Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Thoughts For Thursday. #17
Good morning on this sunny Thursday! It is a chilly, but nice morning, feeling a bit more like spring now even though the temperature was 28F (-2C) this morning. But it is up to the freezing, or melting, point now and it will warm up quite nicely today, though still be a bit below normal. Another storm is coming our way for the weekend, but no snow with it this time, just quite a bit of rain. That might help to soften this frozen snow again though, but more moisture is not really what we need right now.
Oh well, we get what we get. There is not much bird activity this morning. There are still a lot of juncos, and my chickadees and nuthatches are still here. There are only 6 blackbirds left, which is okay. They have spread out to their territories for nesting now. There are still 20 redpolls and 11 evening grosbeaks. Everything is so late this year that as the spring migration really gets started the birds will move through the area very fast this year.
Usually they will stay around for a week or two before moving on. This year it will likely only be a day or two for most birds. That makes it hard for me to get pictures of these returning migrants. Spring is the only chance to get photos of many birds, and it is the time they are most colorful too. When they come back through in the fall, their colors are much more subdued. I am going to miss the entire duck migration this year since I cannot get down to the river yet.
There are some ducks that stay here and nest along the river, but most just use the river in spring as a stopping spot before heading out to lakes for nesting. So there is only a short time to get photos of them. It is definitely a different spring this year. And one that makes it hard to get photos. The first warbler of the season was back this morning, the yellow-rumped warbler. They are always the first to arrive and last to leave in the fall, of the warbler family.
Unfortunately he was too far away for me to get a photo. They generally stay higher in the trees which makes it hard for photo opportunities with them. This is the latest date I have for them returning, usually they are back between April 10 to 15. Spring. I guess it is here now, but there is still so much snow to melt. It will be a while before I can walk to the river.
Coffee and Skamper were busy yesterday picking up peanuts. Skamper came to me, but Coffee was a bit nervous. Oddly, Pocket wasn’t around and he was the first chipmunk out this year. All photos today are blue jays from years past. Well, it is time to get my garbage out to the street for pickup. I hope you all have a beautiful day and God bless!
Steve and Muffin. (Praying for the people of Ukraine)
©2022 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 
Very good morning Uncle Steve, A bit fuzzy😅 yet it looks cute Betty😉 only 6 birds that’s very less, as you said, you get what you get. duck migration🤔 oh the group of duck pictures yes we miss this year☹️ Bernard looks new, is he new? 😅 it was fun with Chipmunks hope you enjoyed their daily activities, and you are safe during while keeping out the garbage 😉 have a good day❤️
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Yes, Bernard is a new blue jay, nice to have a new one around. I was hoping to get some better duck pictures this year, but it won’t happen, perhaps some other birds will come around so I can get their pictures.😁📷🐿️ Always keep positive! Yep, I am enjoying having the chipmunks back again! Have a good night Simon!😁😻🌙😴🌞☕☕🌺
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Bernard looks cute 🥰 perhaps by end of spring you may witness ducks 😉 let’s hope and stay pawsitive 😉😍 Good Night Uncle Steve ❤️
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There is always ducks at the river, but it’s the migratory ducks that just fly through going to other places that I will miss this year. Have to wait for next year now, but that’s the way it goes, weather is what it is!😁📷😴🌙😻
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It is what it is 😇Have a sweet Night 🥰
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Thank you! I’m off to sleep time right now!😁😴😴
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Great photos Steve ! Yes , we are to get three days of rain starting tomorrow…sleep well ! 🙂😻😴
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Thank you very much! The worst of the rain for us is coming tonight and tomorrow. Have a great day!😊😻☔
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