FreeLists / birdky / [birdky] wood thrush, etc.

["Joan Carr" <joan-of-art@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi All,
Yesterday morning, April 11, Les alerted me to the singing of the WOOD
THRUSH behind the house at the edge of the woods. Its arrival was a
little early for us, but was so welcome. I was suffering a great sadness
because of the sudden and unexplained death of my young studio cat,
"Yoda" and really needed a lift of my spirits.  Les and I also took a
long hike up into the mountains to enjoy the wildflowers and to get our
spirits renewed. In one spot both sides of the mountains were enveloped
in a blue mist because of the abundance of blooming BLUE-EYED MARYS and
WILD SWEET WILLIAMS. Nestle among them were: BLUE COHOCH, CELADINE
POPPIES, RED and WHITE TRILLIUMS, SESSILE TRILLIUMS, ETC. Along the
banks of the creek was a profusion of TROUT LILIES, VIRGINIA BLUEBELLS,
and so on. There were not many warblers yet, but we saw a pair of
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS. BTW, last week I heard and saw a warbler which I
could not remember having seen or heard. When I looked in my warbler
book to identify it, I was very surprised to learn that it was a male
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER!! I had never seen it in its breeding plumage or
heard one singing its territorial song. What a treat from an otherwise
drab looking and dull sounding little booger. 
 
Today while visiting Jenny Wiley State Park, we saw a pair of PIED-BILL
GREBES on the lake. The lake was very muddy and lots of logs and other
debris made us take a second look. But nothing else was spotted. There
were many YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS, YELLOW WARBLERS, ETC. singing
everywhere. 
 
Last week we saw the first PURPLE MARTINS of the season, plus TREE
SWALLOWS. Our pair of RED-TAILED HAWKS has returned to the top of the
ridge above the house. Several BARRED OWLS have been VERY ACTIVE in
various areas around the house, both day and night. One night when we
had the windows open in the bedroom, they were in a pine tree just
outside the window, whooping and hollering and chortling like drunken
sailors. 
 
Happy Springtime to everyone!! 
 
Cheers, Joan Carr, Pike County