Floating Slug
This is something you would expect to find on the Planet Earth DVD . . . . a floating Slug! While bird banding a few weeks ago . . . . Jennifer found this floating slug and was bummed that she didn’t have her camera with her! Lucky, I had my point and shoot on me but this wasn’t an easy thing to photograph!! Here was this slug dangling on some slime/silk from a tree (which you can kind of see in the photo)!!! Isn’t our world amazing???
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Some Birdies
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Here are some cool birdies that I photographed and should have posted while bird banding the past month! Thanks for all your kind comments . . . . you guys are all wonderful!
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Birdfreak Visit
Birdfreak, Little Kingfisher, Ed’s Father and myself
Today I had a wonderful visit by the Birdfreak Blogging Team as they passed through the area while heading to a birding festival (for Swarovski) in Rhode Island. We only had a few hours to chat but we looked for a few birds . . . Little Kingfisher (Dakota’s All Natural Experience) had the opportunity to band some baby Bluebirds . . . . and then headed up to the Thunder Rocks area to climb on some “big” rocks!! I am sure you will see many of Ed’s and Dakota’s pictures on their own blogs within the next few days (so go visit their blogs). Little Kingfisher told me that if I didn’t go home and blog something . . . . that I would owe him $50 dollars!! I didn’t want to disappoint this great young birder (and owe him $50 bucks) . . . . so here is my blog post for the day!! 🙂
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Scarlet of a Day
Scarlet Tanager
Last Saturday we had a scarlet of a day banding at the CLDC station! We capture 10 different species and handled 36 individuals (18 newly banded birds and 18 recaptured birds)! Highlights were the Scarlet Tanager, Blue-winged Warblers, Chestnut-sided Warblers and Cedar Waxwing! Will turn this into an “almost” Wordless Wednesday! The pictures will tell you how exciting our day went!
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Holiday Blogging Vacation
Took a few days off from blogging to enjoy the holiday but didn’t take time off from nature! I have two blog post that I am now working on from the past two days of bird banding! Until I get the pictures edited and wrote up . . . . please enjoy this amazing 4th of July photo from my flickr friend Jeno!
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Fledgling Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Fledgling Northern Rough-winged Swallow
While walking around Allegany State Park (Red House Lake) yesterday, I found these two fledgling Northern Rough-winged Swallow being fed by mom. I knew the mother bird would return with more bugs and so I waited . . .
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Checking on the Ospreys
Osprey Nest
Thought everyone would like to get an update on some of our nesting Osprey! Babies are growing up fast and theu are already starting to look like mom and dad. Shouldn’t be too long before they start flying!
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Eastern Kingbird
I also had an Eastern Kingbird who allowed me to get close for a few photos on Sunday! Did I mention that Wolf Run is one of my favorite places in the park to visit??
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Wolf Run Butterflies
Today I decided to take a walk for butterflies along the Wolf Run area of Allegany State Park. Was only out for about an hour before the rain arrived but did capture a few decent photos to share with everyone!
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Half a morning of banding
House Wren (baby)
This Saturday morning we had a superb start at the CLDC MAPS banding station but then . . . . (to be continued)!!! We banded only 6 species, recaptured 9 individuals and placed new bands on 8 birdies (17 total captures). Species banded included Blue-winged Warbler, Gray Catbird, Song Sparrow, Field Sparrow, House Wren and a first for the year bird for me (also to be continued ).
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Pileated Woodpecker [Poem]
Pileated Woodpecker
dressed for his coronation
in ebony cape,
ermine trim,
scarlet-crested crown.
But would royalty be caught
backing down a dead hickory?
Family Day at SWAT
SWAT Group Photo
Today was Family Day at the SWAT MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) banding station with families from Michigan to local families who spent the first weekday of summer together! Of course the best part is that everyone here is a regular visitor to this website!!! {{{HIGH FIVE}}} It wasn’t until I was driving Young Naturalist J home that I realized that the whole “Mon@rch Nature Blog team” was together for the first time and I didn’t take a “team” picture together (big upset for the day)! But the whole team was in the group photo that I managed to get of all the families that visited in . . . . well minus one family who left early and a father who was the photographer.
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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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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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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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Mon@rch's Nature Blog 