It looks like winter wants its full share this year, and we can’t blame it. The calendar says spring doesn’t start for another week and a half, so why should winter be cheated?
So we wait, but that doesn’t mean that nature does. On a nice walk at the Hanover Fireworks Area open space this morning, one could hear the sounds of spring. Red-winged Blackbirds and Fish Crows joined the chorus this morning, probably back from migration. Other species, like Black-capped Chickadees and Tufted Titmice, have been here all along, but have been relatively silent. Song Sparrows, too, have been here, but are now breaking out in full song, as are House Finches.
On the water – and there was some open water on Lily and Factory Ponds, which form from the Drinkwater River – there were migrants and overwinterers, like Common Mergansers, Buffleheads and Ring-necked Ducks, as well as some birds we will see here all year, like Mute Swans, Mallards and Canada Geese.
In short, the transition from winter to spring has begun, and let’s face it, after the extended cold we’ve had, things can only get warmer from here! It’s almost that time.