Before the 18th: second week of April…
In the first week of the month, spring temperatures toyed with our expectations, starting high, then falling then rising again.
In the second week, however, temps dipped before rising dramatically after the 12th….
Still, for the beginning of April, these conditions felt more or less normal, and I went about, as in previous years, surveying the ponds and brooks and marshes on my beat, looking for ducks that had been more or less ‘away’ all winter.
Ducks are fine, of course, but spring is much more about migratory passerines, especially as warblers and goldfinches add fresh colour among permanent residents still in their winter plumage. I must admit, however, that there were fewer House Finches and warblers than I expected. In fact, the population patterns I’d come to expect over six previous seasons seemed ‘off’ for spring, summer, and fall.
For all that, it seems there’s always an abundance of blackbirds, including, by mid-April females popping up one or two at a time, prompting great excitement among the brightly coloured males in the marshes. We can even begin wondering when the Yellowheadeds will make it back….
One of our favourite spots to visit as early in spring as we think the birds will be back is White Lake Grasslands Park, northwest of Oliver, BC. It’s a great spot for early bluebirds, both Westerns and Mountains, Western Meadowlarks, and Say’s Phoebes. As well, there’s often a chance to see some raptors, even a Golden Eagle if we’re really lucky. And if the birds are uncooperative, perhaps we can inspect some spring flowers.
For enlarged images, click on any one in the gallery.
For April ~ Part 4, click here.
birds & musings 