New Bird & Butterflies

Today was a great day out in the woods. Not only was the weather absolutely beautiful, the birds and butterflies were active. The Northern Parula is singing in the first tree covered with Spanish moss. A Hooded Warbler was foraging along a trail that has been cut into the woods. There are thick blackberry vines and a fallen tree there providing him ample cover. A Common Yellowthroat sang his witchity-witchity-witchity song. I watched a Carolina Chickadee flying around with a large caterpillar in his beak. He wouldn't go to the nest wherever it is with me standing there. The Inca Dove was calling again. Cardinals were singing everywhere.

Among the winter birds that are still here, Yellow-rumped Warblers are most prevalent. White-throated Sparrows are not far behind. The Field Sparrows are still along the fence in the backyard. The most exciting wintertime bird that I saw today was an Eastern Towhee. The reason it is so exciting is that it is the first time I've seen one on the property. That makes 173 species I've seen since we moved here in September 2003.

The butterflies were actively flying around today. The Question Marks were the most common. I also saw several Pearl Crescent and Falcate Orangetip. It seems they were flying all over.

Total Bird List (32 species): Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Red-shouldered Hawk, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Eastern Phoebe, White-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Purple Martin, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, Northern Parula, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Hooded Warbler, Eastern Towhee, Field Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Northern Cardinal

Other wildlife seen:

Butterflies (10 species): Black Swallowtail, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Falcate Orangetip, Cloudless Sulpher, Red-banded Hairstreak, American Snout, Gulf Fritillary, Pearl Crescent, Question Mark, Hackberry Emporer

Reptiles (2 species): Green Anole, Three-toed Box Turtle

Mammals (1 species): Eastern Gray Squirrel