Signs of Spring

The American Tree Sparrows are arguing a bit...

I was awakened by my first robin's spring song this morning. We have had an unusually warm winter and spring, but the robin is right on schedule.

Mockingbird sitting amid the spring growth on the Florida Privet. The flowers open before the foliage, and the bees adore them. The Mockingbird loves the berries when they are ready to eat in late spring.

Ive heard the Cardinals and Finch's singing everyday since Monday and from what Ive read in my field guide the Horned Lark's should be nesting soon also says males will be singing just before nesting...they also stay in group's almost all year round. Another winter storm seems to be coming this weekend, :( sigh.......in March of 08 we got a foot of snow here.

I've been seeing more and more Robins.

Hack

And many,many Red-winged Blackbirds.

Hack

Lovebirds pairing up! Signs of spring yes!

Yeah, males are singin' to the heavens, goldfinches with patches of bright yellow, more & more robins turning up, & everybody's
fighting over food & territory. Still have about 18" of snow on the ground but hopefully that durn groundhog was wrong about the
extended winter stuff!

Not only the birds are getting ready for spring. The human too cleaning out birdhouses and help with their spring chores and many a thing that need to get ready for the season. ^_^

Our red winged black bird that has stayed all winter has been singing. We saw a robin yesterday and a couple of swans flew in. That is all I need to think spring!

I'm gonna have a talk with the little female Blue...it's just a little too early to think about building a nest and I think the male would agree! Last year the first egg was laid on Mar. 18th.

NJ, zone 6--Saw a red winged blackbird! True sign that spring is coming. The robins are here sporadically during the winter so they don't count. But the blackbird was with a gaggle of grackles which means they are starting to migrate!!

Heard a chickadee at dawn today doing its two note call. Started hearing that this week.

BUT

6-10 inches of snow expected tonight into tomorrow. sigh.

I had a pair of bluebirds at my suet feeder this morning. First blues I have seen in a few years. I guess they are hungry here too. Also had 4 yellow-rumped warblers and a kinglet all waiting for mama blue to finish. It is finally warmer here, but supposed to be colder than normal again starting tomorrow. ARGH!

Last winter this area had lots of late winter snow, this year no snow in Feb. so far, and warmer than normal. All our Jan snow is long melted and gone, sunny warm days, cold nights.

Not too much bird activity yet. A few robins are here. I saw a small flock of Cedar Waxwings in top of my birch tree yesterday, looking for breakfast, they didn't stay. Nothing for them to eat, all the crabapple fruits were frozen in mid Oct 09. There are quite a few red winged blackbirds. And of course way too many E. sparrows.

But it is spring, these are open in my front of house yard.

Donna

Clicked the wrong button so will try again.

Gee Donna...those are gorgeous! Our Dafs are starting to come out but no where close to blooming.

I forgot to mention that yesterday we saw 3 different flocks of Snow Geese! They were flying low and probably looking for a nice field of winter wheat. We could clearly see and hear them...a very cool experience.

For the past few days the birds at the brush pile are not eating all the corn so possibly some of the birds have moved on or they are busy staking out their territory and finding a mate. The weather has been warmer too but that will change next week!

Donna, the crocus, or is that croci looking so very spring-like. I'm thinking those of you that still expecting more snow. Hurry up please Spring!

Glad to see the flowers even though we still have snow. Just confirms that it won't be too much longer.

dellrose, lovely Cardinals, Don't see them here. Today I got to see my first bluebirds of the season, not here at my house. A few miles away up in the hills, so they will be here soon.

Donna

I am saying that snow is a sign of spring. At least here it is. We get our heaviest snows in the spring. (I am just an optimist)

I seen 5 female Downy's today before I went to work, they were pigging out on the suet log/cage. Ive only ever seen 2 females before. Cardinals were singing away even in the light rain today.

Our Downy traffic has picked up to now that you mention it.....I have also noticed the nuthatches are coming in 2 at a time more often now.

I'm seeing many of the birds in pairs also. The Carolina wren was singing away like crazy yesterday on "his" fence. His mate perches demurely nearby.....very cute! They nest in my husbands "man yard" behind the shed. I will need to go back there soon and close off anything that would be unsuitable for a nest before they get going.

We're about to get 4 days of rain.....boo!

Same weather here sacar. :-(

I counted a dozen male Cardinal's in the yard yesterday!

Wow, Pelle.....I never see more than a pair!

My male bluebird is singing beautifully for his mate. Little devil!! :) I am noticing a lot of titmice at my feeders.

Not sure if this is a sign of spring or not, but I saw my first cardinal of the season with head/feather mites. :( poor thing.

I'd like to catch him and put a little stocking hat on him. Perhaps a St. Louis or Arizona Cardinals one!

Two Canadian geese were scouting out a nesting place yesterday. We always have a pair (the same one?) that come to our neighborhood in spring. We have a plastic goose that we put in the front yard to keep them out because the one time we didn't our yard was a MESS! but it's still a good sign.

I was just out back filling all the feeders /suet (in anticipation of the storm) and I was hearing the most beautiful bird singing!

Doesn't that just make you smile pelle!

I have heard a new /different call a few times in the last week or so that really has be baffled. I have know idea what it is but would love to find out. It sounds very similar to a frog type of sound. That is what flashes thru my mind when ever I hear it.....a big ole tree frog! LOL

oo, maybe an owl?

Oh that would have been nice. No this was a song bird.

Ha. No. I meant Nanny's Frog-bird.

Ha!

Seems a sunny day is rare this spring, but when we do, the BBs get excited about the nest box. I put out mealworms yesterday and they found them immediately. Hope to convince them this is the best place in the neighborhood to raise a family. :-)

yay bluebirds.


I have 20 goldfinch today. The numbers have doubled! Maye that's a sign…

Congrats Red and Marna!!!

I saw two squirrels doing the big nasty in a tree...is that a sign of spring? LOL!!

LOL, Rose!!!

Last weekend the sun was shining wonderfully and my winter wren was back and singing happily back by my brush piles.