Wow, was that one of the best weekends ever, or what?!
Today I showed Paul a Parula Warbler. They were everywhere in the treetops this
AM. At first I heard the song that everyone knows, zheeeeeppp! (on a rising
note) But, then a few minutes later I heard what is sometimes called the
after-dawn song, or alternate song. It sounds a bit like a Black-throated Blue
or Cerulean. zhree, zhree, zhe, zhree (or variations of...). THAT got me
scanning the trees! Parula's are so beauteous with their olive and cadet blue,
and what a deep raw umber throat!
What got me outside early today were the Tennessee Warblers. They have been
going through in spurts for about 2 weeks now, but today was the day I love to
be around for: The decibel level and frequency of song have stepped UP to
strident now! I kept track of one bird for a few minutes today. It reminded me
of Don Kroodsma's "The Singing Life of Birds." I watched while he sang, then
grabbed a worm, sing, grab, grab, sing, flit, grab, sing, grab, sing, flit.
About as fast as you can read it.
Then I heard the first C. Yellowthroat, and the Blue-winged's "Bee-Buzzzz" from
the same spots they spent a lot of time around last summer, out by a marsh.
Haven't seen or heard a Golden-winged lately, but when we moved here 20 years
ago, they were the more common of the two. Heard a Least Flycatcher this AM,
too.
Then while out gardening, I heard the first Red-eyed Vireos, and the
Blue-headed, too. We may have missed the Redstarts and Chestnut-sideds, since
they are usually here at the same time as the vireos appear, but maybe they
went over at night this year.
Yesterday, I heard a Green Heron's "crank" as it flew overhead. They nest in
the more dense woods where it's mixed pine and maple.
I am exceedingly excited about the sapsucker. It's acting as if it might stay
and nest this year! I have 6 "x"es on my yard list for sapsucker over the 23
years we've lived here, so they are not that common, and I have no * for
nesters on that list. This one has been singing, drumming, and calling for
about a week. Unless he was really thin and needed to bulk up before going on
further north, he's a summer resident. So I will pay attention to see if he
stays and nests. There is nothing quite so noisy as a nest of sapsucker babies!
During the day, anyhow. At night, a baby Barred Owl will be a good competitor
for the amount of begging it does!
I put out the strawberry jelly last week, and about 1/2 hr later heard the
scolding call of the Oriole as he came to check it. Sorry, no grape jelly in
the house. He must have decided strawberry is good too; he's been back quite a
bit. Saw his mate picking up grasses in her bill and flying off with them, too,
but couldn't follow her with my eyes. On the same day last week, I also saw and
heard the FOY Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Great-crested Flycatchers.
The White-throated Sparrows have moved on, and the Sandhill Cranes must have
hatched their eggs because they are much quieter and haven't seen any in the
marshes for a week or so. I'll bet the Phoebes are now feeding their first
brood, too, since I hear very little from them. When the male starts singing
again, I'll know the first brood is done and they are working on the second.
Must be the same for the Red-shouldered Hawk. Very quiet lately after a loud
spring.
The Veery's nasal burr began about the time I put away the shovels and other
gardening tools. And just about the same time, the Ovenbirds all quieted down,
after a long day of singing. There are at least 3 territories from the end of
my drive to the house. The house sits on about 6 acres of upland surrounded by
marshes. So, I figure each one has staked out about a 2-acre territory! Should
be enough inchworms and other bugs for them without too much trouble! One day I
hope to have time to set up a blind and try to find their nest.
Well, I'm sure I'm forgetting something, but I just wanted to mention what a
great weekend it was, for birds, gardeners, and open windows to let in fresh
air and the songs of frogs, this evening.
Holly Peirson
Columbus, SE Anoka Co.
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