Summer in February
Mostly clear this morning with just a few clouds in the north and east, starting at 47. Action begins as early as 6:41, and by 7 AM I’ve already logged 13 species.
Song Before Seven
The Mallards are first today, a pair circling repeatedly around my head, wings whistling, thinking about splashing down in the confluence, thinking better of it, off around the back of the building, then finally down somewhere below the Pennsylvania Avenue bridge. A minute later, another pair follows. A Northern Cardinal begins to tick.
The Song Sparrow is back at it today after yesterday’s lapse. One starts up numerous times but doesn’t finish the song, just doing the first bars, then repeating. It sounds for all the world like certain antbirds I’ve heard in the tropics. Eventually, he gets it right, and sings for the rest of the dawn, later joined by another and then a third. Two in front beyond the VFW, and another to the right across the river.
The Black-capped Chickadee lets out an early ‘fee-bee’ at 6:44, joined by a Carolina Wren.
Already at 6:50, the first Canada Geese go over, then up go the Rock Pigeons, and the first House Finch calls. Tufted Titmouse, American Robin; finally, at 6:56, the junkyard raven croaks for the first time, a late riser. Wren and cardinal trill and tick, overlapping.
The Icterids go over later, and under a heavy smell of diesel, the Downy Woodpecker wakes at 7:17 past the hour. At twenty until eight, duetting Carolina Wrens on the far side of Bald Eagle Creek set up a racket: one down-trills while the the other ‘tut-tut-tuts.’
Turkey Vulture Sky
As predicted, the mercury eventually rises into the 70s in the shade. Keep in mind that the average high for this date is 35 and the average low is 17. I’m out again at 4:30 to see what the thermals kick up.
The male black willows appear to be in full bloom, though this is confusing to me at such an early date. Any plant experts out there to set me straight?
The sun’s already off the balcony, but the mountains are lit up and the sky is dotted with Turkey Vultures. They tilt this way and that, over 40 in all during the course of the hour, coming and going between ridges, and out of sight west and east.
A much more staid phalanx of Black Vultures shows up from the north at one point, hovering elegantly and then circling. They seem to hang out in groups of three.
More exotic raptors include February’s first American Kestrel circling over the towers for a brief minute, then the year’s first Red-shouldered Hawk (PH200 #64) doing the same. Both disappear back east. The Bald Eagle Mountain Red-tailed Hawk couple also make a lengthy appearance after a few days’ absence, touching wings with each other as they dive, soar, coast, and circle to the north of the towers.
Some 60 American Robins, the bulk of the returnee flock, look like they can’t handle the high winds, and they’re squeezed down into town north of me, close to the ground, scattering in various directions.
By 5:20 things have calmed down, and some 30 Common Grackles rush by directly overhead, practically brushing the rooftop. I can clearly see the color difference between the brownish females and purplish males. They’re getting closer…