On March 21, 2026, the second official day of spring, we finally got our first break from about a week of rainy weather. The day dawned bright and sunny and although we had clouds most of the day, we also had a lot of bright sunshine. I hoped that the change in the weather would bring an early spring migrant, hopefully a warbler. I set up in the yard shortly after noon and waited.
One of the first things I noticed was a Bewick’s wren repeatedly entering one of my bird houses. It seems early for nesting and I couldn’t see whether the bird was transporting nesting materials or food. The wren seemed to linger in the house longer than I thought it would if building a nest and it seemed to keep canvassing the yard for food rather than nesting materials.
A female Anna’s hummingbird flew to the watercourse and took a rather leisurely bath. I was cold sitting in the yard at 45 degrees… it made me feel even colder watching that hummingbird bathe!
I next noticed what could be a slate-colored Dark-eyed junco in the yard and was able to obtain several photos of the bird. After a some research I was at the same conclusion… the bird could be a Slate-colored junco. I labeled my photos as such.
Offering a break from the eye strain of birding, a Townsend’s chipmunk emerged from the pile of rocks that form the watercourse! This was my first sighting since about late last summer! I had two daily visitors last summer but they abruptly disappeared. Within less than ten minutes the new visitor was sitting beside me storing peanuts in its cheeks, then scurrying off to store its find before returning for more.
I took a nap midafternoon and when I woke I peered out the kitchen window to see what might be in the yard. It wasn’t long before I saw a male American goldfinch, the first of the season, in the trees outside. I again set up in the yard with my camera but as so often happens, the bird had disappeared. Although I waited quite some time it didn’t return.
(As i’m writing this in my upstairs office I note a bright male Rufous hummingbird on the feeder below me. This is the first male I’ve seen in several days.)
I finally had a visit from a warbler… the Orange-crowned warbler that has been frequenting the yard and feeders (!) all winter. Unfortunately I don’t consider this one an incoming migrant.
Finally, late in the afternoon I saw at least three Turkey vultures circling overhead, and at least two landed in the drooping top of a neighbor’s fir tree. In short order they were driven from their potential roost by a pair of crows.
My thought for the day… When you’re awaiting spring warblers, every bird in the bush looks yellow!