In all, about 25 species seen -- and when we got home, a single 
HIPPING SPARROW at our feeders -- another indication that spring is 
oming!

Hi Gail,
 A walk around the yard this morning in the melty snow (Peanut is very tired of it!) yielded about a dozen or more robins and about a half dozen bluebirds feeding in the next door farm field, on the ground. A pair of Carolina Wrens has survived the winter, with one coming to our peanut feeder. We've been getting Chippies feeding on the ground for much of the winter, so not sure what that means (they are fairly common here almost year round!). A few Red-winged Blackbirds were at the feeders too, which really is an early sign of spring here. And some were in the trees singing, even though the farm pond still has ice on it. The hawks (a pair of Red-tails) were up and flying together a little while ago too, so spring is coming slowly but surely. And I heard a small flock of waxwings fly over this morning too.

Can't wait for the weather to change later this week. Winter has been way too long this year!


Rick Sussman
Woodbine,MD




-----Original Message-----
From:  <>
To: 
Sent: Mon, Feb 14, 2011 11:05 am
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Brookside Gardens - some (very) early spring signs...


Hi all,
Such a nice sunny warm day after the last week's poor weather, we 
ecided to visit Brookside Gardens to see if there was any bird activity.
e 
lso checked the feeders at the Nature Center next door.
Not too much, actually, as regards diversity but many many Goldfinches 
nd Housefinches, singing and calling. All the Chickadees at the feeders 
r in the Gardens were Carolina.
However -- some very early signs of spring:  About a dozen COMMON 
RACKLES feeding in the leaf litter and a few RED-WINGED 
LACKBIRDS calling as well. Song Sparrows were singing, Robins 
huckling in the hollies as they scavenged the last berries, woodpeckers 
rumming (4 species seen, Hairy, Downy, Red-bellied and Pileated). 
hree Red-shouldered Hawks perched or soared.
In all, about 25 species seen -- and when we got home, a single 
HIPPING SPARROW at our feeders -- another indication that spring is 
oming!
Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper
olesville, MD

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