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--=====================_3214500==.ALT Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed This morning I went for a walk around the Frog Pond in Fleming Park, Jollimore, HRM. Although the sun was bright the strong wind was cold, and I was glad that I had a warm sweater under the goretex, and fleece gloves. It did not feel at all as it should on the Victoria Day weekend! It seemed rather quiet at first, and I wondered if the birds were there, but not active because of the wind, or in fact still absent. When I reached the stream which flows out of the pond and downhill towards the Dingle, I heard some birds in the distance, in the sheltered glen below, so I turned down the Crossland Ice Trail. I was glad I did, because I soon found a lively flock of warblers: Black-and-white, Yellow-rumped, Northern Parula, and Blackpoll. I also found a Red-eyed Vireo, which seemed early. I spent several hours in the park, often straying off the path in order to track down a song. I found flocks or individuals of these four warbler species in many places around the pond. Early on I thought I heard the buzzy song of a Black-throated Blue Warbler, but it didn't sing again and I decided I must have been mistaken. Several hours later Hans Toom and Laura Elliott came by as I was sitting on a bench and writing my notes. Hans told me that they had seen a Black-throated Blue in just the place where I had thought I'd heard one.! So I backtracked and it was worth the detour: I had long looks at a lovely blue male, and at one point it was in the same binocular view as a singing Parula. (Thanks, Laura and Hans!) The birds became more active, like the black flies, as the day warmed up. In the early afternoon I found a brilliant male Blackburnian Warbler, which paused briefly in some young growth only five feet from me, at eye level. Just stunning to watch him sing, so close. Two Tree Swallows and two Chimney Swifts circled high up over the pond for a while; I often see these species here in the spring. Here's a list of some of what I saw and/or heard: American Black Duck 2 families with ducklings {one family apparently had a Black Duck mother, Mallard father) Chimney Swift 2 First I have seen this year Belted Kingfisher 1 Northern Flicker 2 Blue-headed Vireo 1, rather quiet First I have seen this year. Red-eyed Vireo 1, rather quiet First I have seen this year. Tree Swallow 2 Red-breasted Nuthatch 2, tending a nest Northern Parula 10-12, singing Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 m, singing First I have seen this year. Yellow-rumped Warbler 20 + , singing Blackburnian Warbler 1 m, singing First I have seen this year. Blackpoll Warbler 18+, singing First I have seen this year. Black-and-white Warbler 14+, singing First I have seen this year. The other usual birds were present, with Blue Jays, Black-capped Chickadees, Grackles, Juncos, Song Sparrows, and White-throated Sparrows all singing at times. Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers were noisy in announcing their presence. Patricia L. Chalmers Halifax --=====================_3214500==.ALT Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <html> <body> <x-tab> </x-tab>This morning I went for a walk around the Frog Pond in Fleming Park, Jollimore, HRM. Although the sun was bright the strong wind was cold, and I was glad that I had a warm sweater under the goretex, and fleece gloves. It did not feel at all as it should on the Victoria Day weekend! <br><br> <x-tab> </x-tab>It seemed rather quiet at first, and I wondered if the birds were there, but not active because of the wind, or in fact still absent. When I reached the stream which flows out of the pond and downhill towards the Dingle, I heard some birds in the distance, in the sheltered glen below, so I turned down the Crossland Ice Trail. I was glad I did, because I soon found a lively flock of warblers: Black-and-white, Yellow-rumped, Northern Parula, and Blackpoll. I also found a Red-eyed Vireo, which seemed early. I spent several hours in the park, often straying off the path in order to track down a song. I found flocks or individuals of these four warbler species in many places around the pond. Early on I thought I heard the buzzy song of a Black-throated Blue Warbler, but it didn't sing again and I decided I must have been mistaken. Several hours later Hans Toom and Laura Elliott came by as I was sitting on a bench and writing my notes. Hans told me that they had seen a Black-throated Blue in just the place where I had thought I'd heard one.! So I backtracked and it was worth the detour: I had long looks at a lovely blue male, and at one point it was in the same binocular view as a singing Parula. (Thanks, Laura and Hans!) The birds became more active, like the black flies, as the day warmed up. In the early afternoon I found a brilliant male Blackburnian Warbler, which paused briefly in some young growth only five feet from me, at eye level. Just stunning to watch him sing, so close.<br><br> <x-tab> </x-tab>Two Tree Swallows and two Chimney Swifts circled high up over the pond for a while; I often see these species here in the spring. <br><br> Here's a list of some of what I saw and/or heard:<br><br> <font size=3D3> <x-tab> </x-tab>American Black Duck<x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab>2 families with ducklings {one family apparently had a Black Duck mother, Mallard father)<br> <x-tab> </x-tab>Chimney Swift<x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab>2<x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab>First I have seen this year<br> <x-tab> </x-tab>Belted Kingfisher<x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab>1<br> <x-tab> </x-tab>Northern Flicker<x-tab> </x-tab> <x-tab> </x-tab>2<br> <x-tab> </x-tab> Blue-headed Vireo<x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab>1, rather quiet First I have seen this year.<br> <x-tab> </x-tab>Red-eyed Vireo<x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab>1, rather quiet First I have seen this year.<br> <x-tab> </x-tab>Tree Swallow<x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab>2<br> <x-tab> </x-tab> Red-breasted Nuthatch<x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab>2, tending a nest<br> <x-tab> </x-tab>Northern Parula<x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab>10-12, singing<br> <x-tab> </x-tab> Black-throated Blue Warbler<x-tab> </x-tab>1 m, singing<x-tab> </x-tab> First I have seen this year.<br> <x-tab> </x-tab> Yellow-rumped Warbler<x-tab> </x-tab>20 + , singing<br> <x-tab> </x-tab> Blackburnian Warbler<x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab>1 m, singing<x-tab> </x-tab>First I have seen this year.<br> <x-tab> </x-tab>Blackpoll Warbler <x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab>18+, singing<x-tab> </x-tab>First I have seen this year.<br> <x-tab> </x-tab> Black-and-white Warbler <x-tab> </x-tab>14+, singing<x-tab> </x-tab>First I have seen this year.<br> <x-tab> </x-tab><br> The other usual birds were present, with Blue Jays, Black-capped Chickadees, Grackles, Juncos, Song Sparrows, and White-throated Sparrows all singing at times. Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers were noisy in announcing their presence.<br><br> <x-tab> </x-tab>Patricia L. Chalmers<br> <x-tab> </x-tab>Halifax<br> <br> </font></body> </html> --=====================_3214500==.ALT--
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