If you can call it spring... I went looking for migrating warblers in 30 degree (Fahrenheit) weather, geared in clothing more suited to winter trips. The warblers, not having a winter clothing budget, were slow in showing up. Nonetheless, a few birds did pop up on sunny mornings:
Northern Flickers are normally shy, but not this one. The flickers we have in the East are called "Yellow-shafted" because their tails are yellow on the underneath. (In the West, they are red.)
Interesting fact: even though flickers are woodpeckers, they often forage on the ground.
White-Throated Sparrow standing watch. This is their last hurrah in our area - they are getting ready to migrate to Canada for the summer.
The is the first true warbler of the year - a Prairie Warbler. These guys show up early (and apparently in any weather) and try to beat all the other migrants to the nesting areas.
"Hmm, that cloud is sure shaped like a peregrine falcon..." Piping Plover, a state-endangered shorebird, one of the very few that nest in NJ and NY areas.
As the white-throated sparrows migrate north, Chipping Sparrows arrive to take their place. This is the smallest of our sparrows. Its bright rufous head turns dull gray for the winter.
Woodpecker plunge... I think this one was a Downy Woodpecker.
American Robins predict spring better than groundhogs. Normally, they are here by late February. This year, they did not show up until the middle of March.
Another White-Throated Sparrow...
"Is it Thanksgiving already?" Wild Turkey. (BTW, this bird's name is a good example of retronym.)
This Great Egret has the freshest sushi in town...
... but then again, since it came out of Brooklyn's Gravesend Bay, maybe not.
Parting shot - Song Sparrow looking forlorn after several mating songs went unanswered...