Red-winged Blackbirds are among the first migrants to arrive in the spring. Several arrived here at the farm on March 7, a little earlier than last year; maybe the full moon had something to do with it.
Other early migrants include shore birds. Figuring it would be a good time to see a variety of ducks and shore birds, we spent a Wednesday morning on a bird walk sponsored by the Joppa Flats Education Center in Newburyport. Our first stop was a field where we saw several Glossy Ibis, and, incredibly—as they are so well-camouflaged—about six snipe.
In one of the salt pans in the Parker River Wildlife Refuge we saw five different ducks, all in breeding plumage. Close to where we were standing was a pair of Long-tailed Ducks in courtship display. Farther out in the pond were Buffleheads, Gadwalls, and Green-winged Teals. Close to the far shore of the pond someone noticed a pair of ducks with really large bills, and as we looked at them through the scope, we confirmed that they were shovelers. Also on the far bank was a lone Greater Yellowleg, taking a break on its long trek to its breeding grounds in the muskeg bogs of the northern boreal forest.
Continuing down the refuge, we saw several phoebes, a Northern Harrier floating over the marsh, and an American Kestral. A few Great Egrets had just returned, and we must have seen at least 12 Great Blue Herons. In the ocean off the southern end of the refuge we saw more Long-tailed Ducks, a Pied Grebe, a Common Loon, and some Red-breasted Mergansers.
Some of the birds we saw that day will stay around and nest, and others were just passing through on the way to their summer nesting grounds.
Back at home a pair of Hooded Mergansers visited on the day a small patch of water appeared on our otherwise frozen pond. These wonderfully patterned ducks are annual visitors, staying a week or so before they continue north to their breeding grounds. That same day a pair of Wood Ducks arrived. Unlike the mergansers, these cavity-nesting ducks usually stay around. For the past month I have since seen them flying around, sometimes alighting in our magnificent Sycamore where they have, in the past, nested. On the same day that the mergansers arrived, we had more than 20 Common Redpolls at our feeders. These small finches are occasional winter visitors, staying mainly north of us in the winter but suddenly appearing in "irruptions" in our area if food sources are scarce farther north. Redpolls summer in the far north, where they nest.
Robins, those harbingers of spring, have been appearing in flocks of 40 to 50, feeding in the fields and gleaning what berries are left on our trees and shrubs. This is one bird that forages on lawns for grubs and worms. They are very susceptible to chemicals applied to lawns and fields in a misguided effort to control weeds and bugs.
The White-throated Sparrow and Song Sparrow are back foraging on the ground beneath the feeders for spilled seed. The diminutive Chipping Sparrow is also back. The song of the Song Sparrow says spring has arrived, to me.
I saw a Red-shouldered Hawk alight on a tree not 30 feet from my office window. This gave me great opportunity to study its breeding plumage. The red shoulders and chest have been obvious to me, and this day I could see crisp white markings on its wings, which I have never noticed before. Since then I have seen the hawks flying over our fields with nesting materials, headed towards the tall pines across the street, where they nest.
As I write this, I am watching a bunch of crows harassing a Red-tailed Hawk over our pastures. He eluded the crows when he dived into the woods. Yesterday I saw a pair of ravens in the oak in the middle of our pasture. I was surprised, because I hadn't seen them in Harvard before. One of Harvard's other birders, Pat White, recorded a nesting pair of ravens last year. Maybe this pair will hang around.
About the time I notice the Red-winged Blackbirds returning, I go around and clean out the nest boxes around the farm. I have about 20 boxes used by bluebirds, Tree Swallows, wrens, House Sparrows, and other cavity-nesters. It is important to clean out old nests as they may harbor disease or parasites. Several of the boxes usually have White-footed Field Mice who have taken up residence over the winter—I turf them out, as there are plenty of other places for them to build a home.
Tree Swallows arrived April 9, within one day of last year. One lone Barn Swallow arrived April 20 to check out the barn in advance of the six-to-eight pairs we normally have nesting.
David Durrant lives with his wife, Pamela, on East Bare Hill Road at Micheldever Farm, where they watch birds—their own peacocks, chickens, and wild birds.