Yesterday and this morning the rain is really bringing out the spirits of
spring here on Flint Ridge in Muskingum County. What sounded like the first
installment of the vernal dawn chorus burst forth around 6:20 this morning.
Obviously the robins are pleased with the vast harvest of earthworms
brought up by the 1/2 inch of overnight rain. The pasture looks much
greener as well, garnering increased attention from the sheep and horses. I
like to watch them working for a living.

Of particular note are numbers of brown thrashers. Yesterday, taking the
short circuit around the property due to a pending medical appointment, I
found no few than five (possibly six) brown thrashers sending their
charming doublets to the breeze. Some of these may be passers-through, but
we always seem to get at least one pair that stick around for the summer.

Large numbers of red-winged blackbirds are also enjoying the wet
conditions. A few years ago we always had a few around, but since the
Wengerds built a pond in the drainage across the road their numbers have
greatly increased, as would be expected.

A couple meadowlarks and a mockingbird were additional features round the
barns this morning.

We don't have any wetlands per se on our farm, so it is always a treat to
see flyover "waterbirds" here, such as yesterday's stately great blue heron
cruising low over the upland pasture.

Bob Evans
Geologist, etc.
Valhalla Acres Fiber Farm
Hopewell Township, Muskingum County

______________________________________________________________________

Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/.

You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS
Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]