What will brighten a dreary day?

Yellow Warbler, Charles River Peninsula, Needham, MA

Nothing like a Yellow Warbler to brighten a dreary day.

Bobolink, Charles River Peninsula, Needham, MA

Nothing like a Bobolink to brighten a dreary day.

Bobolinks, Charles River Peninsula, Needham, MA

Nothing like a flock of Bobolinks singing all at once to brighten a dreary day.

Nothing like apple blossoms and a singing Baltimore Oriole (Oriole A/B) to brighten a dreary day.

Apple Blossom Time

Song Sparrow on Apple Blossoms

It's apple blossom time. The best time of the year, according to Arthur Cleveland Bent.

Baltimore Oriole on Apple Blossoms

It's the day the Baltimore Orioles arrive in full force. 

Baltimore Oriole on Apple Blossoms

Competing for territory and sharing their songs.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Charles River Peninsula, Needham, MA

Amidst the songs of grosbeaks

Bobolink, Charles River Peninsula, Needham, MA

and Bobolinks.

Warbler Day

Ovenbird, Marblehead Neck Sanctuary, Marblehead, MA

I can tell it is going to be a good warbler day when I leave the house and immediately hear a black-throated blue in the neighbor's tree. Up to Salem for a meeting, I take a slight detour to Marblehead Neck. It doesn't take long to get my allotment of warbler action: parula, chestnut-sided, black-throated blue, black-throated green, ovenbird (everywhere, strutting like tiny chickens), Canada (a little early?), northern waterthrush (also everywhere, singing loudly). And who was this guy, suddenly appearing trailside?

Kentucky Warbler, Marblehead Neck

That would appear to be a Kentucky Warbler. The cause of some general excitement.

Kentucky Warbler, Marblehead Neck

Such a gorgeous bird. And a nonchalant bird as well. Hardly noticed all the camera clicks.

Kentucky Warbler, Marblehead Neck

And came so close it practically hopped on my toes.

Below is the video version (you'll see two of the photos above being taken). As I was shooting, it came closer and closer until it came so close I had trouble finding it in the viewfinder.

Bluebirds! Season 4. Episode 6. A new enemy emerges.

The boldest Tree Swallow

This is no longer shocking, perhaps, but a third swallow was murdered--this time in Box 6. The House Sparrow is not just a murderer but a serial killer.

House Sparrow on box

Except, in a shocking twist, it turns out there is not just a single murderer, but two. Two brother House Sparrows (they are known associates) out for blood. Perhaps a trap is in order. Meanwhile, swallows continue to tempt fate at Box 5.

Tree Swallows

 And the former owner of Box 6 has already hooked up with a new partner (a young, first year female, from the brown plumage). But doesn't dare enter the box when the sparrow is around.

Tree Swallows

There is a third legit bluebird nest, a little too close for comfort to another one, but so far I haven't seen any direct conflict. Except with tree swallows (who took over the nest for a time). 

Eastern Bluebird

So while the swallows continue to experience turmoil, the bluebirds have been cruising right along. One nest with 5 eggs, another with 4. Until today. A fifth egg, not like the others.

Eastern Bluebird nest

COWBIRD!

Brown-headed Cowbird female

Unlike House Sparrows, whose eggs may be (and will be) addled with impunity, cowbirds are native birds and are generally protected. So we'll have to watch nature take its course with this one....

How do Blue-gray Gnatcatchers deal with cowbirds? As follows (a female red-winged blackbird is acting as proxy. She was just minding her own business collecting nesting material when this happened). 

And what is happening, you ask, in the Bluebirds! spin-off, "Special Ridge Hill Unit"?

Another lid has fallen off

Never mind. I think this one is on the verge of cancellation. The bluebirds were interested in two boxes. The first ended up full of hornets; the second lost its top. And House Sparrows, previously unknown in Ridge Hill, have miraculously appeared and started nests in at least two boxes. Ugh.

May 3! The vigil is over.

American Kestrel, Charles River Peninsula, Needham, MA

No more whining about a slow spring. The birds came back overnight and the soundscape at Charles River Peninsula is glorious again. I heard the warbling vireos first.

Warbling Vireo, Charles River Peninsula, Needham, MA

Then I knew things were on fire. Baltimore Orioles, Orchard Orioles, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks,

Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Charles River Peninsula, Needham, MA

all singing and in many cases already in direct conflict with competitors. On the warbler front: Common Yellowthroat joined Yellow Warbler at CRP; at Ridge Hill we also had Black and White, Yellow-rumped, and Black-throated Green. (And loudly singing Winter Wren).

May 2. Now with Migration!

Black-capped Chickadee nest, Charles River Peninsula, Needham, MA

Now that's more like it. The season's first Yellow Warbler. A nice migratory flock of Savannah Sparrows out in the meadow.

Savannah Sparrow, Charles River Peninsula, Needham, MA

And a whole bunch of Palm Warblers hopping around the understory.

Palm Warbler, Charles River Peninsula, Needham, MA

I trust we'll have some more arrivals tomorrow morning. (How 'bout it orioles?)

No nesting box news. The weather has been so cold and rainy that activity seems to have been put on hold. Still at one tree swallow egg, nine bluebird eggs. The respective bluebird mothers seem to have put in some extra effort during the cold spell. Oh, and a chickadee nest (no eggs yet).

Meanwhile, at Ridge Hill, the Great Blue Heron nest is done and is in use. Mother Heron is now on nest, apparently incubating eggs.

Heron just barely visible at top of nest

And around 11 a.m., I heard a Barred Owl duet. Found this one in the woods along the easement. 

Barred Owl, Ridge Hill Reservation, Needham, MA

Things are a little slow at Ridge Hill as well this year, though both the Chipping Sparrows and the Pine Warblers are at full trilling strength now. Had the year's first taste of Gray Treefrog and Winter Wren song this morning. I expect the Ovenbirds to return this weekend.

May 1!

Snowy Egrets huddle on edges of Old Creek Marsh waiting for the tide to go out.

It is the first of May, right? I'm thinking things are going to be very slow this spring. Or everyone will come all at once tomorrow. For now, I'm happy to see the egrets on Old Creek Marsh (not far my office at Salem State)

Black-crowned Night Heron, Marblehead Neck, Marblehead, MA

and the sleepy night heron at Marblehead Neck. Even if there aren't any warblers there yet. Not one.

Eastern Bluebird and Eastern Kingbird, Charles River Peninsula, Needham, MA

Meanwhile, back in Needham, the kingbird has decided to stick around, while Mother Bluebird keeps a watchful eye. (They were jostling for the best fly-catching launch points).

Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Charles River Peninsula, Needham, MA

And gnatcatchers are everywhere. Is this some sort of gnatcatcher irruption year? Or with nothing else to distract us, do they get to be the center of attention for once? Not that I mind. These are fairy birds and they seem to have already discovered a perfect nesting spot.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Charles River Peninsula, Needham, MA

That would appear to be nesting material. They seem rather excited about the location.

[UPDATE: Here's the nest from a different angle.]

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher nest