New Arrival (Pine Warbler)!

Miniature Birdhouse

44 degrees at 7:30 a.m. Sunny and clear. As I drove down the driveway to the park, there were robins every where and juncos flitting here and there.

A pair of tree swallows were guarding one of the boxes by the path. Song sparrows were singing and blackbirds were calling. I was surprised to see an American Tree sparrow foraging in the meadow. Goldfinches are now bright yellow and several white throated sparrows hanging out in the trees. The male bluebird was perched nearby although I didn't see his mate.

Daffies in bud or bloom and little green leaves are starting to show on some of the shrubs and trees. So nice to see some color. It has been such a long winter.

The upper gardens revealed more robins and tree swallows, a flicker, a pair of phoebes and a pair of golden crowned kinglets. Gardeners have started prepping their gardens. I love the sight of freshly turned soil - the promise of delicious vegetables. Some cold weather crops have already been planted. Saw cardinals, chickadees, tufties, a nuthatch, and a downy.

Ran into Haynes and Ian when I returned to the lower gardens. They had heard the fox sparrow which later on I finally had the pleasure of hearing myself. What a beautiful song!

Red-backed Salamander

We walked down to the river where we saw three red-breasted merganser females - the light hitting their heads in such a way as to make the reddish color almost glow. Ian spotted a brown creeper across the river! Got a good look at one of our Nature Center phoebes. The nest from last year must have gotten blown off and work on a new nest hasn't started yet. It will be interesting to see if any progress has been made by next weekend.

We walked through the woods by the JCC in hopes that perhaps the pine warblers are back. We headed to the pines and we distinctly heard one. As we followed the sound, we discovered it was actually across Winchester St. and finally we saw it - a bright yellow! Though surrounded by pines, it was actually sitting on a bare branch which was how we finally were able to spot it. When we were almost to the parking lot, we lifted up the log where we found a salamander last year and there it was!

Below is the official Haynes Report!

Canada Goose  1
Mallard  4
Red-Breasted Merganser  3     f on river
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Herring Gull  2
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Downy Woodpecker  3
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  4
Eastern Phoebe  1
Blue Jay  2
Tree Swallow  12
Black-capped Chickadee  8
Tufted Titmouse  3
White-breasted Nuthatch  3
Brown Creeper  1     across river
American Robin  24
Northern Mockingbird  1     lower garden
Pine Warbler  1     singing, JCC
American Tree Sparrow  2     Near lower garden, or lot.
Fox Sparrow (Red)  2     One singing lustily from treetop; another seen briefly near lower parking lot.
Song Sparrow  14
White-throated Sparrow  1
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)  25     Much song and chasing. Everywhere.
Red-winged Blackbird  10
Common Grackle  6
Brown-headed Cowbird  4
House Finch  1
American Goldfinch  4
House Sparrow  1     JCC
Fish Crow 1 JCC