Several old friends visited, however, including the first visit of the season by Nicole, sister of one of our star biologists, Daina, with whom you are all familiar.
Right before our eyes, Nicole is morphing into a young woman!
Our first catch of the day was a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventri), a particularly well marked individual, identifiable in the net even before removal, and this is a member of a group of birds which at times can be problematic to identify in the field.
But back to Nicole, the luminary of the day; here she is with her big sister, Daina.
I have absolutely no doubt that there is no finer big sister on the planet!
Nicole was happy to release a female Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) that found its way into our nets.
A Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) had a tick attached to it, too near its eye for us to attempt to remove it. Hopefully the bird will ultimately be able to shed this parasite.
Ross Dickson was able to take this remarkable closeup with his smart phone.
Our short session of spring banding has come to an end, and even at that we lost a few days due to inclement weather, but we will look forward to resuming in mid August to cover the protracted passage of southbound migrants.
All birds banded 26 May: Grey Catbird (2), Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (1), Traill's Flycatcher (2), American Goldfinch (1), Common Yellowthroat (2), American Redstart (1), Baltimore Oriole (1). Total: 10 individuals of 7 species.
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Sarı karınlı sinekkapan çok güzel. Ama galiba hastadır
ReplyDeleteHello, Nicole is a lovely young bird and nature lover. The birds and closeups photos are beautiful. It is a shame about the weather. Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy new week!
ReplyDeleteThis springs weather is very different than the weather last year. Over here it rains every day.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful sisters, and very beautiful photos, David!
Ouch on that tick. I hope the bird can shed it quickly.
ReplyDeleteAnd a big hooray for a younger generation of nature lovers and supporters.
That is an incredible photo of the Common Yellowthroat - I do hope that it is able to shed that awful tick quickly.
ReplyDeleteIt is lovely that both the sisters Nicole and Daina are both interested in the birds and help with the Spring banding.
I do wonder what the birds think about the banding process.
ReplyDeleteI am sure if they could voice their opinion they wouldn't be too thrilled. But a whole lot of information is gained from banding, and avian conservation is greatly improved with data derived from banding and other tracking techniques.
DeleteThe last photograph is fantastic! Eyes of this bird is wide open, I hope it wasn't stressed.
ReplyDeleteNicole and Daina are two lovely sisters who like the birds. Daina is Lithuanian and Latvian name and means in those languages "song".
Nicole held the bird so tenderly. She will come up in the ranks to join you all.
ReplyDeleteWish I were there!
That tick must worry the life out of birds, so let's hope it goes quickly.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos and of the young women too.
Buenos días amigo David, que pena que tan bella jornada se viese alterada por el mal tiempo del día anterior. Seguro que tanto Nicole como Daina lo pasaron en grande con esas bellas capturas con las que disfrutar.
ReplyDeleteEse bello pájaro garganta amarilla con esa garrapata, ojala se deshiciera rápido de ella seguro sería bastante molesto para el.
Un abrazo de tu siempre amigo alicantino Juan.
Hi David - It's lovely to see the girls there and helping out ... they both look delightful. Wonderful birdings - even if curtailed by the recent weather conditions. Poor bird with its tick ... there's an outbreak of lime disease here - a horrible tick borne disease. I definitely feel for the little bird. Enjoy the coming of better weather - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteBonitas fotografías, me encantaría ver más pájaros. Las hermanas son muy guapas. Besos.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame the tick couldn't be removed, hopefully it does come off without too much of an issue for the bird.
ReplyDeleteIt is so wonderful seeing young people getting involved with nature. Amazing close up of the Yellowthroat. That sounds uncomfortable to have a tick in such a sensitive area.
ReplyDeleteIt’s nice having a big sister to look out for you! We are all related one way or another. Although we can’t all be covered in feathers we do share a similarity in the eyes. :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful to see that she is already participating, good job David.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures.
Greetings Tinie
Good to see the lovely young ladies interested and helping out with the banding. I do hope the tick will fall off after it has its fill.
ReplyDeleteNice to know both Nicole and Daina are interested in birds and nature. I’ve learned from Nicole how to hold a bird both firm and tenderly. The last close-up photo of the Common Yellowthroat is stunning. My heart aches to see the tick. I wonder what the eye wants to speak.
ReplyDeleteSo Spring is wet and cold. Perhaps Summer will be better. Same thing over here but next week we will be seeing the sun and it will get warmer. But still to dry after the drought last summer. But nature is booming over here and I am out doors a lot. Next week a week to the farm of my brother in France. Hope for lots of Birds and Butterflies.
ReplyDeleteWarm regards to you and Mirian David,
Roos
Det ser otäckt ut med den stora fästingen så nära fågelns öga men den släpper när den är fullmatad, hoppas att allt går väl.
ReplyDeleteTrist med vädret David, hagelskurar är inte trevliga vid denna tid på året, slår sönder grönskan och jag förstår att inga fåglar gillar hårda hagel.
Nice report David!
ReplyDeleteSo Nicole and Diana are real ladies now;-) And so much fun that both are interested in birds! ( I had five sisters!!! Lucky me!)
Beautiful bird that Baltimore Oriole but also that Common Yellowthroat, fortunately, the tick could be removed! Great shot!
Warm Greetings, Maria
That last photo — WOW! Every little perfect feather is a delight.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful sisters.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Ross Dickson the closeup is superb.
Greetings
Maria
Divagar Sobre Tudo um Pouco
By answering William's question you helped me to understand banding but why only in spring and autumn?
ReplyDeleteA shame the weather hadn't been more helpful, for this last banding.
How likely is it that the ticke will fall off this beautiful bird?
Hi Helen: We band spring and fall because we are primarily tracking migration. During the summer months when local birds are breeding we disturb them as little as possible. And yes, there is a good chance the tick will fall off.
DeleteHola David.
ReplyDeleteAsí me gusta, fomentando el interés por la Naturaleza en general y por las aves en particular en las nuevas generaciones, claro que Nicole cuenta con la ventaja en que tiene una profesora particular. xd
Bonitos pájaros y llamativa la última foto con el parásito.
Un abrazo desde Galicia,
Rafa.
Fabulous close-up photograph of the Common Yellowthroat, I do hope the bird can shed the tick quickly.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
A shame about the numbers David, but as we say, even a low catch (or even a zero) lets us know what may be going on. A shame too that your spring is over so quickly.
ReplyDeleteThey do say that those ticks will drop off to leave the bird unharmed but obviously we rarely catch the same bird twice to be able to judge.
It's great you get the kids involved with banding. I find it is amazing how little about the environment lots of kids (at my school) know. There is no city in New Hampshire big enough for that to happen. I guess they are all too involved with their video games. Happy Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful lassie, what a load of birds, great.
ReplyDeleteTwo sisters - and both are fond of bird banding. Wonderful. I see, David many people love the work you do.
ReplyDeleteSuch an exciting experience and it is wonderful to see young people participating!!! Nice also to see 2 sisters sharing there love for each other and for the birds!!!!
ReplyDeleteNice girl with a nice name. Love the photos.
ReplyDeleteHi Both,
ReplyDeleteHow good to see the sisters so involved and so interested in wildlife.
If with a tick you put a finger on it and rotate the finger anti clockwise, after several rotations the tick will fall off, we were put onto this by a German Vet.
All the best, John
Hello my friend David,
ReplyDeleteYes, nocole is already becoming a real young lady :-)
Little girls get big hihi ...
What a beautiful bird is the Empidonax flaviventri. We will certainly not encounter this here in the Netherlands.
I hope the Geothlypis trichas can shake off its tick.
Dear greetings, Helma xx
I've said this before but your bird banding posts are among my favorites. I can't imagine the miraculous feeling of holding this wild bird in your hand and how wonderful to "start young." She'll always remember her first time doing this.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you are looking forward to renewing your banding sessions in the autumn, David, for both educational and social reasons. Keep up the good work. Love to you and Miriam - - - Richard
ReplyDelete