"There is another alphabet, whispering from every leaf, singing from every river, shimmering from every sky."
― Dejan Stojanovic
I found my first Eastern Bluebird of spring migration today at Pope Farm Conservancy, same spot along the moraine as in past years. To be sure, it's an exciting and welcomed sight that felt a little like hope. However, the bluebird of happiness was surpassed by a fly-over Red-shouldered Hawk. Wow! How sure am I? Well, it definitely wasn't a Red-tailed or Broad-winged Hawk! Nah, I'm very sure ― I got great views of it in my bins, but the raptor was flying too quickly for me to digiscope a docu shot.
Last week, spring migration came to an abrupt halt with considerable snowfall followed by unseasonably cold temperatures reminiscent of January. However, there's at least one guarantee in Wisconsin this time of year ― warmer weather is a veritable promise and the snow quickly melts. Today was much warmer with temperatures in the upper-forties once again. I expected Eastern Meadowlarks as well, but none were found. There was a clever European Starling mimicking spring of the year, but I could tell the difference and was not fooled. Also of note: Not a single Song Sparrow song, but I suspect there are some around.
All it did was sing, sing, and sing ― flying from one branch to another, and then more singing. She'll return soon, sir.
American Goldfinches are still rather drab, but their redpoll cousins are super-stunners. Dottie Johnson had a Hoary Redpoll at her feeders this past week, but just a one-day wonder bird. Impressive. I found a Hoary in my apartment courtyard the same winter I found a backyard Bohemian Waxwing back in 2012. It's hard to believe that was already a decade ago. A few weeks after that sighting I found another just a few blocks away from my apartment. That one stuck around for a while and a number of birders got to see it. I'll never forget Jessica Gorzo running across the parking lot in her slippers to get the bird.
It'll be sorta sad once the redpolls are gone, but more wonderful feathered things are on their way. They've been good company to have around during chilly winter days.
Many more American Robins today ― Muggle's harbinger of spring! :)
And Cedar Waxwings foraging on various fruit trees.
My final Nature indulgence of the day was a pair of Sandhill Cranes foraging together at Deer Creek, just a block before home. I was briefly assessed for threat-level, bugled at, and then the two resumed feeding with no thought of my intrusion. While watching and photographing them, a thought that occurred to me as Wisconsin continues to consider opening up Sandhill Crane hunting is how unsporting it would be to blow one of these majestic birds away. For a number of mostly personal reasons, I'm against hunting them in central and southern counties in Wisconsin. However, for a more nuanced analysis, read this writeup by the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology.
All images © 2022 Mike McDowell