Redstart

I was excited to see this natty redstart early this evening.  Unfortunately, the light was poor, and so is the picture.  I also caught a glimpse of a magnolia warbler, so maybe the warblers are starting to come through in heavier numbers.

Also, good news for the catbird:  it found a friend.

And while I was standing there looking for warblers, a skein of cormorants went over.  I thought they were Canada geese, until I looked at the photo.

Catbird

Catbird's back, but is it sitting in the catbird seat?  Hard to say.  The surroundings seem pretty good for them, but they've had some bad luck here.  A couple years ago, the neighbors told me a cat got the local nesting pair, and then last year, the catbird we had sang and sang, but never seemed to find a mate.  So here's wishing it luck this year.

I've seen a few black-and-white warblers, but not much else.  However, it's early yet.  I wouldn't expect any great variety of warblers for a week or so.  White-throated sparrows have been pretty numerous.  There was a little flock on my yard the other day.  The chimney swifts, meanwhile, seem to have deserted our neighborhood.  I know they're back, because I saw a few in Cambridge this evening.  I'll miss them in summer if they're truly gone.