Thursday, May 12, proved to be like so many other days this May — cloudy and chilly, with a biting northeast wind. Nine intrepid birders braved the conditions, in hope of viewing recently arrived migrants. It seems the northerly windflow may have hindered migratory progress; we saw only six species of warblers. Over a period of three hours, we were finally able to tease out a total of 37 species, including some new arrivals, such as Eastern Kingbird, Warbling Vireo, and Baltimore Oriole. Near the “beach,” we were treated with a pair of Eastern Bluebirds, which appear to be nesting nearby.

Looking across the river from the picnic grounds, we watched a Spotted Sandpiper gamboling up and down a log that sported a roosting pair of Wood Ducks. Some of the group also observed a pair of very cooperative Brown Thrashers, on the ground for a long time, perhaps performing a kind of pair-bonding. In spite of the weather (it was not raining) the trip yielded some handsome birds.