March is such a messy month with melting snow, mud, mist and muted monotone landscapes. Local trails look less than inviting at first glance but are worth exploring as little changes can be seen every day.
This Saturday the first male Red-winged Blackbirds were heard and seen in nearby swamps. Local birding lines reported several sightings as people noted with pleasure the first of our returning spring birds. By next week we should see Robins in the neighbourhood.
Our year round birds are singing a different tune as they mark their territories and begin the nesting season. Male Cardinals whistle from treetops and perch conspicuously in posts and branches. The pouring rain did not deter this bird in the least.
A pair of White-breasted Nuthatches circled a tree trunk rapidly then darted about in an aerial dance.
And here is my first chipmunk sighting of the spring season. Our squirrels have been out on all but the very coldest days, but these cute little rodents have been in hiding since last November.March... a mixed month where we have spring one day and winter again the next. Here's hoping that Mother Nature's teasing will soon be over and spring decides to stay.
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The chipmunk is definitely worth braving that trail! I like this post!
ReplyDeleteEach picture is so lovely.I like the way you framed them.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,Ruth
I think too you should have robins by next week. I saw our first spring robins on Sunday. And now they are all over the place, and twittering up a storm.
ReplyDeleteI have a pair of nuthatches this spring--can't quite decide what kind, though. Their calls sound like a cat meowing. Is that a red-breasted or a white-breasted?
Wonderful piccies, we spotted a red cardinal in our yard this week too.
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy visiting your blog, these shots are fantastic.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
Guy
Regina In Pictures
Beautiful nature shots. I feel that I've tasted a bit of your spring.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I like messy, because I like that first pic you posted :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome photos! Good morning Spring!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos. I LOVE the red winged blackbird picture.
ReplyDeleteI think the best part about this time of year is watching the slightest of changes occur over time. Last year I photographed the same tree in my yard from the same vantage point once a week to note the changes.
ReplyDeleteOh yes March is messy...but doesn't stop me from entering a trail. I already have fallen and received my first mud bath (lol). I was at Riverside Sat morning and heard the RWB bird before I saw it. What a welcoming sound. I also spotted a Robin yesterday morning at my work. I'm sure he is a spring one. Great pictures...nice vibrant colors. The chipmunk pic is adorable. It feels good to have the spring weather upon us. One has to worry that there still is a chance of a snow storm before spring is truly upon us.
ReplyDeleteI love this post Ruth. These are all quite exotic creatures to me. Never seen a blackbird with coloured wing ends before. In fairness spring is excellent for photographing birds before the leaves come out on the trees.
ReplyDeleteLovely selection of wildlife.....the chipmunk is definately cute......
ReplyDeleteI am getting very attached to the cardinals as well.....we have nothing like them here......
March is a tease.....letting us think that spring is here and the next day winter is back.....
I think we are all looking forward to a little bit of warmth......
It's unseasonably warm here this week (82 degrees today/28C), but I know the last of winter will rear its head again before it's all said and done. I just hope it is after everything has bloomed out a bit.
ReplyDeleteOh, wonderful shots - but hey Cardinal, put your flag up, the ladies are looking!
ReplyDeleteYou have such interesting tidbits of information to share. I will listen more closely to the bird calls from now on.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen any red-winged blackbirds as yet. But I did see a chipmunk running over the snow in my back yard. Was I ever surprised! I thought they'd wait until the snow melted.
March is fickle, indeed. We often have good weather at the beginning and a snowstorm or two at the end.
Oh wow..a chipmunk..No red-wings or robins here yet..But I always put out raisins (soaked in water) for the robins...
ReplyDeleteenjoyed your shots of the different birds and of course the chipmunk is/was quite cute ^..^
ReplyDeletehave a wonderful week.
Thanks for all your comments. KGMom- I would guess you likely have White-breasted Nuthatches. They do have a louder call than the RB variety and I think it sounds like a horn honking.
ReplyDeleteThat's quite a woodpile in the first photo.
ReplyDeleteThere was a very bust red squirrel up at the cottage. It amazes me how fleet they are.