It is March and spring is on its way, despite the recent unusually cold weather last weekend. And below freezing temperatures are supposed to return for the next few days. Hopefully, we can take advantage of the old-time saying that if March comes in like a lion it goes out like a lamb.
Thank you to Luanne Johnson for covering for me last week, where she wrote about the arrival of both red-winged blackbirds and tree swallows. While the red-wings are right on schedule, the tree swallows seem really early. Last year I wrote that they seemed early when they arrived on March 12, and this year is was even earlier, on Feb. 24. Large numbers of red-wings continue to be reported, but I have not received any more reports of tree swallows.
A conspicuous species soon to arrive is the American robin, which will announce its presence by its loud caroling from the treetops, and by pairs of them hopping around together in your yard. The robins that we have now are overwintering birds found in flocks and are generally quiet.
Another favored species, the osprey, is also soon to arrive. Its loud call is distinctive, but please be careful as other large birds — especially great black-backed gulls — may also perch on an osprey pole. It is best to send me a photo to confirm your first osprey sighting.
Bird Sightings
Another early migrant, the killdeer, is arriving now. John Nelson reports three of them at the Farm Institute on Mar. 4, and I heard two of them flying over the high school on the morning of March 6.
Snowy owls are on the move as well. Unfortunately, this means they are departing our shores and heading north, but it also means snowies from further south may pass through, which is the likely source of last month’s brief sightings at Chilmark Pond, Edgartown Great Pond, and State Beach; here one day and gone the next. On March 6, Antone Lima caught sight of two snowy owls as they were flying across Vineyard Sound toward the Cape. Warren Woessner found the snowy at Norton Point on Feb. 27, and Rick Dwyer reports it is still hanging out on Norton Point as of March 6.
Time is a’wasting; you better find one soon (but do not disturb them by approaching so close that they fly away), otherwise it will be wait ‘til next year.
On March 3, Lisa Maxfield had a golden-crowned kinglet land on her hand and eat some suet crumbs. With training, chickadees will eat out of your hand, but I have not heard of kinglets doing that.
Tami Dinkel photographed turkey vultures over Trapps Pond on March 3. The v-shaped wings are diagnostic.
Earlier this year there was a male shoveller on the small pond at the Land Bank’s Sweetened Water Preserve. It is back, as Lanny McDowell and Ken Magnuson likely observed the same individual again on Feb. 28. The super-sized bill of this duck is worth seeing. Mr. Magnuson also observed a green-winged teal in the back pond, maybe 100 yards down the trail and away from the road.
Mr. Magnuson also reports a flock of ring-necked ducks at Long Point, along with two common mergansers.
Finally, Gus Ben David reports that a dead fisher was found near Menemsha in early March. This mammal is in the weasel family, and on the Vineyard its closest relative is the skunk. A large fisher may be up to four feet long and weigh as much as 15 pounds. This is only the second time this species has been found on the Island; the first was about two years ago. This species normally lives in the Appalachian Mountains of New England. What is it doing here?
Winter residents are plentiful and the first northbound migrants are starting to arrive. Can spring be far behind?
Please report your sightings to birds@mvgazette.com.
Robert Culbert leads Guided Birding Tours and is an ecological consultant living in Vineyard Haven.
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