New bird(s) at the Aerie

Spring must finally be arriving as more species of birds are appearing.

I walked out on the deck this morning and noted a bright red flash in one of the birch trees on the other side of the power line right of way. Getting out the binoculars, I was pleased to see a most handsome fellow, a yellow-bellied sapsucker. (Here and here.) It worked up and down the birch for a bit and then disappeared back into the woods.

This is another first for the year here at the Aerie.

A bit more than a week ago, just before last weekend's snow storm, we had a small flock of brown-headed cowbirds(first mentioned on this list), but I forgot to post links to information pages. (See here and here for information about the brown-headed cowbird.) It doesn't surprise me that these brood parasites should be around here as there are may dairy and cattle farms in the valley below. Heck, we even have a couple of buffalo farms on the other side of the valley.

I expect to begin seeing some of the warblers and song birds in the next two weeks as these birds will appear with the bursting buds and flowering of the trees. The 60 and 70 degree temperatures we are forecast to have this week should bring both events.