More Hints of Spring

14 March 2025

     As the snow receded at home Snowdrops (family Amarycillidae) were visible and brought us great joy. We couldn't resist bringing a few into the house, where they remained vibrant for a surprisingly long time.

     We didn't plant these flowers so how they got there is a bit of a mystery, but we are glad that they did.

     They are exquisite, don't you think?

Hillside Park

     A female Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) hitched up a tree; earlier she had been jousting with another female, so hormones are firing them up.

     A pair of Mallards (Anas platyrynchos) were hanging out together.

     Soon the female will construct a nest, lay eggs and begin incubation.

     At that point she will cease to receive attention or cooperation from the male and will go on to raise her brood independently.

     Some humans are even like that!

     White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) may now be heard singing its distinctive song, generally represented anthropomorphically as "Sweet Canada, Canada, Canada" - and that seems especially endearing at present.

     Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) is ubiquitous and much loved, and the males are now serenading females with their seductive "feebeee" invitation to cohabit for the season.

     A Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) sailed overhead, momentarily harassed by crows. Raptors too are pairing off in anticipation of the breeding season ahead.

17 March, 2025

RIM Park, Waterloo, ON

     American Robins (Turdus migratorius) are now abundant, migrants having joined resident birds.

     There was flooding on the path and the creeks were swollen, so our walk there was curtailed somewhat.

     One might be forgiven for thinking that this Rock Dove (Columba livia) was a weather vane.

     As always, the yellow exclamation point of a Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) was one of the first to herald spring's arrival.

     The infructescences of Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) have nothing to do with spring, but are always delightful.

     An American Crow (Corvus brachyrynchos) digging in the soft ground was doubtless rewarded with many juicy grubs.

19 March, 2025

Benjamin Park, Waterloo, ON

     Flies (order Diptera) are already out. 

     Downy Woodpeckers appeared hyper-active and this female flitted from tree to tree, sometimes barely pausing for a moment.

     Upside down works too!

     I don't have a count on the number of American Crows I saw, but there were readily thirty. 

     A few seemed to be engaged in courtship behaviour, but mostly they hung out together in small groups.

     Black birds are not the easiest to photograph, and I didn't have Miriam with me to weave her magic.

     Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) were exceptionally active; usually seen on the ground, today they favoured perches on trees and shrubs.

     It's hard not to conclude that Eastern Grey Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) were not simply enjoying one of the first warm days of spring.

     At times they seemed like children playing tag.

     I pointed  this male Downy Woodpecker in the direction of the females, but I don't think he followed my advice. 

     Perhaps he had another beauty in his sights.

Spring is here! Enjoy!