Date: 7/15/25 8:47 am From: Terry Bronson <birdsbybronson...> Subject: Least Bittern in Wood County
At Belleville wetlands in southern Wood County. Giving "ruck-ruck-ruck" call, then seen very briefly. May gave been a second bird calling about 40 feet away.
Date: 7/13/25 8:07 pm From: Mindy Waldron <wvwaldron...> Subject: MAPS bird banding in Fayette County
Everyone, We had our MAPS bird banding on Saturday July 12 at our station in Fayette County. The number of captures has been down this year. We caught and banded/recapped 18 birds on Saturday. These are our species: 1 Kentucky Warbler, our first at this station 1 Hooded Warbler 2 Louisiana Waterthrush 2 Swainson's warbler 2 Ovenbird 3 Red-Eyed Vireo 5 Wood Thrush Recaps 1 White-eyed Vireo, original capture 2024 1 Louisiana Waterthrush, original capture 2023
All banding is conducted under a federally authorized permit issued by the U.S. Geological Survey and the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources.
Haven't seen many postings lately. Here's what we have had lately young bird wise- mourning doves, wild turkeys, ruffed grouse, killdeer, great blue herons, double-crested cormorants, turkey vultures, ospreys, bald eagles, red- bellied, downy & hairy woodpeckers, tree & barn swallows, blue jays, American crows, common ravens, Carolina chickadees, tufted titmice, white-breasted nuthatches, European starlings, bluebirds, brown thrashers, gray catbirds, robins, house sparrows, house finches, song sparrows, eastern towhee, red- winged blackbirds, common grackles, cardinals, to where & rose-breasted grosbeaks. Today we listened to a mockingbird do the following; flicker, song sparrow, Carolina wren, wood thrush, cardinal, tufted titmouse, spring peeper, gray tree frog, robin, starling, American toad & killdeer. We are seeing more Red-headed Woodpeckers in Summers, Mercer & Monroe counties. I wonder if the emerald ash border has anything to do with the increase. We bring our bird feeders in at night because of raccoons. As I put them out this morning, I had a young downy woodpecker try to land on my chest & shoulder and a young towhee hit me in the head as he got away from a feral cat. Obviously, I was less scary than the cat. Jim & Judy Phillips Summers County Pipestem, WV
Date: 7/4/25 6:00 am From: MFowler <monty...> Subject: No hummers
Not sure if it was the scorching hot few weeks we had, but we have had no activity at our hummingbird feeder since mid-June. Usually by now we have at least one pair frequenting it.
Since the Baltimore Oriole has been coming to the birdbath regularly, I thought I'd try my luck with orange halves again. In the past, they were ignored except by ants. Was I surprised to see the catbirds eating the oranges! After a week, there was nothing left but two empty halves. Maybe this is not unusual, but it sure was a first for me.
The other unusual thing was seeing the male Indigo Bunting pecking at the seed head of a plant I did not recognize. It just looks like a tall grass with little brown pointed seeds. I did take a photo in hopes of finding out what the plant is. The Indigo Bunting is a regular at the birdbath, but this is the first time I've seen one eat. It must be mighty tasty seed because he's been back a number of times this week, as late as 8:00 o'clock tonight. It finally dawned on me that during winter I had a feeder with COSTCO's birdfood hanging from a shepherds hook in that spot.
Not much Hummingbird activity but a male did treat us to the U maneuver yesterday.
Date: 6/27/25 12:59 pm From: jerry Kruth <00000005ead0dac6-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Hot temps - cool birds
Lovely post Bruni. Thanks.
Clever how you do your suet cakes. What glamorous WP visitors!
I just wanted to add to your water effort -- the importance of any kind of water feature for our feathered friends, this time of year.
Doesn't have to be elaborate or fancy; even a simple pan will do; preferably in the shade, and away from predator lurking places. A plastic five-gallon bucket, cut neatly about 6-8 inches deep will suffice. You might dig it down several inches to make it accessible.Make sure any small creature that might fall in will have an exit possible with some stones to jump from.
Jerry KruthPgh
On Monday, June 23, 2025 at 12:58:28 PM EDT, <bruni...> <bruni...> wrote:
The water in the birdbaths really warms up quickly in this weather. I've been checking them several times a day to keep the water fresh and cool. Even the pedestal bath that has cold water dripping into it was warm.
Had some lovely visitors yesterday afternoon. Two male Baltimore Orioles and a Cardinal bathing at the same time. Saw my first female Indigo Bunting. Such a sweet little bird. The male was also here a few times. Special treat was a pair of Great Crested Flycatchers. Then I spotted an immature right behind them. There were also adult and young Bluebirds. A Phoebe, Brown Thrasher, Robin, Catbirds,Titmouse, Chickadee, House and Goldfinches, Chipping Sparrow and one male Cowbird.
I'm still putting out suet so as not to lose my Red-headed and Pileated Woodpeckers. One cake on the tree and the other in the fridge. After a couple of hours I switch them. Both cakes are put out before 6:00 AM for a couple of hours. The woodpeckers, like me, are early risers.
Yesterday there were several Downy's. They always seem to have a good breeding season. A pair of Hairy's was feeding their offspring. So touching.
Bruni HaydlCharles Town, WV
Date: 6/23/25 9:58 am From: <bruni...> <bruni...> Subject: Hot temps - cool birds
The water in the birdbaths really warms up quickly in this weather. I've been checking them several times a day to keep the water fresh and cool. Even the pedestal bath that has cold water dripping into it was warm.
Had some lovely visitors yesterday afternoon. Two male Baltimore Orioles and a Cardinal bathing at the same time. Saw my first female Indigo Bunting. Such a sweet little bird. The male was also here a few times. Special treat was a pair of Great Crested Flycatchers. Then I spotted an immature right behind them. There were also adult and young Bluebirds. A Phoebe, Brown Thrasher, Robin, Catbirds,Titmouse, Chickadee, House and Goldfinches, Chipping Sparrow and one male Cowbird.
I'm still putting out suet so as not to lose my Red-headed and Pileated Woodpeckers. One cake on the tree and the other in the fridge. After a couple of hours I switch them. Both cakes are put out before 6:00 AM for a couple of hours. The woodpeckers, like me, are early risers.
Yesterday there were several Downy's. They always seem to have a good breeding season. A pair of Hairy's was feeding their offspring. So touching.
Bruni HaydlCharles Town, WV
