Just art of a huge flock of grackles passing by. -KMP
Today’s title was coined by Karen after checking out the huge flocks of Common Grackles that were flying back and forth and all over most of the morning. I would love to know what they’re feeding on.
Western Honeybee taking advantage of the goldenrod. -KMP
Weatherwise it is was a beautiful day and because it was the banding was pretty boring – not a lot of birds around. Some quality but not much quantity. On the other hand, the Butterfly Meadow is just alive with stuff. Along the paths if you stop and just listen you can hear all kinds of bees as they move through the goldenrod and asters. Butterflies abound. You know, at one time the Ruthven board wanted to turn that meadow into a manicured lawn. It was described as just a big old “weed field”. But when I suggested that they simply needed to reframe it so that it was a “field of wildflowers” – hey! a butterfly meadow – they thankfully went with it.
Common Eastern Bumblebee. -KMP
The 5 Red-eyed Vireos that we banded today brings our Fall total up to 111 – a new record for us. The old record was 101 set in 2015.
Banded 33:
1 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Gray-cheeked Thrush. -KMP
2 Gray-cheeked Thrushes
2 Swainson’s Thrushes
4 Gray Catbirds
5 Red-eyed Vireos
Male Magnolia Warbler. -KMP
5 Magnolia Warblers
Young male Black-throated Blue Warbler. -KMP
1 Black-throated Blue Warbler
Female American Redstart. -KMP
1 American Redstart
8 Common Yellowthroats
1 Wilson’s Warbler
1 Scarlet Tanager
2 Song Sparrows
ET’s: 52 spp.
Karen’s Kreeping Korner: The two spots on the wings indicate that this Monarch Butterfly is a male. -KMP Clouded Sulphur. -KMP Mantis on the prowl. -KMP Northern Crescent Butterfly. -KMP Two Ruby Meadowhawks……frolicking. -KMP
Rick