Last night the clocks were turned forward, resulting in the loss of an hour. Do people turn clocks anymore or just push buttons? We need a new saying. Instead of “turning the clock forward,” we could say “pushing time forward.” Anyway, I clung to that hour for sixty minutes, not willing to lose it. We had big plans, that hour and I. We were going to paint, read, and dream. But, alas, it still flew away. Adieu, my hour, thank you for what could have been.

A new thistle feeder has attracted some local American Goldfinches. It’s no secret I love all birds, but the American Goldfinch is, by far, my favorite songbird. I’m thrilled to have almost a dozen munching contendly on the nyjer seed in the feeder. The males are even starting to molt, showing small patches of yellow within their drab winter feathers. Soon flashes of brilliant yellow will be lighting-up my yard.

Male goldfinch showing the beginning of his spring colors.

American Goldfinches

The Eastern Bluebirds are still here. They finally discovered the mealworms and fill their crops everyday, forcing me to fill the feeder every two days. At $12 a bag for the worms, this could become a very expensive relationship.

Bluebird eating expensive mealworms.

One pair of bluebirds tried to use the new nestbox but a couple of sparrows evicted them. In turn, Chris and I quickly evicted the sparrows. They were back the next day and we evicted them again. I’m hoping they’ll eventually get the hint and nest someplace else.

Chris giving the sparrows their eviction notice.

The ducks are making daily fly-bys. They don’t enjoy landing on the ice that still coats the river so they circle overhead, looking for the perfect landing spot. Their flight patterns remind me of old movies showing WWII bombers. They eventually land but on a few occasions they give up and head down river. Someone in Concord must have a better landing site (or sweeter cracked corn).

The Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are continuing their migration North.

Updated hummingbird migration map.

Everyday new sightings are added to the map. Soon it will be covered with dots and dates, all the way up to Canada! I’m planning on doubling the size of the hummingbird garden but I need old man winter to skedaddle before I can get to work. It’s been a long winter.

Blessed be :}