January 30, 2006 [LINK]
Spring preview; Catbird again
It was a beautiful, sunny, mild morning, so I went for a walk behind the Staunton-Augusta Rescue Squad. The forsythia bushes are already sprouting some yellow flowers, and songs of Chickadees, Song sparrows, and White-rumped sparrows filled the air, more hopeful signs of spring. I was glad to spot that noncomformist "rugged individual" Gray catbird foraging in the tree vines once again; I may have seen a second one, but couldn't be sure. Other birds seen:
- Downy woodpecker (F)
- Purple finches (M, F)
- Golden-crowned kinglet
- Yellow-rumped warbler
- Cedar waxwings (5+)
- Cooper's hawk (imm.)
- E. towhee (JM)
- Goldfinches
In Montgomery Hall Park two weekends ago, I saw a reclusive Hermit thrush, plus a Golden-crowned kinglet, Downy woodpecker, Hairy woodpeckers, and White-breasted nuthatches.