A Balmy May 2nd

Oh what is so rare as the second of May.

Early May didn't used to be so balmy out here but, global warming or no, it's hard to complain. The ol' Apple Tree is bursting forth; that venerable tree, planted by Johnny Appleseed himself, stands just behind the house. It has been through everything -- lightning strikes, winter storms, sapsucker dental drills, rampant ivy squeezes and any number of hurricanes -- but it's still a May-time symphony of pink and white. The nearby lilac bushes, equally antique, are now shaded out and produce no flowers but another bush has sprouted next to the cottage and has a few flower heads. Similarly, we have a few Marsh Marigolds, some already in flower. Neither promises the gaudy floral display you'll see elsewhere but we're thankful for what we have.

Star billing among the birds still belongs to the Pine Warbler. His trilling is so constant that I almost wonder if there isn't more than one bird. There's definitely more than one Purple Martin; in fact, there's about a dozen-and-a-half birds, all gathered noisily around the colony. It's almost as if they are afraid to leave the immediate vicinity for fear of missing out on the choice of a mate or nesting site.

What else? A Lesser Yellow-legs on the pond this morning at low tide and Fish Crows honking away in the woods. The latter species is increasing around here -- it is a something of a southern species that is spreading north but along the actual coast (where you would expect it to do well) it has stiff competition from the well-established American Crow. Still at this time of year, it nasal call is unmistakable and isolated pairs do nest away from the water.

Other FOS (birder-speak for First of Season): Snowy Egret, several Willets, Killdeer, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Barn Swallow, House and Carolina wrens.

Eric Salzman