It’s gotta be spring when the Song Sparrows start showing up. A couple-three days ago, I heard one in Glen Cove (my first-of-year bird), and yesterday I heard one at home. Today I heard (and saw) two at Beech Hill.

Other first-of-year birds included a woodcock and a flock of grackles. As the photoperiod lengthens, the temperature warms, and the trees start leafing out, more are sure to come. More snow is due in a day or two, I believe, but it’ll be a feeble event—especially what with anthropogenic warming—and spring will soon bust out all over.

I recall many years ago a male Song Sparrow that would sing from a bush near my house. Every fall it would fly away, then every spring it’d return—and I’d recognize it’s particular combination of chimes and trills (I have good ears, sue me) and I’d feel happy and relieved.

Then one spring day the sparrow that showed up in that bush sang a completely different song.

Soon will come Chipping Sparrows and Savannah Sparrows and White-throated Sparrows and probably other sparrows. Life. Goes. On.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 6:58 a.m. (7:58 stupid DST), I hiked all trails.

1. American Crow*
2. Eastern Bluebird
3. Black-capped Chickadee**
4. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v)
5. Blue Jay (v)
6. Red-winged Blackbird (v)
7. Downy Woodpecker**
8. American Goldfinch** (v)
9. Herring Gull*
10. American Robin**
11. Song Sparrow**
12. Tufted Titmouse (v)
13. Yellow-rumped Warbler
14. Pileated Woodpecker (drumming)
15. Northern Cardinal** (v)
16. Common Grackle†
17. American Woodcock†
18. Brown Creeper (v)
19. Dark-eyed Junco

Elsewhere

20. Mallard
21. Rock Pigeon

(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year