FOSes

First warbler of the season: Yellow-rumped (a.k.a. Myrtle) Warbler. Not so surprising as this is the only warbler that is known to winter in our area in some numbers. This bird was a handsome male with its astonishing mixture of gray, white and yellow in a pattern that seems rather complex for so small a bird.

Another first of the season: a Baltimore Oriole male with a ringing, almost bell-like call. Located by the somewhat untypical call. At first, I wasn't even sure what it was but the rattling noises that followed the strong musical notes and good looks at the bird feeding in the sprouting tree tops clinched the deal.

Heard a Towhee call from somewhere in the underbrush. That would be a FOS (First of the Season) except that I heard one on Pleasure Drive during my fruitless search for the Red-headed Woodpecker a couple of days ago.

Overcast and damp, cool weather can't go on forever. Looking for that change of weather that will also bring migrants.

Eric Salzman