Frost in the Meadow

Above; frozen berries and a white-breasted nuthatch.

This morning I arrived early at Spring Creek Meadow, there was frost everywhere in the meadow and for the first time this year the Duck Pond was almost completely frozen over except for about a six foot patch that some Mallards were making themselves at home on. Also when I first arrived about sixty American Robins were feeding in the meadow on both sides of the creekbed.

Several volunteers arrived today and we set up four nets. One American Tree Sparrow was caught. We caught a fair amount of birds and then around 12:30 a chickadee flock hit the net closest to the creek. Several Downy Woodpeckers, Juncos, White Breasted Nuthatches and Black Capped Chickadees were caught and banded. That kept us busy for the next while. Several people dropped by while banding and were shown the delights of seeing a bird up close for the first time.