Overnight Rain

This time of year overnight rain can create what they call "fallouts". This is where nocturnal migrants interrupt their journey and drop down due to the rain, often in huge numbers. I thought just maybe there might be some at Memorial Lake so I popped up to have a look. The light was pretty dismal and very few birds so I took some scenic photos. There were a couple of Common Loons, a few Ruddy Ducks, a few Bufflehead and a Common Merganser and loads of Swallows, Rough-winged, Barn and a few Tree Swallow. Not much else.

Virginia Bluebells

Virginia Bluebells

Alder
one of my favorite trees

They grow them big round these parts

Memorial Lake

Brief bit of sunshine through the clouds

Clarence Schock Memorial Park at Governor Dick

Funny name I know but a great place on my doorstep to go for a walk. OK maybe not exactly on my doorstep but only a 10 minute drive so close enough. Here's some shots from a pleasant Monday afternoon walk.

Dogwood

Spring Beauty

Jack in the Pulpit

Mayapple

Large Rocks

Rock Splitting Tree

Rue Anemone

Rue Anemone

Assorted Tree's

PawPaw- Tulip Poplar

Tree going for a walk

Love this time of year

It was pretty nice today and after a visit to one of the Eagle sites where there was a stonking Prothonotary Warbler, a cracking Louisiana Waterthrush and a crippling Swamp Sparrow I decided to set the blind up in the backyard when I got home.

I got set up then came inside to feed the critters. looking out I saw my first of year Indigo Bunting at the waterfall. Great, he's out there, I'm in here. After dinner I went back outside even though the good light had gone and it paid off with a visit from a breeding plumage White-throated Sparrow.

White-throated Sparrow

Blue and Red

Light was all over the place this morning, cloudy, heavy overcast bit of sunshine between the clouds. Still I did a bit of photography and here's what I got.

Blue Jay

Blue Jay

Cardinal

Saw a warbler today.....

....but it was high in the tree's and just a silhouette, then I lost him. I did see a nice male Rufous-sided Towhee singling away, too far to photograph unfortunately.  While sitting on the deck in the evening I was pissed that I wasn't in front of the waterfall as there was a cracking Hermit Thrush perched, looking around then bathing right in front of where I should have been. I was outside most of the afternoon potting plants and tomatoes. I'll have to cover everything or bring them inside as it's going to get down to 36f on Monday  night. I did a bit of photographing in the morning but it was a bit quiet so only a couple.

Cardinal

Common Grackle

No Warblers Today

I did see a Ruby-crowned Kinglet but didn't get a decent image of him. Here's a few from today and Nuthatch from a few days ago.

Chipping Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

White-breasted Nuthatch

Ready for the Warblers.

It was a nice mostly sunny today today and this afternoon I dug out my blind from the garage. It smells a bit musty because I never used it last year, it will air out I hope.I got set up in front of the waterfall and had a trial run. There was a White-throated Sparrow first on the list followed by a Song Sparrow. Lighting was a bit harsh so I've not included them. Here's a couple of Junco shots. After a bite to eat I went out again hoping for a Hermit Thrush and wasn't long before one showed up.

Dark-eyed Junco

Dark-eyed Junco

Hermit Thrush

In my best John Wayne voice ........

...... "A day without Bluebirds is like a day without sunshine."

Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Bluebird

Bald Eagle

Brown Thrasher

Brown-headed Cowbird

Cherry Tree

One of my 90ft Cherry's was half uprooted and leaning on the adjacent Cherry. It was still alive as it was full of blossom but eventually it would have fallen probably taking the other Cherry with it. So the tree guys came today and took it down relatively easily without doing too much damage to the rest of the tree's. As they were chipping the branches I saved one for use as a photographic perch for my feeder. It was snowing on and off and a bit dull but the Cardinal tried it out for size.

Northern Cardinal

Woodpecker

I was putting Kelly's car away in the garage and a little Pine Warbler landed on the suet feeder right next to me. Didn't care about me standing there at all. I put the car away and got my folding chair and camera and sat there waiting for him to come back. He didn't. Red-bellied Woodpecker did though.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Phoebe

While I love music I think I must be tone deaf because I only progressed from the triangle in school music lessons to playing 3 Blind Mice on the recorder, that was just before I broke it sword fencing with Steve Solomons. I can play the piano if I have music with numbers and I stick numbers on the keyboard. Whats all this got to do with a Phoebe you might ask. Well, Phoebe's are one of the few birds I recognize from the call. It sings "FeeBee......FeeBee" so yep got that one.

Robin

Quite a nice day outside right now so only got time for a couple. Here's a Robin.

Back View

Front View

They're here........

...the Warblers that is. Yesterday I saw my first Brown Thrasher of the year and today my first Warbler of the year. While I was photographing this and that a Pine Warbler showed up at the bird table and even posed for me. The Carolina Wren was not impressed by the flashy newcomer.

Pine Warbler

Carolina Wren Mooning

Couldn't resist including the Bluebird complete with dewdrop.

Forgot to include the Bluebird, errrrr I mean Grackle

Birds on a Stick

It's nearly lunchtime and this will make 3 additions today! Must be a record. Not that I'm bored or anything and I have so much to do, but it's Saturday so screw it.

American Goldfinch

House Finch

Northern Cardinal

Squirrel Nutkin

Here's one  I like of Squirrel Nutkin being quiet which is not often.

Squirrel Nutkin

If you want the best seat in the house......shift the cats.

Badger with some of his harem. Misha, Badger and Lucy......in my chair.

Misha, Badger and Lucy

Chilly Morning

There's a howling gale blowing from the NE this morning and combined with temperatures in the mid 30's it a bit parky as they say. Still, I ventured out to feed my birds but didn't do much in the way of photography this morning so only a couple today.

American Robin

hunkered down in the wind

American Robin