Ah March!

~ lmachayes

The hype for a predicted snowstorm today kept providing various amounts, rising one hour, falling the next, over the last couple of days. And so I made my own prediction: 1 inch – 12 inches possible.

What I didn’t predict was the number or variety of species that would choose our yard to dine. The snow started to fall during the wee hours of the morning and the birds began visiting before 7am, including this Goldfinch and many of its kin.

I was probably most thrilled to have a male and female Bluebird return. It’s been a couple of months since my neighbor and I have spotted them. Here’s hoping they soon use the nest boxes she has made available.

A male Downy Woodpecker found the suet, frozen as it was.

His female counterpart did a curious thing–she walked across the bottom of the feeder before righting herself to dine where he had been a few minutes prior. I’ve yet to figure out why she chose that approach.

There were territorial wars on the ground, at the feeders, and in the air.

Nothing major came of it, yet . . . but oh what drama.

And an exchange of roles as a Song Sparrow pretended to be a squirrel and dine on the corn . . .

while a Gray Squirrel pretended to be a bird and dine at the feeder.

Both the female and male Cardinals were frequent visitors, and she looked especially dashing today.

As did a Tufted Titmouse and the yard was filled with songs of “Peter, Peter, Peter,” as has been the case lately.

Toward the end of the day Purple Finches showed up and spent lots of time hanging out between one of the feeders and a Quaking Aspen tree.

And a couple of times the Mourning Doves paused on a branch. She winked. At least I think it’s a she and a he because the other day one chased the other and they are always together.

Then they both looked at me as if I’d caught them in a secret moment. Did I?

I love that snow and rain bring in more birds than usual and today was no different.

What was different was that we finally got a real snowstorm on this 23rd day of March. An hour ago the total was over a foot, exceeding my prediction, and it’s still snowing.

Ah March in Maine.

Update: March 24, 7:30am. Twenty-one inches of fluffy snow! Ah March!

12 thoughts on “Ah March!”

  2. Pine siskins are very argumentative little scrabblers! 

    Junkos shelter under our stairs and are so cute.

    The male cardinal is still singing sweet songs in the falling snow.

    Gold finches are turning yellow

    The snow is quiet.

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  3. Ha! Nice write up, Leigh. It’s such a widespread storm, and everyone from North Conway to Bridgton got hit with the same thing. As of an hour ago here, we were up to 21″ and it’s supposed to keep snowing heavily for another two hours.

    It’s interesting to see the new avian visitors when most of the normal food sources are covered up. Our most numerous birds were juncos, so active all the time, such a delight. Then we had a bunch of regulars plus 3 species I’ve never seen before in our yard. They’re common birds, but not here – 8 grackles, 1 red-winged blackbird, and 1 starling.

    I loved all your birds in the snow photos, and that one of the bright red purple finch is a beauty.

    Joe

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    1. Joe,
      I just updated the post with a photo of the yardstick this morning. 21 inches here. You probably have over 2 feet.
      And the bird song this morning–loving the sounds of spring.
      We finally got us a decent snowstorm. And my guy is regretting that they packed away the snowblowers and shovels. Oops.
      Leigh

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  6. Love these photos! I too feed the animals, more in winter as do many. We received over 6″ of snow on Friday last, but it has melted with all of the following rain. The opossums do love gloomy weather, and we see them only then. We so enjoy watching everyone, mammals and avian, who come to feed on our offerings.

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