Late Winter Doldrums

It seemed like a beautiful morning, but was virtully birdless. I found only eighteen species, and not many of them. The winter visitors seem to have all gone north, except for some White-throated Sparrows, and some remaining ducks. Even their numbers are falling. Missing were Coots, Sapsuckers, Flickers, Kinglets, Juncos, Song Sparrows, maybe others. But the first Red-wing Blackbird was singing "okralee" in a bed of reeds. Didn't notice any plant signs increasing, but the peepers were calling, and I found a couple of Leopard Frogs.