All around us now are signs of spring. The Black Throated Sparrows have gone from a rowdy flock to pairs of lovers. One couple has taken to serenading me from the tree out front early every morning. The male has a surprisingly sweet and pretty song. I’m used to our English House Sparrows in the city who just chirp and twitter.
The morning chorus, in fact, is getting quite loud! The White Winged Doves mating coos have been joined by the Scaled Quails territorial announcements, as well as the sparrows bright, cheery songs. I can hear what sounds very much like our Eastern Meadowlark, although I haven’t laid eyes on the singer yet. The Loggerhead Shrike perched on the power line the other day and proved himself a surprisingly melodious singer as well.
We returned home one night this week to find a front door full of some sort of mayfly that is not listed in my little Audubon of the Southwest book. They are quite large and rather waspy looking, orange red with a long threadlike waist and one set of back swept wings. The porch light is attracting a good many moths of varying shapes, sizes, and colors. I watched the Phoebe having a great time swooping and gulping and snatching just as the sun rose this morning. There are only a few of the mayfly type insects left now – and the cats are hunting them, too!
For some reason the Black Tailed Jacks also seem more visible and active during the day now. We have one who lives near the house who is bigger than some dogs I’ve owned. I’d say his back probably comes to about my knees. It may just be that the goats are stirring him up more often, since with the nicer weather they are usually out to graze during the day.
This morning I watched three golden crowned kinglets feeding in the front yard. It is the first time I’ve seen them here.
A few days ago we saw a large flock of Black Vultures, circling over a hilltop in town. Although vultures are common year round in Oklahoma, we had not seen any vultures here since we arrived in November. We had about decided the Ravens were the full time clean-up crew. Black Vultures aren’t listed in my little book – but I’m discovering that useful as it is, it is far from a complete field guide. I see the Turkey Vultures (which are listed) migrate – so perhaps the Blacks do, as well, and are just passing through. Come to think of it – the Black Vulture I used to see around the Arkansas River was only there in the summer. At the time, I thought it was because the baby terns and other baby waterfowl were his main attraction.
As always, my Internet time is limited. I am working full-time now, which makes it even harder to get to the public computers, but it also means that hopefully before much longer we can have Internet at the ranch…
P.S. We saw our first Downy Woodpecker in the tree out front this morning before we left to come to town and hit the public computers. :)