Birds are on the move.

[tcreeley]

While it was 17F this morning, spring is here I suppose!
We have the usual birds- robins, redwings, grackles (common and rusty), juncos, sapsuckers, flicker today, song sparrows and a fox sparrow singing this last week.
The winter snows have brought back our flooding fields (it has been a long time-many years since that happened). Now driving home from work I stop to look at the ducks. 2 lesser Canadian geese, numerous black ducks, mallards (paired up), 3 pairs of wood ducks, and 4 green winged teal. I love watching them in this flooded corn field, coming and going, paddling around, in the water, out. -Probably 75-100 individuals (didn't count). Woodcocks are up and about, calling, along with the Marsh Hawk (Northern Harrier) skimming over the fields looking for a meal.

We had 2" of snow yesterday morning and the ground was rock solid this morning. Driving, one has to be careful of hitting the robins flying across the road.

 

[Bird]

We're having Canadian Geese stop over in a local park, and the bird seed I put in our feeders is being used up fast now, so yep, the birds are on the move. We have doves, cardinals, blue jays, robins, and several whose names I don't know

 

[deerseeker001]

We have had flocks of Finches and Snow birds the last Month along with a few Cardinals.

 

[oosik]

I'm right on one of the major flyways for all waterfowl heading north. Sounds great doesn't it. Actually, what it means is - I get to listen to the Greater Canadian geese on my big lake honking all night long. They finally shut up around midnight and sleep until about 6am when they head out to feed.

 

[toppop52]

Right wing conservatives make lousy compost too!

Unlike liberals!

We've had robins since Christmas, they just split into pairs about a month ago, about the same time the cardinals and doves started nesting.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I wish someone would send me a few Canadian geese that can lead this flock we have back North. We had 4 total when we bought this place and they nested each year on an island in our pond. Now I have one on a nest and expect to have some babies running/swimming around shortly. Last time I counted them, we had 36 that stay here year round. We have had a pretty good selection of small to medium sized ducks wintering over. I don't know duck breeds other than Mallards and these aren't (Grey with solid black head). Those darned Canadians sure make a lot of racket fighting over a mate though.

 

[/pine]

Unlike liberals!

We've had robins since Christmas, they just split into pairs about a month ago, about the same time the cardinals and doves started nesting.

Ronald Reagan tells joke - YouTube

 

[toppop52]

Ronald Reagan tells joke - YouTube

:laughing:

 

[tcreeley]

My wife saw a belted kingfisher yesterday coming from work - over a stream (term up here - elsewhere large brook/small river).
It is like having old friends back after the winter. Meanwhile the bluejays are hitting the catfood I put out at 5 this morning. Our 2 chickens make a beeline for the rest when I let them out.

 

[toppop52]

My wife saw a belted kingfisher yesterday coming from work - over a stream (term up here - elsewhere large brook/small river).
It is like having old friends back after the winter. Meanwhile the bluejays are hitting the catfood I put out at 5 this morning. Our 2 chickens make a beeline for the rest when I let them out.

There's a group of about 12-15 blackbirds that have discovered the outdoor cat's food and I can't keep them away, thinking of shooting one and hanging him up nearby, that has worked before.

 

[tcreeley]

There's a group of about 12-15 blackbirds that have discovered the outdoor cat's food and I can't keep them away, thinking of shooting one and hanging him up nearby, that has worked before.

Wouldn't want your cat getting skinny now! Buy a stuffed owl and set it by the cat food!

 

[toppop52]

Wouldn't want your cat getting skinny now! Buy a stuffed owl and set it by the cat food!

The owl works for a few days usually, got a hawk cutout once it worked for a little longer. I use to use an owl on my Owens yacht to keep sea gulls away, it works until one figures it out and tells the rest.

 

[jel1988]

Left SC a week ago today, still have snow on the roof and the ground and all the lakes are covered in ice. Heard some honking yesterday, looked up saw a whole flock of Canada geese on a scouting flight. They fly up from lake Huron looking for open water, when they don't find it they fly back. People are still ice fishing here, springs not here yet!

 

[tcreeley]

Birds are thinning out as they move north. Canada geese flew over this morning. The loons are back. I don't have to worry about hitting robins on the road! I saw a turkey vulture soaring yesterday and a great blue heron flying near our house 2 days ago. White throat sparrows are back. I saw a redtail haw from the car yesterday, along with a broadwinged hawk the day before. The redtail was 70 mi to the south of where I live. We still have piles of snow left over from the snow banks, and snow that slid off the roof of the house. It has been raining, and the snowdrops have been blooming. Pretty much whatever direction I look, I see snow that hasn't yet melted.

 

[toppop52]

WE pretty much have our birds for the summer now. All are nesting or starting to build.

 

[tcreeley]

They are still arriving daily up here, and there is still snow on the ground in shaded areas. The woodcock are in their mating display flights. Canada geese are working their way through. Cormorants are showing up in the larger rivers. Had a phoebe yesterday.
Waiting on the tree swallows still.