I was out early this morning but sunrise was obscured by cloud cover. However temperatures remained warm enough for box turtles to be out and about. And a lot of birds were singing including House Wren, Gray Catbird, Yellow Warbler and Eastern Towhee, all new for the season. Also Fish Crow calling. 

Took a ride to Route 51 and the so-called Bicycle Path which was a veritable garden of bird song. In full voice this morning were Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, N Flicker, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, House Wren, Am Robin, all 3 mimids (Catbird, Mockingbird, Thrasher), Blue-winged Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Eastern Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow, N Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole,  Orchard Oriole and Am Goldfinch. The warblers and the orioles were almost certainly very recent returnees from their winter sojourns far to the south. Not every bird seen was singing; a pair of Eastern Bluebirds were acting friendly with the male feeding the female at least twice. There was also a hunting Am Kestrel (not hunting Bluebirds I hope) and a few swallows (looked like Rough-winged Swallows to me but I didn't get very good looks). Missing was the Blue Grosbeak which has bred here in recent years.

Nearby, in Hunter's Gardens, were E Phoebe, Great Crested Flycatcher, Ovenbird, Pine Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Chipping Sparrow and Rose-breasted Grosbeak, all singing except the Grosbeak. No thrushes seen or heard. Or for that matter other birders.

Eric Salzman