Warblers!

Yellow Warbler

Got to the park around 7:30. It was 52 degrees and the clouds were making way for some beautiful sunshine.

The house wrens are back in a big way! It seemed like they were everywhere! There were so many singing, I wasn't even sure which way to turn! Our tree swallows are guarding their boxes. Robins and jays were there of course, as well as song sparrows and mourning doves. A Canada goose flew over ahead. My first oriole male was spotted - his bright orange and black looking so beautiful against the background of the white crabapple flowers.

Chipping Sparrow

The upper gardens had several chipping sparrows and cowbirds milling about under a hanging feeder. A
red-bellied woodpecker called from the woods. The catbirds are back and singing furiously. Mrs. Robin was not in her nest, but I have seen her there on other days. And a yellow warbler couple is back! Yay!

At the circle near the soccer field, there was suddenly a lot of activity and brightly colored yellow rump males and females appeared as well as a black & white warbler and a lone palm warbler. When the flurry died down, I heard a wood thrush singing hear the soccer field. I walked through the brush in search and finally found it, though every time I approached it moved and then flew off. Its song is so pretty.

Cowbird

When I check out the pond, I was surprised to see a creature swimming. Was it a beaver or a muskrat? It would swim and then dive and I was trying to determine if the tail was flat or not. I am fairly confident that it was a beaver and not a muskrat. That was a first!

Saw some chickadees and red-winged blackbirds.

Looked for any signs of the lady slipper foliage, but nothing so far. Last year the foliage was showing around May 10th, so hopefully things pop up soon!