Orange is the new black

Cool and overcast but with a few wood warblers around -- mostly surprisingly a bright and handsome orange male Blackburnian's aided if not abetted by a singing Blue-wing, a Northern Parula, a Pine and a vigorously singing Common Yellowthroat on territory. Scarlet Tanagers are gone after hanging out here a full week but there is at least one vigorously singing Baltimore Oriole in the neighborhood, a handsome bird with a glowing orange breast. Out on the creek, there was a surprising bit of courtship feeding with one tern perched on a piling at Aldrich's Boatyard and making begging, peeping sounds while the other bird was bringing in a succession of small fishes. Too distant to tell what the fish were but the terns were Commons and not members of the Forster's clan which have been dominant in recent days.

Some new flowering plants include Shadbush and High-bush Blueberry, both natives. Among the introduced species in full bloom right now are the spring classics: Lilac, Apple, Dame's Rocket and a couple of smaller guys I'll have to look up.

Eric Salzman