Birds, birds birds, migration mania and warbler mania are all squeezed into May. I am enjoying it all. A few images grabbed on the go while co-leading the mother's day bird walk at Walden Pond State Reservation. The Scarlet Tanager was in trees over the parking lot and the oriole nest was near the visitor's enter. Orioles were everywhere and we located another nest being built. I was able to grab the photos then show them to others on the walk. Get out there in May, for in June the migrants will be gone to their breeding areas, then you can enjoy your local breeders.
I got my wish! Yesterday I hoped the male Evening Grosbeak would show up today (two females showed up yesterday) and magically this morning there he was! Don't you love it when that happens? He is the FOS (first of season) male to arrive here!
Happy Day, FOS (first of season) Rose-breasted Grosbeaks showed up today, two females!! I will be looking for the males tomorrow. The male has been described as wearing a tuxedo with a red tie (sometimes it looks like a red heart, the males' red patch varies enabling you to individually identify them), the female's white eyebrow helps identify her. Both male and female sing (their song sounds like a robin in a hurry) and both give a call note that sounds like a sneaker squeak on the gym floor! Listen for it.
House Finch, male looks similar to Purple Finch, male
I'm excited that it's getting really finchy here in eastern MA! Finally, Purple Finches are coming through, had two males yesterday, a female the day before and a male and female today, plus Pine Siskin yesterday. The last photo is a male House Finch. Notice the difference with the male Purple Finch who is suffused all over with a more raspberry red and has little flank streaking, whereas the male House Finch has red on head, breast and rump, heavily streaked flanks and a shorter more curved bill. We have a special section in the new The Stokes Guide to Finches of the United States and Canada (pub. Sept. 17, 2024, available for preorder now on amazon and more) on telling the confusing red finches apart.
"Severe" (fill in the blank; tornadoes, snow, wind, sleet, rain, flooding) seems to be the new norm as much of the eastern part of the country is under weather threats today and tomorrow.
Stay safe, hunker down and fill feeders beforehand.