[TN-Bird] Blue-headed Vireo, etc

From: Charlie <cmmbirds@xxxxxxxxx>
To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2004 11:02:27 -0800 (PST)
Hi folks,

Today I heard a Blue-headed Vireo, my first of the season in TN,
singing.  It was along the Lumber Ridge Trail in Great Smoky
Mountains National Park, near Tremont in Blount County.

Yesterday several of us watched Wood Frogs hatching.  The eggs, laid
2-4 weeks ago, grew to the size of grapes.  The healthy ones remain
clear with an easy-to-observe small (~1cm) black tadpole within. 
When they hatch, they seem to do it in fits.  Yesterday hundreds
hatched, within hours.  Today it is colder and there seems to be no
difference.  As they hatch, they all swim up and gather in a very
dense cluster atop the egg mass.

Yesterday along the Greenway in Maryville (Blount County) near mile
marker 2, I watched a pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers checking out a
tree.  I didn't see any active excavating, but the female pretty much
stayed in place as the male left, checked out a portion of the tree,
came back to her (as if reporting back...if I were to
anthropomorphize) and went to check out yet another section.  I would
have stayed longer, but my dogs were intent on pulling my arms out of
their sockets. 

While at the walkway a little boy, about 4 years old, told me the
story of his mom and him finding a snake on Sunday.  I asked her, and
she gave a very good description of a Queen Water Snake, which I know
is common along that creek.  I've not seen one yet this year.

Eastern Comma butterflies seem to have exploded all along Walker
Valley near Tremont, as well as on the Foothills Parkway (alson
Blount County)

Crows and Cardinals around here are carrying nesting material.  I've
had to chase a Carolina Wren out of my garage 4 times in one day. 
Bluebirds are still checking out (but making no decisions) our nest
boxes.  Towhees are singing constantly.  But we still have Purple
Finches in our South Blount County home, and on Sunday I saw a Winter
Wren in one of the brush piles I've made to accomodate the sparrows.

Happy Spring!

Charlie

=====
**************************************************
Charlie Muise, Senior Naturalist
Now living in Maryville, TN
Still working in Great Smoky Mountains 
National Park

"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm"
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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[TN-Bird] Blue-headed Vireo, etc

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