There are many “first signs of spring.” Among them are crocuses, which are in bloom at my place of work in New England. I’ve also seen daffodils and a few other flowers that are beyond my identification skills. I don’t want to jinx it because New England weather can be goofy, but welcome to spring.
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I know it’s out of my turf, but I can’t post just one photo of the burrowing owls I saw during a recent trip to southwestern Florida. So here are a few more. Click here for more photos from Florida.
My friend Andrée from Quebec sent me a bunch of photos from her yard this winter. The siskin and redpoll numbers are staggering. The photos speak for themselves … Thanks Andrée.
I ventured out of New England last week to visit my brother in southwestern Florida. Here are a few shots I got in my travels. Two of my brothers and I went to Marco Island to see burrowing owls, but came up empty. We arrived in the middle of the afternoon and they were all hunkered in their burrows. By chance, two days later I was in Cape Coral, which is the other hotspot for these beautiful birds. I got up early and found my target.
Thanks for looking and indulging me. Back to New England for my next post.
I often receive photos of birds from readers, but it’s not often that I get poems about our New England birds. Cyndy Martell from Peterborough, N.H., sent in this tribute to American goldfinches, which have been plentiful in her yard this winter.
Winter Goldfinches Galore
(A Phenomenon One Cannot Ignore)
By Cyndy Martell
So many Goldfinches
Clutching the feeders
Is frustrating at best
To accurately calculate.
So many Goldfinches
Bouncing on branches
Of bushy trampolines
Ever ready to evacuate.
So many Goldfinches
Take flight impulsively
Crashing into windows
Sadly sealing their fate.
So many Goldfinches
Studied by Chickadees
Who sit and just wait
But are seldom irate.
So many Goldfinches
Not in summer gold
But in winter’s green
Singing in sweet debate.
As of Thursday morning, the forecast calls for some snow throughout New England. Will it be a fierce Nor’easter that will drop a foot or more of snow or a relatively calm storm with an inch or two? That much remains to be seen as different models are predicting different outcomes. Like always, we’ll wait and see. In the meantime, here are a few snowy bird photos as we await the storm.
Here are a few more winter bird photos to stave off that post-Christmas letdown …
Merry Christmas! With a few bonus cards.
Birds of New England.com 