FOG AT THE CLDC MAPS
Tufted Titmouse
This morning was one of our foggiest days that we have had at the CLDC MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) Banding Station in a VERY long time. I feared that this thick fog would reduce the number of birds that we would end up capturing. Instead the birdies were soo abundant that we found ourselves spending most of our time trying to catch up with net checks!
Robin meet Robin
Young Naturalist J was the field assistant for the day and Robin also assisted with the banding. We captured 46 individuals, banded 12 different species and collected our last 9 Avian Bird Flu samples for the season (yeah, so glad to have these completed). We placed new bands on 37 individuals and recaptured 8 birds. We did have an escaped Song Sparrow who accidentally escaped from my hand before I could place a band on its leg (little booger).
Indigo Bunting
The Song Sparrows were the most abundantly captured bird today with 19 captures and Common Yellow Throats followed with 7 captures. We also had some great surprises like 3 Indigo Buntings, 3 Red-eyed Vireos and a Magnolia Warbler. Highlight of the day would have been an American Woodcock if it had actually flown into the net but quickly flew parallel to the net once we spooked it.
House Wren
Bird continued to be busy up to our “10 o’clock rush” which is about the time that the sun started peaking through the fog. I guess you can never presume what nature will end up doing because they will always end up surprising you.
Magnolia Warbler
Mon@rch's Nature Blog 
Wow, Tom! I just want to kiss ’em all!!!
Sure, they wouldn’t enjoy it, but your photography just knocks my socks off, and I go all goofy and mushy inside! I am so glad I have a flickr friend who does these important things and documents them so that I may vicariously enJOY them!!!!!
28 July 2007 at 8:47 pm
Today really was a great day at the CLDC site and it was nice to finish the swabs after doing 100 it should be moving quite a bit faster the next time we go out there!
28 July 2007 at 9:00 pm
Can you feel the bird’s heart beating when you hold them like that?-They must be pretty spooked!
28 July 2007 at 9:02 pm
I love that titmouse–looking right at you!
28 July 2007 at 9:29 pm
That tufted titmouse picture is just so darn cute! And I also really liked seeing the indigo bunting up close. Thanks Tom, for sharing more great pictures.
28 July 2007 at 9:51 pm
I’ll say the warbler is my favourite, but all the pictures are superb. I would be happy to have Ruth meet Robin too.
28 July 2007 at 9:59 pm
Your Blog just gets better and better Tom…..
28 July 2007 at 10:39 pm
you always do such a nice job tom.
28 July 2007 at 11:20 pm
Ohhh, the indigo bunting is beautiful Tom! And of course I love the other birdie photos too!
28 July 2007 at 11:32 pm
Ditto everyone’s comments, here. Tom. You ROCK. To hold a Tufted Titmouse is an incredible feat and honor.
You just keep getting better and better… Wonderful.
Robin (meet Robin), House Wren, Indigo Bunting, Magnolia Warbler…awesome.
28 July 2007 at 11:42 pm
Ditto, ditto, ditto! I gasped and giggled aloud when I click onto your blog today and was greeted by that diapproving, indignant looking titmouse! Your photos are so wonderful, it’s as if you could reach out and touch them Tom!
29 July 2007 at 8:03 am
@ Shawn, thanks so very much and you are always SOO kind! You are a great flickr friend also!
@ Birdbander11 – it sure was and I was SOOO glad to have those swabs completed.
@ Larry – Take this Titmouse, when taking the picture it kept “cee cee ceee”ing me. I have even had birds singing in my hand and catch insects while in my hand!
@ KGMom – LOL, it was a cutie, did you see my other picture in flickr that I took of it?
@ RuthieJ – I couldn’t decide which picture to use of the titmouse and thought the whole body, instead of the up close shot was better to show the fog in the background!
@ Ruth – they are my faves also for sure! Ruth, you are more than welcome to join me whenever I have a session scheduled and you are in the area!
@ jimbeau – thanks and love having you visit!
@ rick – as always thanks!
@ Pam – they always get ooo’s and aaaa’s when we catch them! This guy was captured with a juv indigo in the net at the same time.
@ Mary – Thanks and helps that the birds are just so darn cute! Actually they are very high pitched and hurt your ears when handling! LOL!
@ Jayne – thanks and when I caught the Titmouse, I told everyone that would be the cover picture to this post!
29 July 2007 at 9:00 am
OMG a titmouse, I love those guys and have never seen one in the hand!! I knew I didn’t want to read this blog entry. Congrats on finishing samples, and too bad the woodcock got away!
29 July 2007 at 11:25 am
Tom –
I have always thought titmice were adorable, and it is such a special treat when they come to my feeder. I have to say that this one is the cutest one ever. Isn’t it funny how something so tiny can be so fiercly indignant even when being held by a “giant” This pic will be a permanent picture in my favorites! : )
29 July 2007 at 11:34 am
Great shots again Tom, the titmouse is hilarious but my favorite is the wren, that is a beautiful profile. Wonderful work,thanks for sharing it with us.
29 July 2007 at 12:21 pm
Sometimes foggy weather is great for photography – lighting is even (no harsh shadows), and colors look great – if the aperture is right. The top “Tufted Titmouse” is just perfect. What a shot! Should be in the top photos of this year.
Your birds shots are “Up close and personal” and really bring to life the lives, colors, feathers of birds.
29 July 2007 at 2:53 pm
An absolutely perfect tufted titmouse picture! Defiant, “I’ll kill you” look that is so typical of these birds in the hand. They would love to peck you to pieces!
29 July 2007 at 5:23 pm
Very very beautiful photos! And an interesting blog for experts, but also for me. I am not an ornithologist or a biologist, but I love nature and its wonderful beauty. Succes!
29 July 2007 at 5:35 pm
That looks like one ticked titmouse!!
29 July 2007 at 7:24 pm
I can’t get over these pictures! I mean really! The look on that Titmouse is priceless.
Perhaps I’ve missed previous posts about avian flu. So you’re on the front line in monitoring this, eh? Are you concerned?
29 July 2007 at 9:14 pm
@ Marg – we get them up at the house and always love catching them (but boy they are loud)! We sure wished you were here and yes we would have LOVED to have caught the woodcock!
@ Barb – thanks and they are a treat for sure! Babies are always cute, even when birds! I loved how he kept his crest up for all my photos!
@ Bernie – thanks and the House Wren was a highlight also! Thanks for your kind words!
@ N Shutterbug – Thanks and was very happy with the results with the fog! Although, I did use the flash with them!! I will keep that in mind when I do my year wrap up! The “up close and personal” is my style for sure!
@ Laura – thanks and its piercing ceee ceee sound could be added to its look would help with its attitude. BTW: They do peck but not as much as the Chickadee’s!
@ janien – thanks and I try to do this for everyone!! I hope that it allows those who never get an opportunity to see bird banding and or get out to bird watch the chance to enjoy my adventures “also”. Glad you enjoyed the site!
@ Lynne – thanks and was very much so!
@ Cathy – thanks and I just knew this picture had to be my top picture for the post! I have mentioned it before but never did a long post about what I am doing with those samples! I agreed to help UCLA in the thousands and thousands of samples being collected across North America! I only collect 100 samples per year for them and just doing my part in helping the real scientist do their job in keeping “everyone” safe.
29 July 2007 at 10:03 pm
What a great set of birds – sounds like a great time, despite those pesky song sparrows.
30 July 2007 at 3:26 pm
Hi,
You have a great site. I just bookmarked you so I can come back.
You just helped identify our indigo bunting. We thought that is what is living in our woods. Your picture confirmed it.
We’re new birdwatchers. So we will enjoy your site.
31 July 2007 at 12:50 am