Current Topic: Catbirds

More Birds in Hand

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Last month, I shared some photos from a private bird banding that I watched. A couple of weeks later, I went to another one on both a Sunday and Saturday morning. It’s always nice to see birds up close! More cool birds were seen, but once again, the species who was caught the most were Gray Catbirds.

Gray Catbird

Gray Catbird not having a good time

Catbirds are always fussy, but other birds just want to bite down on something.

Northern Cardinal

This Northern Cardinal needed something to grab on.

We caught a couple of Lincoln’s Sparrows – it was nice to see this bird up close!

Lincoln's Sparrow

One of the target birds, a Lincoln’s Sparrow

Many of the birds were not in breeding plumage, but they are still beautiful!

Scarlet Tanager

Male Scarlet Tanager in non-breeding plumage.

American Redstart

A young male American Redstart

Indigo Bunting

Indigo Bunting in non-breeding plumage

Magnolia Warbler

Magnolia Warbler in hand

Yellow Warbler

Yellow Warbler brightened up the morning

We caught males and females of a couple of birds for comparison.

Eastern Towhee

Male Eastern Towhee

Eastern Towhee

Female Eastern Towhee

Common Yellowthroat

Male Common Yellowthroat

Common Yellowthroat

Female Common Yellowthroat

And accidentally caught a Hummingbird in the net. This one was not banded, so she was let go right away.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Ruby-throated Hummingbird before release

We also had a Praying Mantis hanging out with us on Saturday.

Praying Mantis

This Praying Mantis hung out with us

Sorry for not being so wordy in my post, I’d rather focus on the photo then the text!

Birds in Hand

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On Monday morning, I was invited with a friend to see a private bird banding at Jacobsburg State Park near Wind Gap, Pennsylvania. Of course, I brought my camera and took some “cheat” photos of birds right before they were released back into the wild. The banders taught us a few things about the markings and how to age and sex some of the birds – it was overall a great experience!

The first bird we watched getting banded was a good one – a young Rose-breasted Grosbeak who would not stop biting the bander’s hand.

Young male Rose-breasted Grosbeak

This young male Rose-breasted Grosbeak was very bitey

The most common species were the Catbird and Tufted Titmouse. Many of them were young and they were also the loudest.

A very young Gray Catbird who is still growing feathers

A very young Gray Catbird who is still growing feathers

This Tufted Titmouse waited calmly to be banded and examined

This Tufted Titmouse waited calmly to be banded and examined

The only two Warblers they caught were an Ovenbird and Chestnut-sided Warbler.

The first captured Warbler, an Ovenbird

The first captured Warbler, an Ovenbird, was later recaptured and released

A male Chestnut-sided Warbler in fall plumage

A male Chestnut-sided Warbler in fall plumage

We did, however, get three species of Vireo including our bird of the day – the Yellow-throated Vireo.

The Yellow-throated Vireo who stole the show

The Yellow-throated Vireo who stole the show

This Warbling Vireo showed unfortunate signs of stress even before examined

This Warbling Vireo was another good catch for the area

Adult Red-eyed Vireo with striking eye color

Adult Red-eyed Vireo with striking eye color

We also had two good insect visitors right next to the banding table – a Praying Mantis and Northern Walking Stick!

This Praying Mantis and Walking Stick hung out near the table

This Praying Mantis and Walking Stick hung out near the table

It’s pretty awesome to see song birds up close and personal, especially when they are typically up high in the trees. I can never get this detail “in the wild.”

Red-eyed Vireo

Red-eyed Vireo

The Comedic Sunning Bird

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Have you ever caught a bird basking in the sun? They tend to let loose like no one is watching. Feathers spread, bills wide open, wings and tails stretched out… Today’s post will be a short, comical one showing some birds who I caught looking their silliest.

Many birds find my feeder polls to be a nice spot to get some sun.

Blue Jay

Blue Jay

Downy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Common Grackle

Common Grackle

Others are really attracted to my shed, especially the roof.

Eastern Phoebe

Eastern Phoebe

Dark-eyed Junco

Dark-eyed Junco – notice the wing shadow

The branches on my feeders are also out in the open and a perfect spot to get some rays.

American Goldfinch

American Goldfinch

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

My local creek residents find places to sun bath after taking a dip in the water.

Gray Catbird

Gray Catbird

Belted Kingfisher

Belted Kingfisher

Last December, I bird-sat my friend’s Kookaburra. I put him near the front window on a very sunny day and even he enjoyed the sun for some time.

Laughing Kookaburra

Laughing Kookaburra

Laughing Kookaburra up close

He eventually closed eye lid