Hello, Having just returned from being out of town, Saturday (3 Apr 99) marked the first time in over a week that I got to see and hear what was hanging around in my yard. I was only home for a few minutes in the morning, but long enough to hear a Louisiana Waterthrush singing. The bird was along the stream that it bred on last year. Today, Sunday, I hung around during the afternoon, and when not dodging a rather damaging and violent thunderstorm, I was pleased to see that the Sapsuckers, Creeper, and Hermit Thrush were still in the neighborhood. Seemingly the Pine Warbler has moved on. Also there were a pair of Phoebes, scouting out a location to build a nest. They also bred in my yard last year. There were two LA Waterthrushes singing. And after having as many as 75 at a time last winter, I got the first four Purple Finches that I have seen this year, on my feeders. Checking my notes from last year, I had dubbed 3 Apr 98 Finch Day, with Pine Siskin, PUFI, HOFI, and Goldfinches all at their max numbers. (Misleading since it was the one and only time I have ever had a Siskin.) Clearly this is a good date for finches. Regards, Todd Day BlkVulture@aol.com Jeffersonton, VA