First signs of Spring 2015 (1 Viewer)

[pianoman]

Finally seeing my first swallows, must have just missed them over the last week. The first arrivals always seem to hug the east coast and travel purposefully northward.

 

[crazyfingers]

For the record, the last of the snow in my yard melted away at 2:20pm EDT today.

Then and now photos

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Most of the summer visitors have now arrived. I've had my earliest ever breeding site records for Tree Pipit, Pied Flycatcher and Redstart!!

CB

 

[Jon Turner]

Holly Blue and Orange Tip in the last couple of days.

 

[Swindon Addick]

My first house martins of the year, yesterday.

 

[nartreb]

Along with the first coltsfoot blooming the day before yesterday, and the maples and willows, I've been watching hawks around my backyard gathering nesting materials. At first I was uncertain as to their species - one day I'd be sure they were red-shouldered, the next they looked much more like broad-winged. Finally I saw one of each side by side, both calling to mates in other trees, and realized I've got two nesting pairs! A minute after that I looked up and saw two more buteos (presumed red-tails) high overhead, and an accipeter passing through.

Haven't seen a junco in a little while, either.

 

[larksong]

I now see European starlings back in breeding plumage! Mourning doves and robins are making nests and laying eggs. Purple finches are back to my feeder, and yellow shafted northern flickers are back!

 

[nartreb]

Saw a scarlet tanager today, that's pretty early according to e-bird. It was hanging out with a pair of northern cardinals, maybe it was confused?

poor-quality photos

Also brown-headed cowbirds, ruby-crowned kinglet, chipping sparrow.

Haven't seen a junco in at least a week.

Haven't yet seen any female red-winged blackbirds.

 

[Bird_Bill]

Seen the first Eastern Kingbird this past Wednesday (22, April)
Believe that's one of the wolf spider species it has.
Bird forecast by ebird seems to get more accurate with each years experience

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Despite many migrants arriving early I had my first Lesser Whitethroat on my patch before my first Whitethroat.

CB

 

[Euan Buchan]

Filmed lots of Swallows today near my house wasn't expecting it was amazing. https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=Xkqc-GxNkJg

 

[Boro Birder]

Had my first Swallows and Sand martins on Tuesday, Coots with 2 chicks, 2 Buzzards on c/3 eggs, Tawny Owls with 2 young and 1 unhatched egg, Robins fledged, Magpies on c/6 2 Bluetits on eggs, didn't flush her because temperature was droppiing, Barn Owls c/5 and 5 Lapwings on c/4, plus Mallard with 9 young. All done whilst recording nests for the BTO, NRS (British Trust for Ornithology,Nest Record Scheme)

Damian

 

[Jeff Hopkins]

First catbird, wood thrush, and nighthawk today. Still precious few warblers, tho.

 

[ovenbird43]

First long-distance migrant today - Chimney Swifts!

 

[crazyfingers]

What else needs saying?

 

[crazyfingers]

Happy toad.

 

[bryan641]

Ruby-throated hummingbird came by my feeder today. (NE Ohio)

 

[Bird_Bill]

Thursday & Friday past were very busy. Chimney Swifts, Baltimore Orioles, Ruby-throated Hummers, assorted Parulidae warblers. Biggest thrill wasn't a migrant. Finally catching a glimpse of a rumored Red headed woodpecker at the local patch. Been long absent that has hopefully changed. Little male below was here Friday & Saturday.

 

[JTweedie]

I saw swift, whitethroat and sedge warbler today. Lots of orange-tip butterflies too.

 

[crazyfingers]

First Gray Catbirds of the season. Until this morning I had seen none. This morning I saw them both in my yard and down the road at the frog pond.