Hello-
We are seeing migration and the return of our summer residents. Saturday
was really too hot, we watched a number of our plants like pulmonaria
(lungwort) wilt from the heat. We were glad to get a breeze as the sun went
down so we could bring in spinach and asparagus for supper!
Seen or heard, flying and probably moving through: rose-breasted grosbeak,
yellow rumped warbler, black vulture, broad winged hawk, red eyed vireo,
white crowned sparrow (a late April or May visitor as they move through!).
Seen and heard, resuming territory next door in the tulip poplars: Baltimore
oriole.
Still eating us out of house and home, pine siskins are still present in a
flock of 20-40 individuals. We have actually removed feeders due to the
cost of nyger. A flock of 20+ cedar waxwings comes by regularly and I also
see them on campus (Bridgewater College) getting holly berries. We have
seen a field sparrow and brown thrasher in the last week, they have both
moved on. Juncos have been gone quite a while, the white throated sparrows
are still around in strong numbers but singing and chasing now. We have a
robin on the nest, grackles acting like nesting will occur soon and while
the winter lets us support 14+ cardinals those times are long gone as one
pair "rules our roost" and takes over driving all other cardinals out when
"intruders" dare come to our trees or feeders.
Happy spring! 61F already at 8 am.time to get out and bird in the garden!
Our year yard list jumped from 39 to 45 in the last two days.maybe we can
get another 5 species today?
Cheers - Robyn P. and Bill B.
Bridgewater, VA
Rockingham Co.
