaptured: coming soon
Number of new bands: 555

MAPS 2008-2010 (3 summer seasons)

Number of species banded: 30
Number of species recaptured: 14

2010

2010 YEAR (includes MAPS data)
Number of species banded: 37
Number of species recaptured: coming soon
Number of new bands: 154
Number of recaptures: coming soon

Number of neotropical species banded : 15
Number of neotropical species recaptures: 3 (Ovenbird, White eyed vireo, wood thrush)

2010 MAPS
Number of species banded: 18
Number of species recaptured: 5
Number of new bands: 43
Number of recaptures: 12

Dogwood berries and rusty blackbirds

Dogwood berries are a popular food item with the outdoor critters. As the fall progresses our anticipation of the dogwood berry feasting spectacle grows. Who will come this year? For the last month squirrels have taken some. Mockingbirds appeared and began guarding trees. Then in mid November robins descended and began munching.

We speculate on what brings on the invasion. Are the berries "ripe" enough? Does a roaming flock come through the area and eats what it finds? I suspect the answer is the latter as everyone's trees are stripped at different times. Then there are berries on other tree species that remain untouched.

This year there were lots of American Robins, a few mockingbirds, some Northern flickers showing off those golden feathers and a few Rusty Blackbirds. No starlings or grackles were seen at the trees this season.





One of the blackbirds was caught in a mist net and so I obtained the close up photographs of the exquisite rusty edgings on feathers. The detail is rarely visible when a bird is viewed through binoculars amongst leaves in the uneven lighting of a tree.

Big Bald Mountain banding station

A fall migration banding station operates on Big Bald Mountain. I spent an informative two days visiting at the station in September. Tennessee warbler is the most common bird at this time of year. Some of the other species banded during my visit were Swainsons Thrush, Cape May warbler, and Blackpoll warbler.

Furled nets in morning drizzle

Station is in the low trees at the top of this bald.

Open net

Hawk watch station in distance.

This Whimbrel was an unusual visitor at the hawk watch station. This photograph was taken on September 18th. The bird was seen on the 16th as well.

Difference between days

Common Yellowthroat

This weekend seven birds were caught on each day but what a difference in the composition of species. The most likely reason is a weather front that started to come through the area between the two sessions. Rain was forecast on Sunday morning and so I reduced the number of nets that would need closing in a hurry. As it was the rain held off until mid-afternoon.

On Saturday the only neotropical bird was a Northern Waterthrush. On Sunday there were two each of Common Yellowthroat and Red-eyed Vireo and an American Redstart. On Saturday three birds were recaptures; none on Sunday. My fingers faired better on Sunday. The Saturday cardinals (both AHY males) chewed on me.

Red-eyed Vireo

New species at station

This banding station is not on a major fall migration route. I was pleasantly surprised to find a Northern Waterthrush in a net this morning. In theory the habitat is suitable; at least for a stop over for a waterthrush. This is the first NOWA banded here. This particular bird has a strong yellow shade underneath and in the supercilium.


The other species banded or recaptured today are year round residents: 2 northern cardinals, a trio of tufted titmouse (with a 4th avoiding the net) and a carolina wren.

Unsettled, cooler weather is forecast to come in tonight. Today's 90+F temperature is probably the last of the summer heat.

Bugs on garlic chives

On this warm sunny afternoon Swallowtail butterflies were hovering over a patch of garlic chives in the neglected herb bed. As I had a small camera with macro feature in my pocket I went over to take photos. The large butterflies immediately left but I looked around for other subjects. The photographs here are of the different insects I found enjoying the flower nectar. The variety of color and species was surprising.

I tried to ID the butterflies. I have no idea what species the various other insects are. If anyone knows please post a comment.








A piece of a Common Buckeye butterfly. The larger butterflies, like swallowtails, moved whenever I tried to take a picture.

Red-banded hairstreak butterfly

Great purple hairstreak butterfly. Insect constantly moved (rubbing motion) wings and revealed blue on one side and red on the other. At first I thought two butterflies were somehow co-joined.

Silver spotted skipper butterfly

Ammophila?

a scolid?