Always the first to stake their claim!

I'll take it!

7:00 a.m., 45 degrees and clear.

There were lots of juncos combing the meadow near the parking lot. Spring was definitely in the air as there was much singing and excitement as goldfinches, blackbirds, song sparrows, chipping sparrows and titmice all tried to impress their future mates.

The tree swallows have been doing much investigating in the real estate market. This one seems pretty certain about this house as it guarded it's new property like a sentinel.

There was quite a flock of beautiful, crisp white-throated sparrows singing and flying about near the golf course side of the lower gardens. The goldfinches have turned bright yellow and when Ian arrived, we spotted one of the male towhees foraging in front of us and heard another. I've heard the call before, but for me, it was the first time I heard it's lovely song.

The upper gardens were much the same with the addition of cardinals, robins, a flicker, chickadees, mourning doves and a downy woodpecker.

The soccer field was filled with robins and a cardinal couple. I searched the pond for the wood duck I thought was nesting there, but no sign of them. The phoebe nest is looking very built up and ready for action, but no sign of the phoebes although I know they were seen by Haynes.

Please feel free to join us April 19th from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. in the lower gardens for one of two invasive cleanups this spring. Bring your own tools and gardening gloves. Don't forget to dress in long pants and socks as the park definitely has deer tics. We'll have a dumpster for disposing of larger branches etc. Hope to see you there!