More Spring Migrants

Kristen and I went walking for about an hour this morning in the woods. The trail around the fence line on the east side of the property is cleared, so the walking is a bit easier. It was chilly this morning when we left, but it warmed up nicely by the time we were going in. We were about halfway around the trail and a Hooded Warbler began calling. I walked off the trail and found him in a tree that fell down in Hurricane Ike. He sang several times and then some Carolina Wrens began making their alarm call which attracted his attention. He gave me several good looks at him. Not too much further down the trail, a male Northern Parula sang from the one tree left with Spanish moss on it. He gave me a few good looks. Those were all the migrants we saw this morning.

There are still several winter birds around. There are large flocks of Cedar Waxwings on the yaupon trees. American Goldfinches were in the woods on the budding trees. White-throated Sparrows called from the thick understory. A Hermit Thrush sang from somewhere in the woods. Yellow-rumped Warblers and Ruby-crowned Kinglets flitted around in the treetops.

I love being in the woods and hearing the spring chorus of territorial calls. Northern Cardinals, White-eyed Vireos, Carolina Wrens and Tufted Titmice all were singing.

On Saturday, 3/20, I saw the first Ruby-throated Hummingbird of the year. It was a male visiting the feeder I have set up in the backyard.

Birds seen 3/22/10 (29 species): Little Blue Heron, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, White-eyed Vireo, blue Jay, Purple Martin, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Hermit Thrush, Northern Mockingbird, Cedar Waxwing, Northern Parula, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Hooded Warbler (FOS), Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow