This seems like an extraordinarily late date but this morning the Spring Peepers are in full voice in the marsh behind our house for the first time that I've heard them this year.  

Last weekend we had House Wrens giving their first tentative songs of the year.  Their presence isn't terribly extraordinary down here in Worcester County since they can be found around the year here if the winter doesn't get too harsh, but it did seem early to hear them singing.

Last Sunday, on the way back to the real world, we passed a huge flock of Ring-billed Gulls just north of Trappe, along Rt. 50, in Talbot County.  The lone breeding-plumaged Laughing Gull in the flock stood out brilliantly, our first for the year in Maryland.  We also spotted a single Horned Grebe at the very southern-most end of Cambridge Creek (in Dorchester County), another sign that the waterbirds are moving north.

Yesterday, on our trip down to the shore in the afternoon, we spotted the first Osprey we had seen at the nest near the old ferry terminal just south of the west end of the Bay Bridge.  Again, not anything particularly new, but we always watch this location for the first bird of the year and its appearance always makes us feel like Spring is well and truly here.

Best.
Norm

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Norm Saunders
West Ocean City & Colesville, MD