This is the time of year when it's easy to find birds you haven't seen since last fall. Temperatures have finally warmed some, flowers are blooming, and migrants are returning. Last Friday and Saturday it seemed that White-eyed Vireos suddenly appeared, singing in every little patch of appropriate habitat around the county. Louisiana Waterthrushes and Common Yellowthroats are both back and singing as well. Phoebes and gnatcatchers are building nests. On the other hand, our winter visitors are disappearing. I saw a single Red-necked Grebe at Sandy River Reservoir on Saturday, but expect it to leave soon if it hasn't already. Numbers of more common species like White-throated Sparrows are dropping as well.
My county list for the year is now 125, the most recent additions being Prairie Warbler yesterday morning and Wood Thrush yesterday evening. None of the species I've added recently has been rare; the most interesting transients so far this month were probably Greater Yellowlegs and Caspian Terns, both at Sandy River Reservoir on 4 April. The challenge right now is to find time to look for less common migrants: the end of the school year is approaching, some family illnesses have caused schedule changes, and this weekend will be Easter weekend. Busy times!
My county list for the year is now 125, the most recent additions being Prairie Warbler yesterday morning and Wood Thrush yesterday evening. None of the species I've added recently has been rare; the most interesting transients so far this month were probably Greater Yellowlegs and Caspian Terns, both at Sandy River Reservoir on 4 April. The challenge right now is to find time to look for less common migrants: the end of the school year is approaching, some family illnesses have caused schedule changes, and this weekend will be Easter weekend. Busy times!
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| Another fuzzy cell phone picture... Caspian Terns this time. Taken at Sandy River Reservoir, 4 April 2014 |
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