April 9, 2024
This trail camera picture was taken on March 27, of a few deer milling around the salt block.
On April 4....same camera....
A few birds have landed on the branch where we put a trail camera to capture them pulling roving out of the ball for nesting. The ball is a little tufty, so some birds have been at it, but there are no pictures of them.
A Blue Jay with a corn kernel in its beak...
A Chickadee....
Then the branch after the snow fall...
On recent walks, I have heard and seen a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers who appear to be sticking around this area. Birds are filtering in from the south. Song Sparrows are setting up territories around the clearing, Dark Eyed Juncos have been here for a while but are now doing a lot of singing. The Eastern Phoebes are here, having arrived before the snow, and one has chosen the barn for a nest site, sitting up on the peak and calling consistently. Merlin is telling me that a Golden-crowned Kinglet is hanging out behind the garden shed. It is wonderful to put names to all the calls we are hearing, some I've always known, but others are frustrating me no longer!
As far as the eclipse went, Monday morning was clear and beautiful, but clouds rolled in by event time, and we only caught glimpses of the sun whenever the clouds thinned. It was cooler and sort of dim for a bit.
Serious gardening has started...I've moved some perennials to the new bed, and the herb bed is being readied for it's new framing. Expecting one of my favourite signs of spring very soon....frog song!
You are a hindered soul! Especially when you mention the frogs. It isn't spring until I hear the frogs!
ReplyDeleteSpring is here!!!!! Frogs started up last night after a thunderstorm.
DeleteThe spring peepers are peeping here! It was a nice warm day here, as well! - Jenn
ReplyDeleteThe last couple of days have been the warmest, the migrants are coming back and the bush orchestra is tuning up.
DeleteWhen we lived in town, we'd drive out into the country at night to a swamp or watercourse and just sit and listen.
I still have one bird that Merlin cannot identify. I think it may be either a Common Yellow Throat or a Red Eyed Vireo because those are two birds it commonly identifies in the area when I hear that call, but it can't identify THAT particular call. And it is even more frustrating that it seems the bird only does this particular call when it moves deeper in the woods. This has frustrated me for years.
ReplyDeleteBirds can have 'regional dialects'. Red Eye is not here yet, but expected soon, as well as more sparrows, warblers, thrushes etc... We have a Woodcock or two who love the edges of the clearing. I try to sneak up close to their display areas between their aerial flights, but usually it is too dark by the time I get close enough!
DeleteSuch good photos of the birds! And so amazing to see the changes in your weather! Never a dull moment, eh?
ReplyDeleteThanks Leigh. Just a basic trail camera. I did crop the bird pictures and made them bigger.
ReplyDeleteWe've just had a couple days of the warmest weather yet, and spring may or may not be settling in....Nothing is guaranteed!
It;s surprising how quickly the forest has dried up. We went for a walk at the height of the eclipse. It was very cloudy and then it got quite dark, like a good thunderstorm was blowing in. We didn't bother trying to look at it.
ReplyDeleteForgot to mention that the Peepers started their song last evening. There are so many birds singing in the morning. A gaggle of sandhill cranes flew over yesterday. I think they landed in the open fields by the sawmill back of us!
ReplyDeleteThe morning chorus is certainly getting interesting! Hopefully we will get a good soaking from the rain that is in the current forecast.
DeleteLove hearing and seeing the cranes. Check out:
http://birdsbeesberriesblooms.blogspot.com/2024/03/bucket-list-check-off.html
Would love to see that!