Trails, Snakes, and Bear Poop

What a title – but it’s the best I can do at the moment.  And quite descriptive, really.  Rob and I enjoyed a walk on a new (for us) trail in the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge.  I am especially pleased to see the creation of this refuge, as Sussex is my humble hometown.  I [...]

Cuckoos, Buntings, and Babies

In spite of poor migration patterns over the last week and persistent winds, birding and banding wasn’t all that bad really.  Spring is always a little less frantic than the fall migrations, but a lot more spectacular for colors and patterns.  By the time they arrive in northwestern New Jersey in the spring, most birds are [...]

Warblers and a Savannah

A light migration overnight last night resulted in a few new species this  morning, so we have more pretty bird photos for you – a female black and white warbler, a female Canada warbler, and white-crowned sparrow, and a Savannah sparrow (new species for RRBO).
      
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    

Brewster’s Warbler

This morning’s little surprise (don’t you love surprises?) was this stunning Brewster’s warbler – which is a cross between a golden-winged warbler and a blue-winged warbler.  Sound familiar?  The bird in this post is also a hybrid, but looks like a blue-winged except for the yellow wing bars.  The Brewster’s, however, has the white underparts of [...]

The Wind Changed

I first learned about changes in the wind when I was a young girl growing up on 125 acres of ‘wilderness’ with older brothers who spent much time hunting during deer season.  Deer hunting back then (ohmygod, I’m starting to sound so OLD!) was a ritual in our  house.  Uncles and cousins from the city [...]

Pretty Birds and the Backcross Warbler

Banding today was dismally slow, with ice on the nets in the early morning, cold temps and then windy conditions. 
However, on Sunday morning we managed a couple of nice birds.  This Baltimore Oriole was a return bird, first banded in the spring of 2007.  He was unusually stunning and a bit fiesty.
Our cutie of the day goes to [...]

Blue-winged, Golden-winged Warbler Hybrid?

Rained out for banding this morning, but that gives me more time to catch up on household chores (where ARE those house elves when you really need them?) and some other work.  But first, I have to share an interesting capture from yesterday and Tuesday. 
I banded this fellow on Tuesday morning.  A beautiful male blue-winged warbler….uh, [...]

Returning Migrants

This morning’s banding session reminded us of one of the reasons we roll out of bed at 5 in the morning and mingle with ticks and bears every spring and fall. 
The first bird today was a ‘return’ yellow warbler, that records show we first banded on July 10, 2007.  Yellow warblers most definitely do not [...]