Wet Gray Morning at Leatherwood

It wasn't very birdy either, maybe the first ime ever that I got out of the truck and heard not a single bird, not even a crow. Still drizzly after the rain and dark from dense clouds. In the whole morning I saw only three woodpeckers, instead of the usual twenty, but still finally ended up with 29 species. The best part of the day was a flock of Northern Shovelers, and the return of the Kingfisher.

There were more signs of spring, including the singing peepers, and sprouting mints along the trail, as well as new sprouts at the base of the water hemlock. No territorial bird song, but several Turkey Vultures were playing about in the wind, and they are one of the first migrants to return.