I started writing this post to coincide with setting the clocks forward, and now it’s taken me over another week to get back to it. But when considering all the photographs were taken a year and a month ago – on April 19th, 2020, to be exact – and I never got a chance to finish processing them until now, it’s taken even longer! I hope it’s kind of a sneak preview of what to expect in the coming days and weeks as spring unfolds at the Portage.
One of my first encounters was a pair of Downy Woodpeckers exhibiting their exuberant version of courtship behavior. At first I thought they were arguing! I have never witnessed this before so I’m glad I was able to capture it. If you click on the right panel and keep going you can see the sequence.
It appears I had way too many photographs from this excursion which might explain why I never managed to post them. Still it’s nice to revisit them, like the female Northern Cardinal below.
Below, often the first warbler to visit, a Myrtle Yellow-Rumped Warbler.
Surprised to find this photograph in the mix – likely my first sighting of an Eastern Bluebird last year.
An Eastern Phoebe, dreaming of flying insects, perhaps.
Another Downy Woodpecker.
Song Sparrows…
Red-winged Blackbirds…
I don’t think there’s enough water on site anymore to attract herons, but there is plenty nearby so I should still see them flying over on occasion.
A Northern Flicker showing just a little of its golden shafts.
There were two Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers on this tree and one flew away.
A Black-capped Chickadee showing off.
Red-tailed Hawk
White-breasted Nuthatch
An assortment of early fungus, moss and flora.
Here’s a Golden-Crowned Kinglet – unfortunately the lighting didn’t do its colors justice.
This Brown-headed Cowbird was foraging on the ground.
Canada Geese and the clouds…
Chipping Sparrow
Robins often seem like they want to engage in a conversation.
A Wood Duck drake in a tree. I remember trying to get this shot after I saw him land, with a lot of branches between us.
Mallards…
Blue-winged Teal…
So the Portage will still be slowly coming to life, but we’re warming up, the days are getting longer and migration has begun. Springing forward with hope.
Great shots, as always. Love the Warbler.
Thanks, Jason! I know it’s hard to believe we will be seeing warblers soon but I sure hope it’s a good year for them. 🙂
That seemed like quite a lively place already. I liked your good use of the WP image block to show the woodpecker courtship sequence.
It’s hard to believe I could be seeing all these birds again in just a few weeks. I was fortunate to have the right pictures for that image block, or vice versa!