Happy Spring!

Yes, Spring is really here and the allergies are flying!

Speaking of that, the Sandhill Crane migration is finally slowing down. I saw some flights just a few days ago. I thought they had all gone by now.

About a month ago our male Red-winged Blackbirds returned. Last year it started with 6 or 8 males. This year we got 10-12! They are all over our yard and the one across the street. They are real seed hogs, too! I have to fill even the big feeders every day instead of every 2-3 days. They are pretty to watch and fun to listen to but they can be a bit annoying.

We also had some late season Mountain Chickadees show up and they just recently moved onward. We have been on the lookout for our favorite Goldfinches. They usually hang around all winter but not this year. I finally saw one male Lesser Goldfinch on the thistle feeder last Thursday. I hope he's here to stay and brings his family too.

Of course, as of April 1st we are keeping a keen ear and eye out for our namesake Hummingbirds! The first two feeders went up Saturday (4/3). They are the glass egg-shaped ones (made by GardenJewels, bought at Wild Birds Unlimited) that just fit in-between the iron bars on our windows. We put one on the kitchen window (south) and one on the window of our laundry room (east). Both can be seen from the kitchen. Usually, the first male will show up around sunset on a day that is very windy, after a storm. I'm watching!

The temps have finally reached the 60s this past week. I hope it stays. We've had enough cold this year. There have been flowering trees and bushes all over town since late February. Everyone has been worried that they might freeze but so far so good. Our usual last freeze date is April 15th.

Stay tuned . . .

Welcome 2010!

Well, it surely looks like Spring is coming soon, despite what the prognosticating ground hog or others had to say about it. The northward migration of the Sandhill Cranes started last week. The Canada Geese and ducks are also following. Our six male Red-winged Blackbirds showed up earlier this week. They are filling the air with their distinctive songs and cleaning out the feeders every day! Speaking of songs, there are so many beautiful spring songs from the Juncos and Bushtits. Last week or so I saw Mountain Chickadees that I hadn't noticed before. They have a sweet spring song, too. The Robins returned a couple weeks ago and they seem to be everywhere too. Today I noticed that the Mourning Dove male of our annual pair has arrived. I've also seen a Roadrunner hanging around this week. Our Ruby-headed Kinglet is also still around singing his spring song. The Ladder-back Woodpeckers have been here all winter enjoying our suet cakes. In the evenings we hear the great Grackle chorus singing to the sunset. I really love this time of year. It is so uplifting.

Hello 2009

I just want to check in to say that I regret that I have not been updating since last year. I got very sick in July 2008 and was ill for months. Since then I've been recovering and working on regaining my life. Hopefully, I will begin to update this blog before too long.

Take care. Keep checking on us from time to time.

Thanks!