Haw River

Category

By Pine Warbler and Monarch Butterfly

Jordan Lake, Haw River: Now that you have seen the pine warbler … look for his sleeping neighbor. Ah. The monarch butterfly sleeps under leaves or below branches where it is protected from predators and where it is somewhat warmer. You can see that the pine warbler is puffed up against this morning’s cold. The monarch hadn’t yet gotten enough sun warmth to be on the move. I don’t think the bird saw the butterfly and I doubt if the butterfly had yet sensed the bird. The bird moved on to feed and about 30 minutes later the monarch warmed up had headed for the butterfly bush to gather nectar.

By Big Bird, Little Bird Day

Jordan Lake Dam, Haw River, October 2, 2020. It was a big bird day: a fledgling bald eagle over head. It was a little bird day: a red-breasted nuthatch in flight. Migratory update: I last saw the Kirtland’s warbler at noon on Wed. at the dam, did not see her Thursday or Friday. I have been watching palm warblers and Cape May warblers in the same area. Most likely the Kirtland’s has headed on towards the Bahamas – I hope her flight goes well!

By Kirtland’s Warbler, update

Jordan Lake, Haw River, Wednesday September 30, 2020: Update on Kirtland’s Warbler – she is STILL HERE! Yes! I had wondered if last night’s rain and colder weather would send her on the next part of her journey, but there she was, 1) eyeing a protein packet 2) happily eating a spider protein packet 3) a yellow-throated warbler was also there. She has been active all morning, up until noon and then again in the later afternoon … I hope she is still there tomorrow and that those of you who haven’t seen her yet get a chance to do just that.

By Rare Bird ALERT!

Jordan Lake Dam, Haw River: RARE bird alert! I photographed this female Kirtland’s warbler at the riprap this morning. It was removed from the federally endangered species list in 2019 and is still considered threatened with a global breeding population of about 3600 birds. It was passing through here from its breeding grounds in Michigan and heading for its wintering grounds in the Bahamas. A new life list bird for me!