SWAT and the Thunderstorm
Blackburnian Warbler
Yesterday (Tuesday) was our second banding session for the SWAT MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) banding station. Yesterday was one of the most beautiful mornings with perfect temperatures, little wind and a sunny sky. About 2 hours into banding and I started to hear some grumbling in the background . . . nope not my stomach. That was thunder rumbling in the distance.
Magnolia Warbler
I pulled my black berry out and checked the local radar image to see where these thunderstorms were located. Lucky the storms were passing on each side of me and I continued banding with just a few big rain drops falling. Just as the sky was clearing again we had one big flash of lighting to the east of us . . . lucky the sky was turning blue above me. But by hour 3 the sky started getting dark again . . .
Wet Fawn passing my vehicle.
I quickly pulled my black berry out and this time the radar image showed two storm moving directly towards the banding station. I started running from net to net making sure the nets were closed!! You guessed it . . . . at net 6 we caught a pain in the butt Black-capped Chickadee. It was raining cats and dogs by the time I returned to my vehicle and although soaked to the bones I still recorded the banded chickadee info. I then looked up to find this little fawn running towards my vehicle (trying to get out of the rain). I captured a few pictures of it (with my point and shoot camera) and my banding day was over . . .
Swamp Sparrow
Today was a make up day with me finishing the last 3 hours that couldn’t be completed yesterday. Between the two days . . . we had a so so banding session with only 12 species and only 20 individuals captured. Without a doubt the highlight of the past two days was the Blackburnian Warbler which was a first for the station (yeah)!! Should be interesting to see how the weather cooperates with the CLDC MAPS banding this weekend with a group visiting from the Roger Tory Peterson Institute.
Common Yellowthroat
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Awwwww that little fawn is so sweet. Those warblers are beautiful!.
11 June 2008 at 10:06 pm
The detail of these birds is incredible! Your photography is cool…so up close and personal, helping us see what an amazing and unique creation each bird is.
11 June 2008 at 10:37 pm
Holy cow your birds shots really are tack-sharp!
11 June 2008 at 10:45 pm
I love Blackburnian Warblers — actually, all warblers. 🙂
11 June 2008 at 10:46 pm
Those are great pictures! Poor little deer, all soaking wet.
11 June 2008 at 10:54 pm
Beautiful photography!
11 June 2008 at 11:19 pm
Great pictures and the warblers are beautiful. Very pretty fawn. The storms yesterday were really something! The Magnolia Warbler seem to always photograph so well. They are now challenging the bluebird as my favorite bird.
11 June 2008 at 11:19 pm
Just a stunning series.
12 June 2008 at 7:34 am
As usual, wonderful bird portraits, esp. the Blackburnian Warbler & Yellowthroat.
12 June 2008 at 11:08 am
Incredibly beautiful photos. The yellow feathers just jump out of the pics, and even that less colorful Swamp Sparrow is a little beauty.
12 June 2008 at 11:33 am
I agree with the above comments about how incredibly beautiful your photos are, Tom.
I hope the little fawn made it to safety! 🙂
12 June 2008 at 11:34 am
All your pictures are gorgeous. So you carry a Blackberry. My daughter just got one and they are very versatile for sure. Hope your stomach doesn’t remind you of thunder too often! 😉
12 June 2008 at 6:56 pm
I love the fawn! Baby animals are just the best. I’m hoping for rain–we haven’t had any in weeks now…
12 June 2008 at 8:36 pm
@ Lisa – thanks and enjoyed having it come right to me!
@ Rondi – thanks and isn’t that they only way to be in touch with nature?
@ Rurality – thanks
@ Grace – thanks and I was very excited with the Blackburnian
@ Robin – thanks and that fawn was soaking wet!
@ Steve – Thanks
@ Linda – Thanks and those were some storms! It is hard not to photograph the Magnolias!
@ Birdlady – thanks
@ Adam – thanks and was happy with the Blackburnian
@ Robin – thanks and sometimes I get lucky with the lighting!
@ Lisa – thanks and fawn ran into the shrubs.
@ Ruth – Thanks and I love my Blackberry! Actually . . . I have placed all my stokes bird songs . . frogs , ect.. on my Blackberry! Making it even more fun!
@ Lana – thanks and it has been dry here also! But not like they are getting in central US!
12 June 2008 at 9:24 pm
Keep posting these ‘drop dead gorgeous’ warblers and I’m gonna have to start bird banding! Oh my…they just take my breath away when I see them!!! Love the fawn – so neat that the yellow flowers dotted the green grass – a super setting!
12 June 2008 at 10:10 pm
LOL at pain in the butt chickadee!
That Blackburnian is stunning I’m sooooo jealous!
And the fawn is so adorable
13 June 2008 at 8:26 pm
Fantastic pictures, as always!
14 June 2008 at 11:14 am