Spring has won!

Tweet After this seemingly extreme winter, I think I can finally say Spring has won out.  As of the writing of this post at noon today, it is 72°F.  It is finally green out and the birds continue to trickle in.  I say trickle because it seems as if we are at a slightly slow pace migration wise.

Louisiana Waterthurshes have been back for a while, they are settled in.  This one just got done mating (this is a female ;-)

Love their song!

Prairie Warblers have just got back.  Love them.

Ospreys are also back.  I think they are nesting at East Fork.  This one made a visit to Crooked Run yesterday.

Green Herons have also just got back.  Yesterday, I seen 4 at one time.  I think this is a record for me.  They were at the wetlands at Crooked Run NP in Chilo, OH.  I used to seen this bird in my yard as a child, they seem to be harder to find nowadays.  

But THE bird that spells SPRING is this bird.  I call it the sunshine bird, the Prothonotary Warbler.  It seems to bring warmth and sunshine to wherever it is.  Just can't never get enough of this bird!

The American Kestrel pair that was at Crooked Run NP is nesting somewhere in the park.  I seen European Starlings using the box, so I think they are in a dead tree somewhere.  I heard and then saw the male kestrel flying and calling near by.  I watched and saw that he had a snake.  He then flew to his mate, presenting it to her.  She didn't really seem too interested in it.  She flew away...

The male decides to eat the snake for himself.

But, the snake may have worked.  They mated soon after he finished eating the snake.  It was a cool event to see!  This is why Spring is my favorite season.

So much to see and witness outdoors right now.  Make sure you break away from the daily hustle and bustle to see the natural world!!

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The tug of war continues...

Tweet The tug of war of the seasons continues.  As I write this post, snow is on the ground and it is only 34° with a freeze warning issued for tonight calling for temperatures in the 20°s.  Just yesterday, it was 80° here.  I enjoy watching the change over of our "winter" birds to that of our "spring" birds.  It just feels like the spring birds don't get here fast enough after such a hard winter.  Some Red-necked Grebes are still lingering, but the scoters seem to have finally headed back north.

The Juncos are singing, along with Chipping Sparrows.  Makes one think they are hearing Pine Warblers.  They are back, but I just don't see many of them around the east side where I bird.

Fox Sparrows have been numerous on the north side of East Fork.  I love to hear them sing.

Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are all over everywhere as they slowly creep northward.  

Brown Thrashers are back in force, meaning it is officially Spring despite the snow on the ground.  Love this bird.

Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers are everywhere, they seem to have just went from none to everywhere.  I always enjoy having them back.

Yellow-throated Warblers are back in force.

Pine Warblers are around, I went to Shawnee State Forest, where they are a little more easier to get.  Many think of them as a drab warbler, but they are nice to look at me thinks.

Northern Parulas are back, but not quite in numbers yet.

While at Shawnee State Forest (Southern Ohio), Black and white Warblers were back in force this past weekend.  I love this warbler.  I still remember seeing this bird in my grandparents yard when I was a kid and not knowing what it was.  I remember looking in books after books till I finally found out what it was.

                               

As the snow slowly melts away to reveal the greened up look of the landscape, I can only look foward to the warmer temps later in the week.  The changeover of the seasons seems to be going slow, but eventually it will be over.  Make sure you get out there to see the warblers trickling back!

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