When I stepped out of the car at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden, the first thing I heard was the very welcome sound of the red-winged blackbird, the first I've heard or seen this year. In 2012, these birds were back on March 7, and last year, in mid-March.

Also found today, a singing northern shrike, probably stopping over briefly before carrying on northward. Other birds included many song sparrows, another recent arrival. I saw about 14 altogether. Other birds included a number of cardinals, juncos, crows, chickadees, american goldfinches, american robins, mallards, starlings, and flying over, canada geese and ring-billed gulls, both also recently returned (within the last few weeks). A visitor to the garden reported an American woodcock. We've occasionally seen these in the ravine, but I suspect they occur, in migration, more commonly than we realize, but they are excellent at remaining hidden.