Sound of Spring

When it gets dark, someone starts singing outside. Loudly.

"Peep!" "Peep!' No wonder this tiny frog is called a Spring Peeper.

What squawk is that?

Listen - hear that squawking? We haven't heard that sound since last Fall.

A dozen black birds have landed by the corn feeder. But they aren't all black. When the sun shines on them, they gleam with bronze and blue.
Look at those yellow eyes.

The Grackles are back!

Here comes the sun - and the flowers

Here is a picture from this morning: I saw these two buds showing some color in the early morning sun.

Here is a picture from this afternoon:

It's the same two buds only now they are flowers!

Look up

I was outside when I heard a "hrrooo, hroooo" sound coming from the sky. You can listen to it here : http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/audio/Sandhill_Crane.html We are hearing birds, big birds flying over our house in their Spring migration. Where are they?

Oh there they are - do you see them? They are flying in a sort of a "v" formation. These are Sandhill Cranes. We would never see them if they didn't call out to each other as they fly.

The buds open

Just look at those crocus now... I think the March wind has blown them open.

A hint of purple

Brrrrr. The sun is shining but it's still shivery out. The bird bath is frozen.I'm looking beyond the ice into the dry grass - do I see something purple?
I do! It is the first early crocus!

Another Hawk

Dear Old Wren,

I had a hawk visiting my yard too. He looks like the hawk you saw in the Backyard Bird Watch. I stayed far away.

Love,
Lizard