What else, but S-p-r-i-n-g ! !

Mid-week we passed the vernal equinox.
All week we had warmer than normal temperatures in Connecticut (70's).
Last week the Eastern Phoebes returned in great numbers - hooray!
The evening chorusing of Spring peepers is hard to miss.
Jupiter, Venus, Mars and Sirius are all shining brightly in a stretch of clear moonless nights.

And we have another two-week bird list to report. But, weekly listing will begin soon, as more and more migrants pass through our greening hilltop at West Campus.

Bird list for the two week period from March 12th through 23rd, 2012:

White-breasted Nuthatch
Tufted Titmouse
Black-capped Chickadee
4. Carolina Wren

Eastern Phoebe
House Finch
7. American Goldfinch

American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
Cedar Waxwing
European Starling
12. House Sparrow

Northern Cardinal
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
16. Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
19. Brown-headed Cowbird

Mourning Dove
Rock Pigeon
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
24. Northern Flicker

Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
28. Northern Raven

Turkey Vulture
Red-tailed Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
32. Osprey

Killdeer
Great Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Canada Goose
38. Wild Turkey


West Campus Coyote, Canis latrans, photo L.Jones

Of course we always have an eye open for other denizens of our hilltop and stream valley. This pale coyote still sports its winter coat and has lost a few pounds during the lean season. And Lynn points out that it has lost something else as well...

Submissions to the bird list for the past two weeks have come from Tom Parlapiano's 3rd grade field trip, from Nate (his excellent sighting of the Sharp-shinned Hawk in the courtyard), mostly from Lynn Jones and a few additions from yours truly.

--have a good weekend, and I probably don't have to tell YOU to get out and enjoy these days!
Sue Hochgraf