Oh Joy! Oh Joy!

 The time is now! A trip to the woods is no longer flat-black! There are colors and sounds abounding. It's like perusing visual art in surround sound.

 Everywhere, there are little birds popping out, playfully flitting, enjoying a sumptuous meal of flying or creepy-crawly things, and singing at their very best.

 Some even stop for a minute to watch people watching them.

 Every year I experience a whole new depth of enjoyment, because I see and hear so much more. In a way, it is like peeling the layers of an onion. There is just more and more to see. I was really taken by this tan form White-throated Sparrow. It is without doubt the tannest version of this bird I have ever seen in Spring.

 Wilson's Warblers are now everywhere. They sing continuously and readily come out into the open.

 Flycatchers are back. These are among my favorite little birds. This Yellow-bellied Flycatcher on Cochrane Pond Road was typically curious. They often just come out to greet me.

 The buzzy little song of the Black-throated  Green Warbler is unique among warblers. Its song gives its location away every time.

An interesting, immature Red-winged Blackbird appeared at the Gord H. in Portugal Cove South just in time for several of us birders to see it at the end of last month.

There is a mix of the expected and the unexpected out there. It is now going to take a little self-control to not be out there every day; although, the birds are calling loudly.

Bird of the Hour: European Whimbrel

 A miserable old day offered up a great bird, a European Whimbrel.  Found by Dave Brown at Cape Spear, he quickly got the word out, and the bird was enjoyed by many. I expect it is still there moving around the foggy environs.

My first look was the whimbrel in flight. Then, it disappeared below a ridge. I didn't know if I could refind it, but I kept walking toward the main parking lot. The fog grew thicker with each step. Finally, I got close enough to get this shot. This bird was not calm. It moved around a lot and easily disappeared into the fog and blended in very well with the landscape. It was well worth getting wet to see this extra-rare bird in Newfoundland.

Cape Spear Kingbird

 As I sit here trying to write this, I am distracted by the fog rolling in and the mist filling the air.

 What bird is hiding out there just waiting to be found? I'm always sure there are lots of good birds tucked away in some of the places we routinely check.

 This proved to be true on Sunday when I took a quick drive out to Cape Spear. I was pleasantly surprised to find this great Eastern Kingbird sitting on a branch just inches away from my car window. I stopped, hoping not to disturb him and watched. He certainly looked in fine form.

It's really funny how sightings happen sometimes. Just the day before, in a group of three birders, we dipped on finding the Eastern Kingbird in Cappahayden. I figured that might be my only chance to see one this year. The Eastern Kingbird is a hit or miss kind of bird. Luckily, I have happened upon one or more in each of my four years of birding....always a treat! So now, do I continue to bemoan the fog or get out there to see what might emerge from it?

Rusty Blackbird Courtship

 When I first came upon these Rusty Blackbirds last Friday, I stayed back and watched the show. The male was sitting high atop a tree, and the female was foraging in a ditch. He seemed to be keeping a look out, and she seemed to be gathering the food.

 When I scrutinized the photos more closely, she was not the one gathering food for the couple. The male had a large morsel in his mouth and was waiting for her to come get it.

 After about ten minutes, she flew up to join the male.

 He carefully fed her all the food he had gathered. I can only guess this is some final-stage courtship between the two before she withdraws to sitting on the nest.

It was obvious she wanted more, and the cupboard was bare. It was not long before they both flew off into the distance. My guess is these two birds will soon be less visible in the area as they go about their Spring business.