Spring is Singing

Entry 2 - March 19th | 7:52pm

Dear Diary,

This morning, I woke up with only one thing on my mind… birds. Since my last entry, I’ve made a point to check Merlin’s Bird of the Day before every outing, just to add a little extra challenge. Today’s bird was a White-breasted Nuthatch, an easy find, but still a fun goal to keep in mind. I set my alarm earlier than usual to squeeze in some birding before work. There was no way I was going to let the day start without at least a little time spent with the birds.

I rushed out the door and headed straight for Seabrook Town Forest, one of the best places for a morning walk and a couple of hours of uninterrupted birding. The moment I stepped out of my car, I was greeted by the songs of Black-capped Chickadees, Red-winged Blackbirds, a Red-bellied Woodpecker and, to my delight, my Bird of the Day: a White-breasted Nuthatch. It was already shaping up to be an active morning.

As I made my way down the trail, a distant chattering caught my attention. The sound was coming from the direction of the pond. Peering through the trees, I saw that the ice had finally melted, meaning the waterfowl were back. Sure enough, my eyes landed on a stunning scene: 60 Ring-necked Ducks, two Green-winged Teal, three Common Mergansers, and six Mallards. I couldn’t believe how many had already returned!

I sat and admired the waterfowl for a while before continuing down the trail. As I walked through the power line cut-through, the world fell silent, except for the melancholic cooing of a distant Mourning Dove. I scanned the rookery off Route 107 through my binoculars and was surprised to spot a Great Blue Heron in one of the nests already.

Venturing back into the woods, the quiet was quickly replaced by the sharp “PEEK” and “PIK” of Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers. Dark-eyed Juncos scattered ahead of me, their soft chip calls trailing behind them.

As I neared the Water Department, my attention was suddenly caught by two male Northern Cardinals chasing a female into the open field, giving me an entrance to what seemed like a whole new world. Stepping into the clearing, I was immediately surrounded by the beautiful, endless songs of Song Sparrows. And when I say Song Sparrows, I mean more than a dozen, each one singing its heart out in the small field.

The air was filled with an endless symphony of birdsong in this little field. I sat for a moment, letting the sound surround me, and thought about how grateful I am for this life. Nature is truly a form of zen, a natural medicine for the soul.

With less than an hour before work, I knew it was time to head back. As I walked, the distant calls of American Crows, Blue Jays, and Tufted Titmice filled the air. Nearing the pond again, a series of high-pitched notes caught my attention. Two Golden-crowned Kinglets flitted restlessly from branch to branch. I tried to snap a decent photo, but, as usual, all I got was a blurry flight shot.

I stopped at the pond once more, taking in the sight of all the waterfowl before heading out. A lively 27 species filled the morning here at the town forest. Walks like these remind me how grateful I am for the return of spring, when the world feels alive with birdsong and movement. Until next time!

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