Signs of Spring: 2011

LOL!! I have also heard the Coo and the first thing I thought was "Rain Crow" which is actually the Yellow-billed Cuckoo!

OMG...I just saw bats flying around our security light!!! At first I couldn't figure out what kind of bird it was!!

I have also been hearing some bugs at night and we saw the head of our first pond turtle tonight!!

Our neighbor has Crocus' blooming...beautiful lavender color!!

Wow...maybe spring really is on the way....

Turkey Vulture's are here! :)

YAY....BATS!!! We had some recovery last year in our bat population but nothing close to what was here when we first moved out here. I hope we see lots more this year. I have heard bugs too...no spring peepers yet tho.

Burd, I find it strange that your TV's are not there during the winter like ours are.

Chipmunk was out the other day.....Boooo!

I have this pic on the ID forum. I think it has been decided and agreed upon that it is an Eastern Meadowlark.

Rose, good to hear all of that. I checked on some plants in the garden and glad to see lots of things poking through. Phew. Every year there is one day that I suddenly realize that "i have made it" through the winter. I think today is that day.

Just saw my first white throated sparrow of the season!

weee

I saw our Great Blue Heron fly over this morningl!! Haven't seen it since fall.

nanny, its probably no fun eating frozen roadkill...lol

Weirdest thing this winter was to see a great blue heron flying over a friends house during a snow storm!

Did not have any Grackles this winter...seen some a little while ago.

I will be away from my computer for 3 or 4 weeks due total hip joint revision surgery scheduled for March 14 th. Don't know where i will be staying for the 2 weeks after surgery, If I am allowed to stay at my son's house (problem with going up and down stairs) I can maybe use their computer. Will have to wait and see. The hosp. is 6 hours drive from here and doctor really doesn't want me to ride that far for maybe month. Will have to see how fast I recover from the major surgery.

Hate to miss all my spring flowers and birds. Happy spring and birding to all.


Donna

Hello All,

I know this is a relatively common bird which is also non-migratory. Up until
this morning, I still have never, ever, seen one in my 51 yr lifetime...until
this morning!!!
Previously, I had only seen them in books or by others sharing their pics and videos...
I managed to get 1 pic of the Chickadee just before it grabbed a peanut from one
of our feeders and flew off.
This little bird just made my day and is now my 80th "lifer"!! I had tears
coming down my eyes when I saw it too...what a thrill :D

I understand it's hard to distinguish the sexes. I can only assume that it's a
male scouting out for a territory in the area.



This message was edited Mar 5, 2011 1:02 PM

Congratulations Susan!

Thanks Pelle! I can only hope he'll remember where he got the peanut from and come back someday. I've been watching for it to return with no other sightings of him...oh well.

Susan, good luck on keeping him around. They are particualrly fond of black oil sunflower seeds..........give them a try if you haven't already.

Take care Donna.

Congrats Susan on your chickadee!

Mourning Dove trio....

Saw my first Kildeer and Red-wing Blackbird of the season.

YAY...I had hoped to see some kildeer the other day....and nothing!

The Eastern Towhee is finally singing!!

The Kildeer have returned to our area also!!

Yippeee! I think I may have see a Chipping Sparrow....not 100% sure since it was out on the platform & gone before I got a really good look. But the American Tree Sparrows have been gone since the Ice Storm over 3 weeks ago now.

Congratulations dellrose!

Congrats Dell, Nanny and Mrs_Ed on your latest sightings!!!

We had a special male House Finch today. Here's a link about his condition...
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/HoufinColorVariants.htm

and a couple of pics of him...

And another pic...wish it wasn't blurry.

Susan, that's very nice looking variation Housefinch. Duc has seen one where she lives, and you're the second to notice such neat happening. The article is informative, thank you for sharing. Well folks, sign of spring is when I really missing my American Coots. (They are still here) We've had an unusually nice and warm weather for several weeks, then the bottom fell out today. We are back to winter!!! We are expecting frost tonite. Yikes!

Hello Lily,

I'll trade your frost for 12" of snow on it's way here...nuts!
There are sightings of Am. Coots arriving up here now. They'll be back before you know it. In the meantime, you have all that splendid activity with all your occupied birdhouses. I'll be thrilled if just one of 4 of our houses are occupied :D

Typical blustery spring day here!

This showed up today!

oh Rose! you are so lucky to be seeing butterflies already!

tomorrow I go to the annual meeting for Illinois butterfly monitors. Its held in Chicago, where there is a butterfly haven. Can't WAIT.

Have a wonderful time in Chicago and tell the Rockhoppers and Belugas at Shedds Aquarium that I said "Hi"!! Hope you see lots of gorgeous butterflies too!!

These started blooming a few days ago.

Have a great time Mrs Ed!

I WILL have a good time I'm sure. Other than the driving, yuck. Unfortunately will not be going to the aquarium. However, the nature museum is on the lake with a couple of big ponds, so likely to be lots of domestic and wild bird activity. The meeting ends at 3, so I'll have some daylight to check things out.


P.S. I couldn't bear it anymore and I started up the stream for the pond. That ought to bring in the Robins!



This message was edited Mar 11, 2011 1:27 PM

You guys are making me jealous, I still have about 3-4 feet (depends where you look) of snow on the ground. Only sign of spring I see, is an increase of red on the male Redpoll's chest.

The Song Sparrow's are starting to sing and the Red-winged Blackbird's are singing more often now.
Had a Song Sparrow visit my backyard first time to see one here.

I still have a bunch of "snowbirds" (juncos) hangin' around. I recently put up a small hanging feeder with a dome. I've actually seen the juncos fly up to the feeder. They don't usually do that, do they?

Hi Carol, Mine go to the feeders also. They don't seem to want to go when larger birds are on the feeder.

My DH and I saw a couple of Robins the other day, which is a little unusal in this part of Ohio this time of year. That's means Spring is on it's way. Yeah!

Yep we have had lots here lately but I think many are year round Robins.

I just saw a Robin scuffle. Wasn't sure if there was some hanky panky going on or not.

I heard another kildeer near the grocery store parking lot.

I have seen serious tail flashing here and some with a couple of Robins.Lots of Robin chatter now. We have one that is very fussy when I go out. I am wondering if it is one of the Robins that liked the oriole jelly & grapes and he is wondering where the heck the goodies are!!

Cardinals are getting fussy too and males chasing here. Saw one female come in and slam another female off the feeder yesterday!

The Crows are showing sign of coziness. They land on the Power line coupled and cawing.