We finally had one day in late April when the wind swung around and blew from the south. It brought a rush of spring migrants who have been torn between the throbbing need to push north and the bitter reality of cold winds and scarce food. In fact, a few migrants inched across the border a bit earlier than I expect them, making for a very pleasing ramble through a nearby woodlot.
Another Step Closer to Spring: When Golden-crowned Kinglets Depart and Ruby-Crowned Kinglets Arrive
In the fall, one of the last Kinglets to leave are the Golden-crowned. And in the spring, they are the first to come back, braving snow and winds and supplementing their insect diet with small fruit like Dogwood berries.
The Ruby-crowned Kinglets arrive later in spring and leave earlier in the autumn. Both Kinglets dart and dive and hover and leap through the tree tops and twiggy thickets. Luckily their calls are quite different.
And I tend to look for their eyes: Golden-crowned’s have an angry line through their eyes making them look annoyed, and Ruby-crowned’s have a circle around their eyes. That’s helpful because their colourful crowns are not always on display, like in this picture. (I’ve noticed that If I stare long enough in bewilderment, they usually flash their crown at me as if taking pity on a peasant.)
An Unexpected Bonus: a Black-and-White Warbler Poses
While taking photos of a flock of Ruby-crowned Kinglets, I saw a bird fly in beside me. I was expecting one of the resident nuthatches so I was shocked to focus on a Black-and-White Warbler. They usually arrive a bit later than this.
It hunted busily through the brush and trees, posing briefly here and there.
A Solitary Blue-headed Vireo Joins the Flock
(Birders will notice the cunning way I used both the old and new name for this bird in the heading. I won’t admit that I can’t remember which name it is currently sporting so I used both.)
I spotted this Vireo when I noticed one of the “Kinglets” was doing the sit, look, then fly approach to hunting. For some reason the very white “spectacles” on these Vireos always appeals to me, so i started watching it.
I saw it catch something then bash it repeatedly against a branch before eating it. So I tried to get a photo of what it was eating.
When I saw it’s next dive, I was able to confirm it was after Bees. Although warmer than earlier this month, it was still only 11 C. The Bee had been basking on a branch trying to warm up. Unfortunately, the wily Vireo had spotted it.
They are really quite pretty bids. The white chest is quite noticeable from a distance, and the yellow sides flash a welcome splash of colour as they move. The head looks grey here but can be quite a steely blue in the sunshine.
Let’s Hear It for Canada or Peabody
I heard a White-throated Sparrow singing “Oh Sweet Canada” or “Oh Sweet Peabody” or whatever words you try to force onto a bird’s lyrics. The White-throated Sparrow was up in a tree but then it returned to the leaf litter to continue hunting for food.
Pine Warbler Passes Through Hickory and Oaks
A second Warbler was another delight. At first, I thought I was seeing an early Yellow Warbler but this bright male had no red streaks on its chest. Then it moved and I saw the white wing bars of a Pine Warbler.
Pine Warblers are one of the first kinds to come back each spring, so it was not unexpected. The surprise came from seeing it in a small woodlot filled with Shagbark Hickory and Oaks. There are only 3 mostly dead ‘adult’ pine trees in the lot, although Oakville has planted at least 25 tiny pines that make Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree look lush and tall.
So I won’t expect this male Pine Warbler to stick around long. Perhaps it will move on to the Riverwood Conservancy or 16-mile Creek. Pines nest in both those locations–where there are lots of Pines!
Heading for Home
Just like me, this Great Blue Heron was only passing through Winston Woods not stopping to stay. It took the high road home and I took the low road. I suspect it got there before me.
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Do you feel a lift of spirts when signs of spring finally burst into a flurry of wings? Please share your views with a comment.