On March 7th, we observed the first American Robins this year in Alba. A few days later we had sleet, so one wonders why they came back so soon. But then again they seem to survive just fine. Some winters we have actually had robins over winter in the swamp in Alba.
On March 16th, the Grackles returned. These are as large and nearly as noisy as Blue Jays. They were followed just one day later by the male Red-Winged Blackbird. In the last 10 years, these two species of birds have returned to our feeder either on the same day or one day ahead of or behind the other species. That cannot be coincidence.
On March 17th, instead of seeing Leprechauns, had a flock of Buzzards sighted in Canton. You always know that spring is here or is coming when the buzzards return.
By far the most interesting bird sighting this spring occurred on Friday, March 20th. We planned to go to Williamsport after tax day and breakfast. It snowed 3 inches and we got some reports of at least 3 vehicle accidents between Canton and Trout Run; thus it changed our plans. After another fine breakfast and Kelly’s Creek side Restaurant, we made some short shopping forays and returned home. At 1:30 p.m., Linda wondered what kind of bird was in the backyard in 3 inches of snow. It was easy to identify an American Woodcock. We had flushed some in the swamp in Alba, but never spotted one in our back yard.
I called Charlie Fox, our very first Pennsylvania Board of Commissioners member from Bradford County in their over 100 year history. He stated that he had a few other reported sightings of the American Woodcock over the years in backyards and so that settled that. Linda did get several nice photos if anyone is interested in seeing them.
Jim Collins is an outdoor writer for this newspaper. To contact him, email jimcollinsinsurance@frontiernet.net ; or write to him at Outdoors With Jim Collins, 87 Windfall Road, Alba, PA 16910.