We had an excellent turnout for this morning’s walk which started in 8 degree temperature and misty conditions:
Though some of the migrant birds that are usually found here in May such as Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Great Crested Flycatcher are not yet present, we did have 29 species of birds:
Species list: double-crested cormorant, black-crowned night heron, Canada goose, mallard, red-tailed hawk, turkey vulture, ring-billed gull, belted kingfisher, hairy woodpecker, red-bellied woodpecker, downy woodpecker, northern flicker, blue jay, black-capped chickadee, white-breasted nuthatch, brown creeper, American robin, golden-crowned kinglet, ruby-crowned kinglet, European starling, red-winged blackbird, brown-headed cowbird, common grackle, northern cardinal, house finch, American goldfinch, white-throated sparrow, chipping sparrow, song sparrow. (29 species)
Particularly interesting was some good looks at Ruby-crowned Kinglets:
I rarely see the “double crests” of the Double-crested Cormorant but here they are:
While working in Antarctica I regularly observed the “elimination” of Penguins and Cormorants as in this photo from this morning:
Other birds:
This Canada Goose is sticking his tongue out at us:
Some park scenes:
Red Squirrel and Chipmunk:
Many wildflowers are beginning to emerge. Here are a few:
NATURE POETRY
Spring, the sweet spring, is the year’s pleasant king,
Then blooms each thing, then maids dance in a ring,
Cold doth not sting, the pretty birds do sing:
Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-witta-woo!
The palm and may make country houses gay,
Lambs frisk and play, the shepherds pipe all day,
And we hear aye birds tune this merry lay:
Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-witta-woo!
The fields breathe sweet, the daisies kiss our feet,
Young lovers meet, old wives a-sunning sit,
In every street these tunes our ears do greet:
Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to witta-woo!
Spring, the sweet spring!
Thomas Nashe 1600
Miles Hearn