Hilton Pond North—Blue Ridge Birds & Nature

06/05/2026

Big day today (5 Jun 2026) at Hilton Pond North (Lansing NC): We captured a second-year female American Goldfinch still undergoing molt into breeding plumage—the 1,000th of her species banded here this year! Most were wintering birds that headed back north by late April or so. Any we encounter now through August are likely local breeders.

06/05/2026

This evening (4 Jun 2026) we accidentally spooked a White-tailed Deer fawn from a tangle near our cabin at Hilton Pond North (Lansing NC). It went over a steep edge and hunkered down, motionless, a woodpecker pecking wood in the trees overhead. The fawn's mother will likely be along after dark, bleating for her offspring to show itself. (Hard to believe this is a video.)

05/25/2026

For a birder (or bird ba**er) hardly anything is more enjoyable than spotting the first warblers of a new spring season. “This Week At Hilton Pond North” we showcase five of these colorful creatures (an unusual Blue-winged Warbler shown here), plus a couple of other migrants. There’s an account of a much-overlooked native hummingbird flower you might plant, with our usual lists of all birds banded or recaptured during the period. To view photo essay #38, just click on https://www.hiltonpondnorth.org/twahpn-20260506.html.

(After reading, please check out our latest podcast.)

05/23/2026

It's been at least a year since we've seen a Black Bear in Hilton Pond North's bird feeding and banding area, but this afternoon (23 May 2026) we were visited by a probable yearling who couldn't quite figure out the empty suet feeder—which we brought indoors immediately after the critter departed. Mountain living at its finest here in upper Ashe County NC. 🙂

05/14/2026

Based on size differences, we suspected two different American Crows had figured out how to get into the narrow confines of the platform feeder at Hilton Pond North (Lansing NC). This morning (14 May) those suspicions were confirmed when we got video of TWO of them scarfing down black sunflower seeds. Notice the size of the crop of the bird at front. And we thought WINTER bird feeding was expensive! These big black corvids may soon deplete our seed budget and it's only mid-May! (Link to our latest photo essay about returning hummingbirds is in the comments.)

05/12/2026

One of the most informative aspects of banding comes when a banded bird migrates away and returns. Such was the case ”This Week at Hilton Pond North” (Lansing NC) as a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird appeared here for the third year in a row! Our latest essay includes her account PLUS info about two other hummers and a Hooded Warbler (see photo) that likewise returned. Installment #37 also describes in words and images an important local butterfly and four new migrant bird species banded during the period. It’s all yours to read about and ponder at https://www.hiltonpondnorth.org/twahpn-20260422.html Enjoy! (After reading, please check out our latest podcast.)

05/08/2026

Near dusk yesterday (7 May 2026) at Hilton Pond North (Lansing NC) we were excited to capture and band a male Scarlet Tanager, whose contrasting jet-black and crimson plumage nearly knocked our eyes out. Last week's Rose-breasted Grosbeak males were colorful, but the tanager is in a class by itself. We also caught his female counterpart earlier in the week, but her brownish wings and yellow green body plumage paled by comparison.

05/08/2026

We never get tired of watching Blue Jays. This one's loading up on seeds for the night (7 May 2026), as depicted in this short video clip from our Hilton Pond North YouTube livestream near Lansing NC.

05/03/2026

Several mornings during the past couple of weeks seeds from the platform feeder at Hilton Pond North (Lansing NC) have been scattered widely. We weren't certain what was causing this until today (3 May 2026) when we caught the culprit in the act. We would not have thought an American Crow with its substantial wingspan—about 36"—could have navigated into the feeder, but since abundant food was available it appears this big black songbird found a way.

05/01/2026