Update from the Swamp!

This is most exciting... since my last post, 11 days ago, the male Bufflehead duck has been spotted everyday, with his mate. She arrived about three days later than he and they spend their days diving and swimming. These striking, diminutive ducks are a joy to watch, as are the pair of wood ducks that often swim nearby. The resident mallards are still peaceful, not interfering with these small newcomers.

As if this wasn't enough ornithological news, Monday brought the arrival of a flock of yellow-rumped warblers. These tiny, grayish and yellow birds have a swooping, darting flight pattern as they eat insects "on the fly," from dawn to dusk. This is a first in our area, although my research tells me that this is part of their breeding territory. Robins, Baltimore Orioles, Red-winged blackbirds, Catbirds, Mockingbirds (other than the one that stayed all winter) and Goldfinches are among the other migratory specimens I've observed, lately. Year 'round and migratory birds join in a nearly deafening daily concert of courtship. Tree frogs chirping, by day, and the nightly spring peeper lullabies round out the sounds of spring.

I am without camera or pictures, but to my mind, Roger Tory Peterson's Field Guide to Birds of Eastern and Central North America is a must-have reference that any bird-watcher should own...you'll find all of my backyard favorites! No nature hike is complete without his field guides to wildflowers, shrubs and trees. Peterson Field Guides to birds' nests, butterflies, animal tracks, reptiles, mammals, insects, edible wild plants, shells, rocks and minerals, animal tracks and ferns are also great references for any suburban naturalist's bookshelf.

After a cold, rainy start to the spring, it's wonderful to see and hear the swamp and backyard teeming with life! With the sun on my back, the breeze cooling my brow, gardening to the sights, sounds and smells of a New England spring - it really doesn't get much better than this! Work in the garden, hike in the woods, comb the beaches... remain open to the experience of spring - make it a family affair!

Deb Lambert ©2007

Competition for the Mallards...

This morning, the arrival of unusual visitors to our large backyard swamp has the resident mallards all in a tizzy! One beautiful little black and white male bufflehead duck, was spotted this morning, as I fed the songbirds. Later, spying upon him from the house, through binoculars, a male wood duck and his mate swam across my field of vision. What a serendipitous find! The mallards are not chasing these interlopers, but have clearly had their feathers ruffled a bit. They have been maintaining a high visibility, mustering a show of solidarity all day, despite the constant rain.

Well, maybe this rain is putting a crimp in spring gardening plans, but I do enjoy the promise of spring. Sitting at the mighty controls of the computer, away from the wet and cold of "spring," I'm delighted to learn that the natural world around us is still responding to the rhythms of the seasons. Each night, one or two new voices join the chorus of spring peepers - not exactly a symphony yet, but a hopeful sign, nonetheless.

We have been promised a delightful spring weekend... time will tell, but I am running a little thin on enthusiasm, just now. Much more water and my swamp runneth over! How is spring in your neck of the woods? Post a comment regarding your spring gardening misadventures and backyard wildlife stories.

Deb Lambert ©2007