Spring is Sprung

Happy Earth Day folks, let us hope that the hype that seems to have been attracted to it this year has some effect year long. Even if only at a state level, things seems to be changing here… lets hope so (however if the article in the Washington Post today is accurate, Karl Rove, the Presidents trusted (if tarnished) ‘advisor’ remain staunchly uninformed about global warming…)

This weekend the weather has been glorious. Yesterday Rob lead the first of two bird walks at Riverbend Park, ably assisted and encouraged by Chrystal. The migrants haven’t quite gotten over the cold weather but they have started to arrived and this morning we were watching Chrystal’s absolute favo(u)rite the Black & White Warbler at Monticello Park

We are both studying at present (Chrystal on Accounting and Business, me on, well, birds!) and this afternoon I had the not inconsiderable pleasure of ‘studying’ on our (nicely shaded) deck.

Along with learning about the detailed working of birds’ inner ear, I shared the afternoon with our local Downy Woodpecker (feeding about 8 feet away). This guy is about the size of a house sparrow, but disarmingly trusting of me sitting in our deck furniture with a G&T.

The Goldfinch’s have been feeding on the Thistle seed down below and the Northern Mockingbird followed the woodpecker to the suet block.

Talking of Gold, commiserations to our boys at Watford (aka the “Golden Boys”), and us the fans, after they failed to stay in the Premiership for next season, having managed only a draw with Manchester City at Vicarage Road yesterday.

For those that don't follow UK football (shame on you !), 'Our team', have been in the top flight of English Soccer this last winter season, but have struggled and will play in the 2nd tier next season (at least the arch-rival team - Luton - just got relegated to the third tier)