Inca DoveIt is the peak of the spring migration season for birds, and there have been some nice ones passing through. A vibrant, fiery male Baltimore Oriole came through early this morning. It has been some years since they nested here. Long ago I would put little lengths of string on the clothesline and watch the female snatch them up for her nest. Sometimes the nest would dangle over the yard from a downward hanging branch on one of the live oaks. Orchard Orioles have been feeding on the coral honeysuckle in the garden, and one spent part of the day challenging the rival he saw reflected in the sliding door window.
Yesterday we had an Inca Dove (western bird rarely seen here) visit the tilled garden for a dust bath, and I heard Summer Tanager calling from the woods.
This evening the grand event was 50-100 Mississippi Kites that burst across the sky at about 5:50 pm. It happened so fast that there was scarcely time to say "look up!". One group was lower and kettling, and the following birds were at a higher altitude and spread out across the sky. They were out of sight before a proper count could be taken.
Every day holds bird surprises during spring migration.
