Backyard and Beyond

Starting out from Brooklyn, an amateur naturalist explores our world.

As John Burroughs said, “The place to observe nature is where you are.”

Checklist

Galanthus spSnowdrops: Check!
Crocus spCrocuses: Check!
Hamamelis sp.Witchhazel: Check!

And half-a-dozen or so Red-winged Blackbirds, bringing the area around the Terrace Bridge to sudden, raucous life with their insistent “I am now here!” vocalizations: Check!

It was interesting to observe these birds, all males. Two at the feeders presented variations in plumage, with one bird sill having some of its juvenile brown-speckled feathers, and one the sumptuous color of midnight, a rich, glossy black, popping with red shoulder epaulets.

This was all yesterday in Prospect Park: sure signs of spring

mthew

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5 responses to “Checklist”

  1. Rebecca

    Just like last year, it’s so strange hearing about spring arriving in other places already while here we still have feet of snow on the ground. We won’t see flowers for another month. (I checked – last year the first wildflower I found in bloom was a hepatica on March 28.)

    Reply
  2. Sara

    Ooo! Crocuses in Brooklyn already! Hope that means soon for Jersey as well!

    Reply
  3. Erin

    The blackbirds are back! Amazing. They are my true weathervane when it comes to spring.

    Reply
  4. michela Caudill

    It is a pleasure to read your daily Backyard. In my garden there are hundreds and hundreds of snow drops and crocuses. Perhaps the lack of poison encourages them to spread

    Reply
    1. mthew

      In the “hundreds and hundreds” is the way these springers should be seen. I’m glad you like my blog. Thank you.

      Reply

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