Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Banding Birds, Warblers, Gray-cheeked Thrush 9/17/13

A few photos of birds at banding with Charlotte Weston & Stacy Hanks at the CACC in Milford CT:
Black-and-white Warbler

Black-and-white Warbler

Black-and-white Warbler

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Red-breasted Nuthatch



Black-throated Green Warbler

Black-throated Green Warbler

  

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Gray-cheeked Thrush

Gray-cheeked Thrush
Black-throated Blue Warbler

Gray-cheeked Thrush
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Black-throated Green Warbler

Gray-cheeked Thrush

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Fresh Black Swallowtails, Monarch from 9/4/13

Just a few photos of fresh Black Swallowtail and Monarchs in the garden on 9/4/13.  A steady stream of Swallowtails (5 appearances of Giants) his year.
male Monarch, 9/4/13 home butterfly weed

male Black Swallowtail, 9/4/13 home buddleia

female Black Swallowtail, 9/4/13 home buddleia

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Female Goldenrod Spider eating female Sachem, 9/4/13

At Nettleton Pond (btw Silver Sands SP and Walnut beach), with John Oshlick, I found two dead female Sachems.  Both were seemingly nectaring on Goldenrod, but I noticed that neither moved.  Upon closer inspection, and turning over the flowers, I discovered a yellow spider in the process of devouring the Sachems.  I presume the spider is Misumena varia.  A few photos below:
female Sachem being devoured by a Goldenrod Spider, Nettleton Pond, 9/4/13

female Sachem being devoured by a Goldenrod Spider, Nettleton Pond, 9/4/13

dead Sachem, Nettleton Pond, 9/4/13

Monday, September 2, 2013

Labor Day Giant Swallowtail

Today, Labor Day (9/2/13), while generally wet, featured a morning Giant Swallowtail back in neighbor's yard nectaring on Buddleia, Zinnia, Cardinal Flower.  4th Giant in neighborhood this season.  Also, a juvenile Yellow-crowned Night-Heron at CACC.
Giant Swallowtail, 9/2/13 neighbor's yard

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron juv. 9/2/13 CACC

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, juv, 9/2/13
Giant Swallowtail, neighbor's yard, 9/2/13


Giant Swallowtail, 9/2/13