April

 Well, the 2nd month of Spring is over and what a month it was!  According to Google, the name April finds its roots in Latin, stemming from the work aperire, which means to open.  This powerful etymology denotes the significance of this name as it symbolizes the opening of new opportunities, the blossoming of nature and the rejuvenation of spirits.  April has certainly brought an opening of nature, though some naturalists say it has been somewhat late.  As I just got into documenting the birds that l see since late last Spring, I was unaware that the birds come back at specific times, as do plants bloom at specific times (I knew that!)  The first warblers that come back are the Yellow Rumped Warblers Setophaga coronata, followed by Pine Warbler Setophaga pinus, then Palm Warbler Setophaga palmarum.  These I have seen in abundance over the past 2 weeks.  I am starting to see Yellow Warbler Setophaga petechia.  

Yellow Warbler (the leaves are starting to come in so bit harder to focus on the bird!)

Some other migratory birds have made their way back to Lambton county!  The Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula,  the Yellow Bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius and Brown Creeper Certhia americana , Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe and Cedar Waxwings Bombycilla cedrorum.  Of course the Kinglets are back , the Golden crowned kinglet Regulus satrapa who comes first, and then the Ruby crowned kinglet Corthyllo calendula.  Many of these birds breed here, but many also move on to more northern regions (more about that in a later post about the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas )

The aerial foragers such as the Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor are back.  

Common Grackle

Yellow Rumped Warbler

I have had so much fun enjoying the herps as well, the temperatures have been increasing and so we have been seeing and hearing the Spring Peepers, American Toad and 3 species of turtles!  There have also been some lepidoptera flitting around   Spring Azure, Mourning Cloak and some dragonflies!

Painted Turtles

American Toad (get a room!)

As I sit here writing this the rain has finally made its way here in a big downburst.  Will she want to walk or can I continue writing?  Oh oh, she knows the rain will stop and so here I go, chat later!

Well, the rain is continuing, in earnest.  It is a good thing as well have been missing the volatile weather that have been going on all around us here in Wyoming.  Short sniff walk and who knows what I'll bird today, maybe after work?  Anyways, May showers bring May flowers?  Yuppers.

Tree Swallow

Palm Warbler

Canada Goose with Gosling

White Throated Sparrow Zonotrichia alabicollis are on their way to their breeding grounds in the north

Bonapartes Gulls Chroiocephalus philadelphia are back and are in their breeding plumage, they are heading north to the boreal forest, as they are one of the only gulls that nest in trees.

female Red Winged Blackbirds come a bit after their male counterparts, whom come in March

A group of 5 Common Loons Gavia immer had a brief 10 day stopover at Sarnia Bay on their way to their breeding grounds up north.