Our early spring weather brought our birds back from their
winter quarters.
In answer to last week’s question, the first eastern
bluebirds were reported by David Donaldson, in Pakenham, March 19. That same
day, in Carleton Place,
Mike Jaques called to tell of a song sparrow in his garden.
The official first day of spring brought several migrants
back to Mississippi Mills. Kaija
Mountain was happy to
report some killdeer, an American woodcock, American robins, and a chipping
sparrow.
Kaija had two male red crossbills come to their feeder as
well. Then, two sand hill cranes flew over their property, which according to
her records are 10 days early.
In Pakenham Ward, Shaun McLaughlin and Amelia AhYou also had
one sand hill crane over their home, also 10-12 days early.
Many of us have had red-winged blackbirds back in our yards.
Gail Brown, who lives by Mississippi
Lake has had them since
March 15. In Almonte that day, Pat Matheson had four of them at her feeders,
with lots of American goldfinches.
A few winter species remain. Ray Sample still has a
dark-eyed junco, in Corkery area, and Jim Bendell, of Mississippi Mills, has
junco as well as American tree sparrows. A western species of junco, the Oregon junco has been at
Gloria Oppzoomers’ home in the Balderson area. Not common here in the east, it
has buffy rufous sides.
Harold Robinson, who lives just west of Clayton, has evening
grosbeaks coming regularly to his feeders, for the last three weeks. We had two
come to our feeders, March 22, but I was at the dentist!
Purple finches come frequently to our feeders, and the first
common grackle visited March 22.
Birding along Scotch Corners Road, March 18, Mike and Joyce
Jaques spotted some green-winged teal in a field pond.
Please call Lynda Bennett at 613-256-5013 or e-mail bennett@magma.ca
with reports.