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