Brollybirding

Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis

Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis with Yellow-Rumped Warbler Setophaga coronata

Yellow-Rumped Warbler Setophaga coronata

Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia

(with nesting material)

White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis

Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina

Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos

Eastern Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis

The Rain Tree

NDG, May 2, 2026

-Spring migration continues, as is tradition

-Steady rain in the early morn, 4 degrees then warming, cozygloomy

-21 species in 1hr 45min

-Birding with an umbrella is surprisingly easy, after some physical humour false starts – it’s all about balance

-A pair of Eastern Bluebirds was nice to see in the rain, my second (third?) record of this species at the site

-A respectable trickle of Yellow-rumped Warblers on the way in, high single digits

-Three dozen Chipping Sparrows, vocal and bold

-Song Sparrows building nests and acting territorial in several spots

-Several White-throated Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos about

-Ruby-crowned Kinglets on the edges

-A few Northern Flickers, but numbers are down

-Cooper’s Hawk and House Finch on the way out

NDG, May 5

-First-of-year Chimney Swift down by the tracks (last year's personal FOY CHSW was on May 6)