Nancy with the first Sharp-shinned Hawk we’ve caught in a couple of years.
If you’ve been following our exploits over the last few days you will have noticed that it has been slow going. When the going gets tough you need to take pleasure in the little things that occur. It’s not all about a Big Day or rarities.
So….what were the pleasant surprises that made getting out of bed early so worthwhile?
A glorious sunrise:
Enjoying the early morning sky.
The first Northern Parula of the season:
A beautiful female Northern Parula.
Bookseller and Eastern Bluebird afficianado Bill Read donating a book to our library:
Citizen Scientists indeed! Bill Read and Nancy Furber
The capture and banding of the first Sharp-shinned Hawk we’ve had in a couple of years:
Young male Sharp-shinned Hawk caught while in pursuit of a small bird (which eluded it).
Plumage details of the young Sharpie.
The discovery that a bird IDed as a Blue-winged Warbler was, in fact, the hybrid Brewster’s Warbler:
For comparison: a Blue-winged Warbler on the left and a hybrid Brewster’s Warbler on the right (note the gray cheek). -D. Maida
The keenness of a new recruit, Dave Maida:
Recent volunteer, Dave Maida, with all the necessary equipment.
And the sighting of the first Lincoln’s Sparrow of the season…..sorry, no picture.
So, even though it was another slow day…..there were good things happening. It’s just a matter of seeing them.
Banded 27:
1 Sharp-shinned Hawk
2 Mourning Doves
1 Hairy Woodpecker
1 Eastern Wood Pewee
1 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
2 White-breasted Nuthatches
1 House Wren
1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
1 Veery
5 Swainson’s Thrushes
1 Wood Thrush
1 Red-eyed Vireo
1 Northern Parula
1 Magnolia Warbler
2 American Redstarts
1 Ovenbird
2 Common Yellowthroats
1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
1 Indigo Bunting
ET’s: 55 spp.
Rick