Trying for . . .
Habitat photo where we placed the mist net
This afternoon Young Naturalist J and I attempted to band a rare bird that has been reported in the area. About 3-4 years ago we had a singing male Worm-eating Warbler on territory and the bird hasn’t been relocated since that time. Last Sunday while banding at CLDC, I got a voice mail from Peter Y. that the Worm-eating Warbler had been located again in the same area. Habitat is “perfect” for the bird (Southern steep sloped hillside) with thick undergrowth for nesting birds like the Worm-eating Warbler, Hooded Warbler and Black-throated Blue Warbler! Only problem is that we are just over the northern range for this species and is almost like finding a needle in a haystack.
Rainy Day
Even with the stormy day . . . . we still had a great day with the Catt. Co Bird Club Summer Picnic in the morning and the Kids Fishing Derby in the afternoon! I said that I would take many pictures but didn’t really have many opportunities with the bazillion things I was doing! I am off from work over the next two days and should have some great opportunities for capturing a few photos to post!! It has been a long day and off to bed!
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Busy Weekend
MW in front of the Campfire!
This weekend Young Naturalist J’s family is camping in the Park to help celebrate (a little early) Young Naturalist C’s birthday. We had a great time at her party this evening with her mother and sister (Young Naturalist E) who design an amazing Squirrel Birthday Cake for her. At the party Young Naturalist C mentioned how pleased she was with everyone’s kind comments on the Nature Haikus posted yesterday.
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Nature Haikus – Summer
Great Spangled Fritillary
By Young Naturalist C
Summer
Butterflies dancing
In the air, sweet with flowers
With vivid colors
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Killfawns
The most adorable Killfawn ever photographed!!
Yesterday I had to do a double take with some Killdeer that were on the side of the road. . . . I said “Look a bunch of Killfawns”!!! This pair of Killdeer had 4 baby killdeer running beside them! This photo series is pretty much what happened within the following minute!
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Another CLDC Banding Report
Photo of me photographing the Veery by Jen
Please take the time to visit Jennifer’s blog post on her visit to the CLDC banding station this weekend!!
Fighting for the Fish
A moment after the Bald Eagle grabbed the trout N. Pike
Today a friend and I were over at Quaker Lake when we found this Bald Eagle being attacked by an Osprey. I quickly ran for my camera (kept in the trunk) . . . darn, I just missed their talons clinging together!!! Of course I was fumbling with the camera and trying to get my lens cap off. Once I finally started taking pictures (click, click, click) . . . . I heard “splash” . . . The eagle had just pulled this huge trout N. Pike from the water. One would have thought this Eagle would have had a hard time carrying this large fish but instead it flew away with grace. Moments later we found the Osprey in a dive towards the Eagle with intentions to try and steal the fish from the Eagle. The Eagle just ignored the Osprey and flew up into the tree to eat his fresh lunch.
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My First Babies
Blue-winged Warbler
Today we banded our first babies at the CLDC MAPS banding station . . . . yep 3 baby chickadees decided to stop over for a visit. The morning started with some thick fog that got us more wet than helped us in capturing any morning birdies. Once the warm sun started evaporated the fog . . . . we finally began to capture our first birdies of the morning. Highlights included the Field Sparrow, Blue-winged Warbler, Veery, baby Chickadees and 2 Hairy Woodpeckers (although the woodpeckers were not the most cooperative visitors)!!
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Laptop love!
OK, giving this blackberry posting thing another try! Currently sitting outside under the stars and watching employee of the month on my laptop (since I still have no power)!
Yep its foggy and mosquitoes are eating me to death but making the best of the moment! Toads are vocalizing, moon is almost full . . . . And I just had a bat buzz past me. The Peepers couldn’t be any louder.
Hope power return again soon! If you see this then I figured out my problem with my last post!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
House Wren Pair
Singing House Wren
The local house wren has been singing up a storm recently. I think it has something to do with the female teasing the male with her busyness in filling the multiple neighboring bluebird boxes with sticks!
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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.
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Chestnut-sided Warbler
One of my banded Chestnut-sided Warblers
Had a SWAT banding session scheduled this morning and after 3 hours of banding (with sunshine). . . . the thunderstorms quickly surround me and forced me to close everything up. The final 3 hours of banding will be done tomorrow and I will then do my banding report. Until then . . . . I will share these Chestnut-sided Warbler pictures that I captured on Monday.
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Please Smile
Please Smile Mr. Toad
Sometimes we need a reminder that it’s ok to smile! Found this sad American Toad during an evening hike last night and I just thought he looked soo sad (cute but sad)!!
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Dragonflies by a Mist Net
Beaver Pond Clubtail
Not only were we able to catch birds during the Great Outdoors Program but we were also able to catch 3 different species of dragonflies. I felt bad that the insect station was able to catch 1 Common Baskettail with all those kids running around with butterfly nets . . . I was innocently catching a few of each species without trying.
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Outdoor Program
Me with the kids from last years program
For the past two days (Thursday and Friday) I have been busy helping the Allegany State Park recreation department with the Great Outdoors program for almost 350 kids from 5 different school districts.
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Traveling with cats
My Mum’s Cat
It is amazing what some people with do for their pets or as in today’s case what my mother will do for someone else’s cat. Around 3pm I got a frantic message on my cell asking me to call my mother back ASAP. Here I am thinking she was in a car accident or something. . . . she had found a lady who was at a truck-stop/gas-station and her cat somehow jumped out of her vehicle when she exited the car. You guessed it . . . the cat b-lined under a storage shed and couldn’t be convinced to climb out since almost 11am. I think my mothers exact words were “I am not leaving until this poor girls gets her cat back”.
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Nature Haikus – Sun
Sunset photo by Nicole
Nature Haikus By Young Naturalist C
Sun
Shining in the sky
Bright yellow ball of fire
In a sea of blue
First Day at CLDC
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Last Sunday we started banding over at the CLDC MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) banding station and placed bands on 15 species (43 individuals). The highlight was the Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (first for the station and a year bird for me CHECK), Veery and Eastern Towhees. The Yellow-bellied Flycatcher was a late migrant passing through the area and just encourages me start doing spring/fall banding. Warblers banded included the Blue-winged Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Yellow Warbler, and Common Yellowthroat. Other commonly captured birds included the Gray Catbird, House Wren, Red-eyed Vireo, and Indigo Bunting.
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Allegany Nature Pilgrimage
Young Naturalist J took this photo of me in the Big Basin
Friday and Saturday was the big Audubon weekend here in Allegany State Park. The Allegany Nature Pilgrimage is sponsored by a few of our local Audubon Societies here in the WNY area (and is my favorite weekend of the year). This was my 13th year attending the pilgrimage and my 10th year as being a group leader. I had the privilege of leading two groups (that turned out to be almost 75 people) into the Big Basin Old Growth area. I just loved having Toni, Jennifer and many other regulars to this blog spend their time with me looking for the big trees!
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Mon@rch's Nature Blog 