The past few days have seen the return of the rose-breasted grosbeaks, the baltimore orioles and the resident ruby-throated hummingbird to their respective feeders.
A male oriole feeds on some grape jelly.
As high as three male orioles were spotted cleaning out the grape jelly.
Several pairs of rose-breasted grosbeaks were quick to claim the seed feeder as their own.
A white-breasted nuthatch hangs off of the bird feeder.
The highly possessive male ruby-throated hummingbird appeared Monday evening just as the sun was setting. He quickly staked out his feeder and will soon be guarding it with ferocity.
In the woodlands, the wild strawberries, hawthorn trees and more are blooming.
Hawthorn blossoms
Wild strawberry blossoms
Water droplets from melting frost are seen on a dandelion.
Another set of eyes
This illustration provided by Jeffrey Hall of Franklin shows a sampling of the birds he saw on his May 4 outing.
Jeffrey Hall, of Franklin, a member of the Seneca Rocks Audubon Society and president of the Bartramian Audubon Society, reported having a double-figure day of warblers on May 3 at Oil Creek State Park. Those spotted included yellow, yellowthroat, yellow-throated, black and white, black-throated green, hooded, magnolia, blue winged, ovenbird, redstart and parula.
He also spent the following day at Belmar Trestle where he had a pair of hummingbirds go buzzing by.
“So now I just have to hope that some of them find our feeders,” Hall said of the hummingbirds.
He shared an illustration of the highlights of the morning with A Walk in the Woods.
Crazy critters
Buford and Sherman waiting to go on a walk.
A Walk in the Woods contains photos from newsroom staffer Anna Applegate’s daily jaunts around her neck of the woods. Tagging along on the treks are dogs, Buford, Sherman and Sadie, and goats, Kyle and Kennedy. Applegate manages the Good Times and can be emailed at bigdogs.thederrick@gmail.com.
