Spring is in the air

The other day, I heard some continuous bird chatter that I wasn’t sure I recognized. Merlin Bird ID to the rescue – it was a pair of Northern Flickers yakking continuously.

I ended up spending a few minutes trying to locate them when they popped out on the edge of a row of trees. Within a moment, they started what I can only assume is a courtship ritual – dancing hilariously back-and-forth for a couple of minutes. I managed a few photos, but the video I got was so jumpy ( I was really zoomed in ) that it’s useless. Regardless, it was a terrific encounter.

Earlier today, I saw what I thought was a snake in the grasses – only to realize it was a pair of lizards… courting each other?

This month i’ve also managed a couple of new lifers and pissing off the eBird police again. The good news are the lifers; and I suppose the good news is I pissed off the eBird police but I pissed them off less obviously than in the past. This time I misidentified a red-throated loon as a common loon.