What is a Broadtail Hawk?

What is a Broadtail Hawk? Just a typo, I'm afraid.

Maybe it isn't my ankle that needs mending but my brain. Of course, as several alert readers have pointed out, what I meant in yesterday's post was Broad-WINGED Hawk, that smaller relative of the Red-TAILED Hawk.

No -winged or -tailed hawks of any sort this morning but a few woodland birds singing vigorously including Red-eyed Vireo, White-breasted Nuthatch and Pine Warbler (all possible nesters). A family of Black-capped Chickadees -- including several recently fledged young -- turned up. The late-nesting American Goldfinches are paired up but moving around in pairs that are probably getting ready to nest. Going on is a furious song contest between House Wrens as these birds seemingly defend adjacent territories; the singing is non-stop all morning and often picks up again later in the day. Very little singing from the Carolina Wrens. either because the cold winter decimated the local populations (Carolinas are resident and don't migrate so they don't do well in cold winters) or because they are sitting on eggs or feeding nestlings and don't want to give away the nest location! Woodpeckers remain scarce -- a single Downy and a Red-bellied calling somewhere -- they are also probably still sitting on eggs or feeding nestlings.

At least two Box Turtles emerged in the wake of yesterdays rain showers.

And thus spring turns into summer!

Eric Salzman