Looks like the south wind brought some nice birds into the neighborhood.  Fort Bayard Park hosted a BROWN CREEPER and a fine-looking PINE WARBLER, as well as an EASTERN PHOEBE that may be the same one I've seen the last few days.  Others have certainly been seeing these, but they're the first I've had in the park this spring.

But the bird of the morning was undoubtedly the gorgeous male PURPLE FINCH I came back to find in my yard on the safflower feeder.  I had seen him perched earlier, but at an angle where I wasn't 100% sure of the ID (I don't see these guys often enough to be fully comfortable with them, and I think the color of the print in my Sibley is a little off).  Thankfully he came back to give me a nice long look and erase my doubts.  Great way to start the day!

Jason Waanders
NW DC
jwaandersATstarpower.net