Spring birds arriving.

[tcreeley]

Common grackles are arrived and the gold finches were in bigger numbers today. I had a bluebird around my house 2 evenings ago. Still in the high 20's at night. Ice and snow in shaded areas. There are few to no bugs and very few frogs as yet. Mallards are around. No flooded fields around this spring- used to get green and bluewinged teal and pintails in the fields!

Pics from the net of the latest:
Grackle, Gold finches (summer + winter plumage)

 

[tcreeley]

Heard some tree swallows yesterday.
Today I saw two red shouldered hawks flying over some trees and wet boggy area.
In the same area there was a yellow shafted flicker flying down the road away from me.
(my bird pic site-http://www.natureinstruct.org/dendroica/spec.php)
Tree swallow, Flicker, Red shouldered hawk

 

[richtape]

I have 4 Purple Martin boxes up. Have about 12 pair of Martins on them. Great birds to have around. No mosquitoes, I don't know how they do it, but they sure keep them down. We're in Mountain View Arkansas.

 

[tcreeley]

I have 4 Purple Martin boxes up. Have about 12 pair of Martins on them. Great birds to have around. No mosquitoes, I don't know how they do it, but they sure keep them down. We're in Mountain View Arkansas.

Purple matins are just beautiful!

 

[tcreeley]

I went out back this evening and heard a Yellow bellied sapsucker drumming away and a winter wren. I like the wren- such a small bird and loud! They've been less common the past few years. Used to be I could count on their song every night I walked to the back field. Pic from NatureInstruct - Dendroica
Yellow Bellied Sapsucker, Winter Wren

 

[Looking4new]

The Canada Geese are back. The other nite at home I heard the tree frogs singing away.
I'm still waiting for the Blue Heron to come back to the marina.

 

[jimmyj]

Tree swallow scouts are here. Just in time for the bugs!

 

[tcreeley]

Today I had a yellow bellied sapsucker hit the window and fall to the deck. I picked him up gently and he (male) perched on my finger and I supported him with my fingers. I walked away from the house (cats) with my palm open and his gradual increase in holding himself up. I walked a roundabout route. Cars went by and he reacted to the sound through the trees. I finally got to my wooded lawn trail and paused. My son had kept with me and we had talked quietly all the way- about a 100 yards from the house. He suddenly was off my hand and flew strongly to a fallen spruce that was propped up at an angle. He perched on the broken top edge -looking about- and we left him. I think he liked the warmth of my hand, and was content to stay with me as I walked until he was ready. Strange to see the reaction to cars with a good bunch of trees separating us from the road.

Really beautiful bird. Actively looking about.

 

[tcreeley]

I can hear the common loons from my bedroom window again. The lake is about 3/4 miles away.
I love the sound. I saw two turkeys in the back field poking around the grass today.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrkn_-pjVUE&feature=related]Loon Tremelo & Wail - YouTube[/ame]

 

[tcreeley]

I heard an American Bittern tonight as dusk was arrived. A poor white throat sparrow had hit the window. I picked it up and it sits in my hand as I type - a source of warmth for it.(passed)
NatureInstruct - Dendroica