FOY Birds Clearwater County Sora Rail American Bittern Eastern Kingbird Ruby-throated Hummingbird Brown Thrasher Pine Warbler Harris's Sparrow Indigo Bunting Rose-breasted Grosbeak Baltimore Oriole
This past week has brought an exhilarating array of color and sound to our rural Bagley property. The nocturnal orchestra of frogs, Wilson's Snipe, A. Woodcock, Barred Owl, Ruffed Grouse and Sandhill Cranes became even more enchanting early last week with the addition of Hermit Thrush, Sora Rail and American Bittern. Last night I sat at the edge of a poplar thicket where one bold little Woodcock holds a territory near a utility poll with a yard light. He peented and sky- danced unconcerned by my close proximity, sometimes landing seven or eight feet from my watch. Harris's Sparrows joined the growing throngs of White-throated, Chipping, Song, and Clay-colored Sparrows about ten days ago and they forage daily for sunflower and millet under the old lilac in the front yard.
Last Friday morning, just before I left for birding the SE part of the state, I had my first warbler of the year. A single Pine Warbler appeared briefly under the feeders, and then, a Baltimore Oriole arrived! There are now at least six Orioles in the yard slurping grape jelly slurry from four feeders and cleaning oranges down to the rind.
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks arrived on Monday and wasted no time in taking over the feeders from the many Purple Finches who had become accustomed to top honors at the table.
Yesterday's foreboding grey skies brought an inch of needed rain, and a bright surprise. One electric blue Indigo Bunting vibrated against the intense green of new grass quenched by the first good soaking of the Spring.
This morning I awoke sleepy eyed to a yard sprinkled with dandelions. They skipped and danced across the grass with the wind, until I put my glasses on and grabbed a cup of coffee. The dandelions morphed into about four dozen Goldfinches, accompanied by at least six dozen Pine Siskin. A pair of Bluebirds and a pair of Tree Swallow have worked out housing arrangements in different parts of the yard and all are working diligently on nest building. I have warned the Barn Swallows that the machine shed is off limits. I don't think they are keen on the advice. Later in the morning a beautiful Brown Thrasher appeared from the depths of the old lilac and joined the White- throated Sparrows for a bit of sunflower and cracked corn. An Eastern Kingbird hawked from a power line just down the road. Late this afternoon the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds made a beeline for the feeders. Altercations have already ensued over resources with several males vying for the same feeder.
We wait so long, with such anticipation as children feel, it takes forever. Spring arrives as an avalanche, rushing over us in a tumult of sound and scent and sight. Cascading and whirling around us until we are dizzy and drunk on her sweetness and exhilaration. Racing past us, and through us. Far to fast and fleeting ... all eyes... ears... memories...grasping at the ephemeral spirits rushing on towards Summer.
** NOTE: EMAIL CHANGE ** NEW ADDRESS AS OF APRIL 1ST [email protected] Kelly Larson The Bagley Farm -Clearwater The Bemidji Loft -Beltrami Minnesota Eschew Obfuscation! The middle of Nowhere is Somewhere! ---- Join or Leave mou-net:http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives:http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
