Saturday, March 10, 2007

Last Evening in the Meadow

This time of year, we're always on the lookout for signs of spring to apppear. Yesterday was our first springlike day of the year---temps in the 60's, actual SUNSHINE, snow melting, birds singing their tiny heads off. Perhaps singing is not completely accurate for all the birds.

The red-shouldered hawk was screaming it's ahh-ah, ahh-ah as it soared over the sycamore.

This is a game called Find the Red-shouldered Hawk in an Underexposed Photo.

The mocker is back! S/he is taking up temporary housing in the sumac tangle on the west edge of the meadow.

At least three pairs of bluebirds were flirting with each other and taking a tour of homes. This male staked out the mid-meadow box and its old fencepost.

I spied a meadow sprite flitting across the grasstops. Yes, it's spring at last.
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8 comments:

  1. Susan Gets NativeMarch 10, 2007 at 10:45 PM

    I went out with a RAPTOR friend yesterday, nest-hunting for RSHA nests, and she was blasting a recording of a pair of them being, well, amorous... and I think that is my favorite bird sound right now. They sure are serious about their love, aren't they?

    The meadow sprite...what can I say? Tell her to direct some spring fairy dust in our direction.

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  2. LaughingratMarch 11, 2007 at 5:28 PM

    It's a beautiful place you live in. :) I saw a sign of spring today, too--a crow harassing a hawk. There's lots of wilderness to be found in the city, rare and fragile though it is. It feels important to me to watch for it.

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  3. MaryMarch 11, 2007 at 8:25 PM

    Glad to hear spring has finally come to southeast Ohio. Yesterday I heard the bullfrogs in the pond and this morning a lizard crossed my path on the warm, western side of the house!

    That's a beautiful sight in your last photo :o)

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  4. Rondeau RicMarch 12, 2007 at 9:53 AM

    What a lovely sprite.
    We have a ways to go but there are a few signs os spring.

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  5. AnneMarch 12, 2007 at 4:05 PM

    That photo of your Phoebe embodies the feelings of Spring. Absolutely lovely!

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  6. Julie in VTMarch 14, 2007 at 12:59 PM

    Bill-- I'm hoping you can help me verify whether or not a bird that frequents our yard is a red-shouldered hawk. These are all pictures of what I -think- is the same bird (though I'm not dead certain):

    Red-Shoulder pictures here

    This is in Southeastern Vermont and for the longest time I thought it was a red-tail. Your book, however, suggests that without the dark patagium, it's probably not a red-tail. I don't see the patagial mark here, which suggests red-shouldered hawk to me, but some people have suggested it might be a hybrid red-shoulder red-tail.

    I'm still learning to ID birds and this one is a bit baffling, especially since I've had conflicting points of view from fairly authoritative sources. I'm hoping you can help me out with this.

    Your blog is awesome. Thanks,

    --julie

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  7. Bill of the BirdsMarch 14, 2007 at 1:27 PM

    Hey Julie:
    Yep, that's a red-shouldered on your image site. Nice photos! And nice version of the Star of COunty Down on your blog profile, too!

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  8. Julie in VTMarch 14, 2007 at 1:55 PM

    Bill-- thank you so much. Do you mind if I quote you on the web site to put the naysayers to rest?

    --julie

    P.S. I really enjoyed doing that arrangement of Star of the County Down-- it just felt really nice to put all the parts together in a way that clicked. As I said, your blog is awesome. Just what I needed. Another birding blog :)

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