Seeing and hearing Red-winged Blackbirds is a sure sign that spring is on its way. Males seem to always arrive several weeks before the females in order to stake out choice territories that will encourage females to become their mates. Many of the males we saw this morning (4 degrees and sunny) still have hints of juvenile brownish plumage.

Blue Jays are excellent mimics and we heard one doing a splendid Red-tailed Hawk call this morning.

Species list:  Canada goose, mallard, American black duck, common merganser, red-tailed hawk,  herring gull,  ring-billed gull, mourning dove, downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, red-bellied woodpecker, white-breasted nuthatch, blue jay, American crow, black-capped chickadee, European starling, house sparrow, red-winged blackbird, northern cardinal, house finch,  American goldfinch, dark-eyed junco.  (22 species)

Park scenes:

Some mammals:

Some Botany:

This morning’s group:

NATURE POETRY

There’s a certain Slant of light,
Winter Afternoons –
That oppresses, like the Heft
Of Cathedral Tunes                      – Emily Dickinson (1830–86)

Miles Hearn