fog cleared, birds appeared

Just when I thought migration was over, the fog cleared and birds appeared. This morning's yard list included American Redstart, Magnolia and Canada Warblers as well as Yellow and Yellowthroat; at least one singing Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Red-eyed Vireos seemingly in every tree. Also a half a dozen or more Chimney Swifts twittering over the marsh with the Purple Martins and Barn Swallows.

If things were this active down here, I thought, there'll be still more going on upland at Maple Swamp. In fact, except for one Canada Warbler, all the birds there were local nesters: Ovenbird, Pine and Blue-wing Warblers, Warbling and Red-eyed Vireos, Orchard and Baltimore Orioles, Scarlet Tanager singing away the whole time, the usual flycatchers, Wood Duck and a very annoyed Green Heron in a wooded pond. Oh yes, a big ol' Snapping Turtle blocking the path (I did manage to get around her unharmed; I think she was more interested in finding a safe place to lay her eggs than in making trouble for a passer-by). Various spring wildflowers including the fragile Frostweed and Blue-eyed Grass.

Eric Salzman