Day 115

White Throated Sparrow


I awoke this morning to the return of my favourite songstress...ironically, the same day as last year!

More

To think that a week ago I was begging for more variety. Anything but House sparrows I whined...and then the deluge began. In the last few days I've added several birds to my life list and achieved some of the best portfolio shots I've ever taken!

Pied-billed Grebe, Buffleheads, House Finches, Yellow Bellied Sapsuckers, Purple finches, Brown Creeper, Northern Shovelers, Canvasbacks, Mallards, Ruddy Ducks,Coots, Scaups, American Kestrals, Western Meadowlarks & Thrushes are just a few of the newcomers around here that have been willing and unwilling subjects of mine.

I literally can not keep up with the editing.

The American Tree Sparrow

This morning started off the same, grab coffee, sit at the table... wonder if the animals will ever be quiet, looking at all the birds eating me out of house and home.

There were dozens of birds devouring all of the fresh seed I'd put out yesterday...most of the ground feeders. RW Black birds, grackles, House sparrows and Juncos, but one in particular caught my eye...so I quickly ran and grabbed my camera.

At first I thought he was a chipping sparrow but something was nagging at me...could it actually be a Tree sparrow? I've never seen one and while hiking I always managed to convince my self that I've found one, only to later prove my self wrong looking at the pictures.
I wondered if he was a juvenile fox sparrow because of all of the gray, but as soon as her turned to show me his chest I knew I could add another sparrow to my yard list, the center breast spot made it all to clear...welcome to my morning American Tree sparrow, you've made my day!

The meadowlark as been heard!

On the way home this morning I finally heard the sound I've been waiting for! The ever distinctive cry of the Meadowlark!

Spring

What is it that signals the arrival of spring? I'm sitting here at my kitchen table, reveling in the beautiful day we're having and I've realized something. I think for me it's sounds.

Winter's quiet. It's beautiful, but the snow doesn't make a sound. The birds are gone and the windows and doors remain closed against the bitter cold. Winter's cozy, full of sweaters and books by the fire and afghans.

Spring is like the entire planet is coming alive again after it's deep slumber and the sounds she makes as she comes awake make me feel alive and happy.

Don't get me wrong... I love the melting of the snow, the arrival of each new bird, crocus' poking out of the ground, the first warm day. If I'm honest though it's never felt more like spring than it does right now.

I'm listening to the incessant chitter of the juncos, the ever present din of traffic with the intermittent shriek of the ring billed gull. The windows and doors are open sans screens as there's not a bug in sight yet. The grackles are EVERYWHERE and every now and again I hear the distinctive cry of the Meadowlark.

Not only does it feel and look like spring it sounds like it. Even on a rainy day it sounds like spring. The sun's hiding? No worries it still sounds like spring. Maybe it has to do with the sounds of spring reminding me of summer and I know that no matter what happens it _is_ on it's way.

Another arrival

Just a quick note...today I noticed that there was a solitary Song Sparrow that had arrived in my yard! I only hope that this means that more are on the way...I'm gonna have to pick up more seed and soon.

I also heard the first mourning dove of the year...He was on someones roof but that probably means that they'll hit the feeders soon!

Junco scouting party

The yard has filled up with juncos this morning, so I guess the other 2 were the just the scouting party...there's easily over a dozen out there right now!

The Robin Returns

Grackle returns

Tundra Swans

My yard runneth over

I have to take a quick minute just to note all of the activity in my yard this morning. It started off with the arrival of the red winged black birds, then came the grackles! Pests to most I know, but I love them none the less...they signal the start of what will be a great birding season.

Shortly after these I noticed something in the sky that struck me as far too white to be geese...Swans? Could it be? Yup! 2 tundra swans did a fly by! And I have a blurry picture to prove it!

Just when I thought it couldn't get any better the first robin of the year landed on the fence and serenaded me.

It's only 10:30 and it's already a great day!!

The juncos arrive...in twos!

Well It's official! The first real sign of spring has hit my yard. This morning on the way to the kitchen I realized I was listening to the perky chirp of what could only be juncos.

There are 2 here right now, hopping around my yard. There's been a Merlin hunting around here for the last week and I heard him again today. Have you ever really listened to them? They're beautiful!

Spring has FINALLY hit the 'Peg!