07-MAR-2012
Fly on the wall
This was the first insect I've seen this year. Looks like a muscid fly, and it was on the wall of the old barn.
07-MAR-2012
Pileated woodpecker
A dreadful image, but put here just to show that this large and delightfully noisy woodpecker was around the garden today. It was flying from tree to tree in the Ash Woods, but eventually it flew off toward the Birch Grove and I lost sight of it.
07-MAR-2012
Red-winged blackbird
It was fabulous to hear the call of the red-winged blackbird again. No sooner had I stepped out of the car than I heard their calls from various locations. They may think that the +12 temperature and sunny skies mean spring is here. But not yet! A lone starling, several house finches, a mourning dove, many crows and chickadees, and ring-billed gulls overhead, as well as singing cardinals and a pileated woodpecker, were some of the other birds noted today.
07-MAR-2012
American goldfinch nest
The very mild weather today, may make many resident birds think of nesting, though that would be a bit hasty! This is last year's goldfinch nest which weathered the winter well.
