Crossvine: Haven For Hungry Hummingbirds

Ever wonder what spring hummingbirds eat in the wild before Trumpet Creeper thickets start producing prolific nectar-laden blossoms? In the Carolinas and beyond, a likely candidate is Trumpet Creeper's overlooked little cousin, Crossvine.

The 22-30 April 2006 installment of "This Week at Hilton Pond" discusses Crossvine and its environmental significance. To view photo essay #313, please click on the title above.

As always we include an account birds banded during the period, although they were few.

Happy Nature Watching!

BILL

Year Of The Moth

Our work with the John Bachman Symposium at Newberry College has thrown us behind on postings of "This Week at Hilton Pond," but the installment for 15-21 April 2006 is now complete. The photo essay is about moths in general and tiger moths in particular. To view the latest installment, please click on the title above.

If you missed last week's installment on Blue Corporal dragonflies--not Eastern Pondhawks--it's at http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek060408.html

As always we include a list of all birds banded or recaptured.

Happy Nature Watching!

BILL

An Hour With A Dragonfly

We've been super-busy getting ready for the upcoming John Bachman Symposium at Newberry College (see http://www.johnbachman.org), but we managed two squeeze in an hour this week to watch some Eastern Pondhawks at Hilton Pond.

These common dragonflies are a delight to watch, although they're not always easy to photograph--especially in late afternoon. To view our "This Week at Hilton Pond" photo essay for 8-14 April 2006, please click on the title above.

As always, there's a tally of birds banded and recaptured, plus miscellaneous nature notes.

Happy Nature Watching!

BILL

Yellow-throated Warbler

Although Yellow-throated Warblers breed commonly in the southeastern quadrant of the U.S., we seldom capture them at Hilton Pond Center--mostly because they frequent the highest canopy. "This Week at Hilton Pond" we did manage to band one of these elusive warblers, even though we caught it in an unexpected way.

To view the story of this unusual encounter, please visit our photo essay for 1-7 April 2006 by clicking on the title above.

As always we include a tally of other birds banded, those recaptured, and miscellaneous nature notes.

Happy Nature Watching!

BILL

More Spring Miscellany: White Oak & Purple Finches

With spring officially at hand, nature continues to unfold at Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History. Of concern is the future of a massive White Oak struck last summer by lighting. Another mystery is what--if anything--is going on between our local populations of Purple Finches and House Finches.

To view a "miscellany" photo essay about the oak, possible interactions between the two finches, and the story of one of our banded birds that was found far away from South Carolina, please visit our "This Week at Hilton Pond" installment for 22-31 March 2006 by clicking on the title above.

As always we include a tally of all birds banded, a list of interesting recaptures, and assorted nature notes.

Happy Nature Watching!

BILL

Signs Of Spring 2006

Signs of "spring" have been prevalent in the Carolina Piedmont since late January, but now that the vernal equinox has come we decided to document some of the evidence. The current installment of "This Week at Hilton Pond" is devoted to some different views of local spring flora, both native and exotic. To view the floristric photo essay for 15-21 March 2006, please visit click on the title above.

As always we include a list of birds banded during the period; this week we also describe a whole cluster of interesting recaptures, while our miscellaneous nature notes include something perplexing about White-throated Sparrows.

Happy Nature Watching!

BILL

Twin Tales: The Owl In The Box

"This Week at Hilton Pond" our facility was home for a few hours to an orphaned Great Horned Owl, which is now growing up at the Carolina Raptor Center. For a photo essay about this fluffy little bird--including how it was found and how it looked and acted--please check out the current installment for 8-14 March 2006 by clicking on the title above.

As always we include a tally of birds banded during the period, plus several miscellaneous natural history notes.

Please try again if the page loads slowly; it's probably because lots of people are on-line watching the NCAA basketball tournament. March madness, indeed!


Happy Nature Watching!

BILL

Those Brown Purple Finches

'Most every backyard birder knows that some Purple Finches are brown rather than purple--but many folks don't realize not every brown Purple Finch is a female. "This Week at Hilton Pond" we discuss sexual dimorphism among Purple Finches and describe the differences between obligate and facultative migration strategies. To view the photo essay for 1-7 March 2006, please click on the title above.

As always we include a tally of birds banded during the period, and include a list of recaptures--along with some miscellaneous nature notes.

Happy Nature Watching!

BILL

John Bachman: No Longer In The Shadow Of Audubon

Most nature lovers who have heard of John Bachman know him only because two birds--Bachman's Warbler and Bachman's Sparrow--are named for him. However, he was was a very important Carolina Lowcountry naturalist for more than 50 years and deserves NOT to dwell in the shadow of his friend and colleague John James Audubon.

"This Week at Hilton Pond" we talk about Bachman's diverse contributions, not only in natural history but in theology, race race relations, and other realms. We also provide info about an upcoming John Bachman Symposium being held in April for the 150th anniversary of Newberry College, which Bachman founded. Our 22-28 February 2006 installment is available by clicking on the title above.

As always we include a tally of all birds banded during the week at Hilton Pond Center, and we also list several interesting returns of birds banded in previous years.

Happy (Historical) Nature Watching!

BILL

Aloe There: The "Oh-Sixers" In Costa Rica

After some delay, we've finally completed the summary report for our recent hummingbird banding expedition to Costa Rica. It's now on-line as the 8-21 February 2006 photo essay under "This Week at Hilton Pond."

We describe some interesting observations about Ruby-throated Hummingbirds on their wintering grounds and include other anecdotal information about the trip. There are lots of photos, so the page at may take time to load--especially if there's lots of Web traffic; if it's too slow, please try again later. Access the essay by clicking on the title above.

Also included this week is the link to an announcement about our next hummingbird excursions to Costa Rica in 2007, plus our usual list of birds banded and/or recaptured as of late at Hilton Pond Center.

Happy (Tropical) Nature Watching!

BILL

Black Vulture Demise

We fallen a bit behind on "This Week at Hilton Pond" postings, due in large part to our just completed hummingbird expedition to Costa Rica. (More about that NEXT week.) Just before we left for the tropics, we observed some rather bizarre Black Vulture behavior we were able to document photographically. The scenario is the topic for our photo essay for the week of 1-7 February 2006, accessible by clicking on the title above.

As always we include an account of bird banding results for the week--the best so far this winter.


Happy Nature Watching!

BILL

Busy as A (Winter) Bee

A much warmer than average January in the Carolina Piedmont had people wearing shorts and flip-flops, and even the Honeybees were flying--despite the absence of flowers on which to feed. You may be surprised--as we were--to find out where these industrious little insects are actually foraging. For a discussion of Honeybee winter behavior, please visit our "This Week at Hilton Pond" photo essay for 22-31 January 2006 by clicking on the title above.

As always we include a tally of birds banded and recaptured during the period.

Happy Nature Watching!

BILL

An Epidemic Of Bird Ticks?

There does indeed seem to be an epidemic of Bird Ticks this winter in the Carolina Piedmont, and it's right on schedule.

For some super-close-up photos and intriguing information about these pesky ectoparasites, please visit the 15-21 January 2006 installment of "This Week at Hilton Pond," keeping in mind that some images from nature can be a little disturbing. The photo essay is accessible by clicking on the title above.

As always we include a list of birds banded during the period, including a partially albino American Goldfinch whose mug shot we took. These are also suggestions for how to deal with a tick-infested bird.

Happy Nature Watching!

BILL

Another Mystery Bird

Today we're pleased to post the 300th installment of "This Week at Hilton Pond," our on-going series of photo essays about natural history in the Carolina Piedmont--and beyond.

This week we describe a very unusual bird captured for banding at Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History near York SC. For a mini-quiz on this "Mystery Bird," please visit our 8-14 January 2006 installment by clicking on the title above.

As always we provide a tally of birds banded during the week, plus a few miscellaneous nature observations.

Happy Nature Watching!

BILL

Seedy Silhouettes

When deciduous trees drop their foliage in winter, we lose distinctive shapes of leaves as a clue to species identification. Even in silhouette, however, it's possible to identify trees--especially if we can find the remnants of fruit still clinging to topmost branches.

For a photo essay about these "seedy silhouettes," please visit the 1-7 January 2006 installment of "This Week at Hilton Pond" by clicking on those words in the title above.

As always we include a tally of birds banded, plus some miscellaneous nature observations from the week just past.

Happy (New Year) Nature Watching!

BILL

2005 Band Totals: Pretty Much A Bust (Except For Hummingbirds)

Except for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, the 2005 banding season at Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History wasn't very spectacular. To view the annual summary, the banding totals, and photos of a few bird species we captured, please visit the 22-31 December 2005 installment of "This Week at Hilton Pond" by clicking on the title above.

With the photo essay we also include the final week's banding results and a miscellaneous nature note.

Happy (New Year) Nature Watching!

BILL

15th Annual York-Rock Hill Christmas Bird Count (2005)

The 15th annual York-Rock Hill Christmas Bird Count was held on Monday, 19 December 2005, and that's the topic for the latest installment of "This Week at Hilton Pond." To read about the count, view photos of some birds seen, and examine a table of results, please visit the photo essay for 15-21 December 2005 by clicking on the title above. Along with totals for each species, the table now shows 15-year averages and number of counts on which each species has been seen.

As always we include a list of birds banded around Hilton Pond, as well as miscellaneous nature notes for the period.


Happy (Holiday) Nature Watching!

BILL

Mistletoe: Friend Or Foe?

For years we've been wanting to write about the mistletoe that grows at Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History, but never had good opportunity to photograph this unusual plant. "This Week at Hilton Pond"--just in time for the holidays--we finally crafted a mistletoe photo essay for the period 8-14 December 2005. It's viewable by clicking on the title above.

As always we include a tally of birds banded, as well as miscellaneous notes about local nature happenings.


Happy Nature Watching!

BILL

Perdita: The "Lost" Rufous Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbirds have been appearing in the eastern U.S. with increasing regularity, and one of them is ESPECIALLY regular. A female rufous banded in 2003 and retrapped in 2004 was caught again this week in Rock Hill, SC--far from the species' "normal" wintering grounds.

This supposedly "lost" hummingbird is the topic of our "This Week at Hilton Pond" essay for 1-7 December 2005, available on-line by clicking on the title above. We include a series of photos showing just how much this bird has changed since we first captured her three years ago.

Happy Nature Watching!

BILL

A Dearth Of Birds: West Nile Virus?

Last week something very unusual happened at Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History: We banded no birds, mainly because there were almost none around to catch. There's been a near absence of bird life for the past few weeks, and "This Week at Hilton Pond" we ponder whether West Nile Virus or some other factor might be the cause.

To view the photo essay for 22-30 November 2005, please click on the title above. This week we also include a few miscellaneous nature notes, including one about a bird we don't usually see this late in the year.

Happy Nature Watching!

BILL

Cheeky Little Eastern Chipmunks

Although they're somewhat scarce in the South Carolina Piedmont, we have a vibrant population of Eastern Chipmunks at Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History in western York County.

For a look at these cheeky little rodents, please visit our "This Week at Hilton Pond" photo essay for 15-21 November 2005 by clicking on the title above.

As always, we include a list of birds banded during the period, as well as a few miscellaneous nature notes.


Happy Nature Watching,

BILL

"Stealth" Flies On Birds: The Hippoboscids

Watching avifauna at a feeder or in the field is fun, but sometimes having a bird in the hand can tell us lots more than we can observe through binoculars or a spotting scope. Such was the case this week when an Eastern Towhee we captured for banding provided an intimate encounter with a stealthy little hippoboscid fly.

For a photo essay about these interesting bird parasites--and their hyperparasites--please visit the 8-14 November 2005 installment of "This Week at Hilton Pond" by clicking on the title above.

As always we include a tally of birds banded during the period, as well as a list of recaptures.

We should also remind you that due to unavoidable circumstance, the date for our 2005 York/Rock Hill Christmas Bird Count has been changed to Monday, 19 December. Details at http://www.hiltonpond.org/ChristmasCountMain.html


Happy Nature Watching!

BILL

Banding On San Andres Island: Are They "Our" Birds, Or "Theirs"?

Although we tend to think of backyard birds in the U.S. and Canada as "ours," many local species depart for the tropics each fall to spend the winter in Central or South America. Recently we were privileged to work with 60-plus Colombian conservationists on San Andres Island in the Caribbean, helping teach them how to safely capture, band, and monitor Neotropical migrant birds that are also "theirs."

"This Week at Hilton Pond" we summarize our intensive and sometimes harrowing two-week experience with lots of photos of island flora and fauna, including some of an endangered endemic and the local hummingbird species. To view the photo essay for 22 Oct-7 Nov 2005, please visit the Web site for Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History by clicking on the title above.

The Web account is long with many images, so it may take a while to load.


Happy (International) Nature Watching!

BILL

Slow Start, Fast Ending for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds

We've been out of the country for the past 16 days (more about that NEXT week), so we've fallen behind in our postings of "This Week at Hilton Pond." However, we'd be remiss in not summarizing the 2005 hummingbird banding season, so that's the topic for our 15-21 October 2005 installment.

To read a summary of our 22nd year of banding Ruby-throated Hummingbirds at Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History, please click on the title above. We've woven in some speculation that might explain some of our unexpected results.

As always, we include a summary of all birds banded during the period--plus a note about a new and rather odoriferous addition to the Hilton Pond mammal list.

Happy Nature Watching!

BILL

Audubon's "Extra" Warbler

Although Alexander Wilson and John James Audubon were outstanding early ornithologists, they still made errors in identifying North American songbirds. One species that gave them fits--we call it Audubon's "Extra" Warbler--is the topic of discussion for the latest "This Week at Hilton Pond." To view the photo essay about this confusing fall migrant, please visit the installment for 8-14 October 2005 by clicking on the words "Audubon's 'Extra' Warbler" in the title above.

As always, we include a list of all birds banded during the period, as well as a few nature notes and a comment about our waning Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.


Happy Nature Watching!

BILL

All Galls Are Divided Into Three Parts (At Least In Goldenrod)

We've always been fascinated by Goldenrod galls and what causes them, so "This Week at Hilton Pond" we decided to investigate a little further to see just what was in some of these plant tumors. To view the photo essay for 1-7 October 2005, please click on the title words in the title above: All Galls Are Divided Into Three Parts (At Least In Goldenrod).

As always we include a tally of all birds banded--including a mug shot of a Gray-cheeked Thrush--as well as a collection of interesting nature observations during the period. There's also a note about our success to date at catching Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.

Happy Nature Watching!

BILL

Green Treefrog: Way Out-of-Range?

Although Green Treefrogs are commonplace across coastal regions of the southeastern U.S., we never expected to find one in the South Carolina Piedmont--much less right here at Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History.

But that's what happened "This Week at Hilton Pond," and our new-found frog is the topic for our photo essay for 22-30 September 2005. To read about and view photos of this colorful amphibian, please click on the words "Green Treefrog: Way Out-of-Range?" in the title above.

As always we include a tally of birds banded--including an update on our record-making pace for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds--plus several miscellaneous nature notes.

Happy Nature Watching!

BILL

An Appreciation For Spiders

There aren't a lot of good spider field guides out there, but we came across one recently that helped us positively identify a giant spider crawling on the wall at Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History.

For a photo essay about the spider--and what amounts to a review of the new book's usefulness--please visit the 15-21 September 2005 installment of "This Week at Hilton Pond" by clicking on the words "An Appreciation For Spiders" in the title above.

As always, we include a tally of birds banded or recaptured this week--including some surprising news about our on-going study of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.


Happy Nature Watching!

BILL

Hanging By A Toenail

Out looking for fall wildflowers at Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont
Natural History, we came across a tiny ball of fur hanging from the
crotch of a Pecan branch. Turns out it was a bat.

There's more to the story than that, of course, as is revealed in the
8-14 Sep 2005 photo essay under "This Week at Hilton Pond." To view
the current installment, please click on the words "Hanging By A Toenail" above.

As always we include a tally of all birds banded, plus a list of
significant recaptures. There's also a mug shot of an immature
Black-and-white Warbler, our first of the year, as well as an update
on our hummingbird banding project.


Happy Nature Watching!

BILL

Hidden Hummingbird Wonders

Although you may have had some close looks at hummingbirds, we hope you'll get a new perspective on these little flying jewels when you visit the current installment of "This Week at Hilton Pond." Our photo essay for 1-7 September 2005 includes a series of hummer macrophotographs we'll share with you when you click above on the words "Hidden Hummingbird Wonders."

As always we include a tally of all birds banded and a list of significant recaptures, plus an update on our 2005 hummer banding season.

Happy Nature Watching!

BILL

Ghosts At Hilton Pond

The ghosts of Hilton Pond aren't ephemeral spirits but they are things that look almost supernatural. For an explanation of what we mean, please visit our "This Week at Hilton Pond" photo essay for 22-31 August 2005 by clicking on the words "Ghosts at Hilton Pond" above.

As always we include a tally of all birds banded; there's also a note about a relative plethora of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds that showed up near the end of August--plus a mug shot of an early migrant Ovenbird.

Happy Nature Watching!

BILL

Dog Days Kinnikinnick

Dog days are officially over on 11 August, but heat and humidity continued across the eastern U.S. Nonetheless, there was a "kinnikinnick" of activity at Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History. If you don't know that word--or would like to read about moths and butterflies and the exciting discovery of a caterpillar not previously seen locally--please check out our "This Week at Hilton Pond" photo essay for 15-21 August 2005 by clicking on the words "Dog Days Kinnikinnick" above.

As always there's a tally of all birds banded during the week--including hummingbirds--and a list of interesting recaptures. We also include a photo of a House Finch with conjunctivitis and an account of a "mini-reunion" of some folks who went on our first hummingbird expedition to Costa Rica last winter.

Happy Nature Watching!

BILL

Dogs Days of August

It's been hot as heck at Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History--not unusual for the dog days of August.

"This Week at Hilton Pond" we explain the origin of the term "dog days" and include photos of a weevil and a caterpillar that were still active despite the high temperatures. There's also an account of a banded Chipping Sparrow from Hilton Pond that recently showed up several states to the north. For details, please visit our 8-14 Aug 2005 photo essay.

As always, we include a tally of all birds banded during the period.


Happy Nature Watching!

BILL

Land Between the Lakes

This week we were away from Hilton Pond to conduct workshops and "Hummingbird Mornings" presentations for Woodlands Nature Station at Land Between the Lakes, Kentucky/Tennessee.

We almost hate going there and are very jealous of things we see at the station--as you'll understand after viewing our current "This Week at Hilton Pond" photo essay for 1-7 August 2005.

Please be patient if access is slow; the old server runs at a snail's pace in summer when folks are hitting both our Web sites for hummingbird info.

As always we include lists of birds banded and recaptured at Hilton Pond during the period. There's also a note about how we're progressing with our 2005 hummingbird research.

Appreciating Blue Grosbeaks

There are plenty of birds with shades of blue in their plumage, but one of our all-time favorites is the Blue Grosbeak--two of which we banded "This Week at Hilton Pond."

This big-billed and blue Neotropical migrant is the topic for our current photo essay for the long "week" of 22-31 July 2005 and can be viewed at 22-31 July 2005

As always we include a tally of all birds banded and a list of significant recaptures. There's also a description of our best week so far this year for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds--plus a comment about some interesting American Goldfinches that showed up together in a mist net.

Happy Nature Watching!

BILL

Spined Oak Borer: A REAL Longhorn

We don't know a lot about the life history of the Spined Oak Borer we captured one recent night at Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History, but through the camera's lens we certainly came to appreciate the form and function of this little long-horned beetle.

For a photo essay about this interesting insect with VERY extended antennae, please visit "This Week at Hilton Pond" for 15-21 July 2005

As always we provide a tally of all birds banded, plus a list of significant recaptures. Among the latter were several Ruby-throated Hummingbirds--including two with unusual throat markings. (A mug shot of one is included.)

Happy Nature Watching!

BILL

Downswing in Carolina Wrens

There's been a noticeable decline in Carolina Wrens this year at Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History, and the apparent loss of a nest in an usual location couldn't have helped the local population.

For a peek at this oddly placed wren nest, please view our "This Week at Hilton Pond" photo essay for 8-14 July 2005

As always we include a tally of all birds banded during the period, plus a list of significant recaptures. There's also an update on our limited success with banding Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.

Happy Nature Watching!

BILL

Hummingbirds In New Brunswick, Eh?

The first week in July we were far from Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History, working on faculty for the National Wildlife Federation's Family Summit at St. Andrews-by-the-Sea in New Brunswick, Canada.

While there it was our goal to lead field trips and workshops dealing with Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, and to capture and band some of these tiny birds on the northern edge of their breeding grounds.

To see how we did--and to view some natural sights of New Brunswick--please visit our photo essay for 1-7 July 2005

Happy Nature Watching!

BILL