Spring Comes to Pixieland

Three days after my last blog post, I got this respiratory flu-thing.  Nine weeks later, I'm still struggling with it - but finally able to get out a bit and see how things are doing at Pixieland.

Spring has arrived...

Grasses Greening and Growing

The air is full of song - COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, MARSH WRENS, and the ubiquitous WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS and SONG SPARROWS (aptly named).

White-crowned Sparrow

Nesting has begun - I hope to keep an eye on the eleven nest boxes to see who makes use of them.  Have already seen CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES building a nest in one...  

Song Sparrow with Nest Material

Common Merganser Pair

This Song Sparrow was near a nest box, but I never saw where he took the material. 

A pair of COMMON MERGANSERS are hanging out near a duck-box.  

There are traces of other nesting activity as well...

Unknown Nest

Pacific Chorus Frog

The PACIFIC CHORUS FROGS, having probably wrapped up their reproductive activities, are hopping all over the marsh.

Hatchling fish (SALMON?) are swimming in the little streams - and wherever there is 3-4 inches of water...  I need to learn more about fish!

Salmon?

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)

The guys are all decked out in their spring finery, hoping for a little luck with the ladies!

Song Sparrow

Can't wait to see the babies start to appear!