May 21 2014 and others. Before anyone gets too excited, note that this is a dip into my archives. I write this on December 21, the shortest day of the year and irrefutably the gloomiest, with drizzle out of low clouds all day. Let’s reflect on some bursts of May sunshine.
I have been housekeeping my photo files, there are just too many virtually identical shots, too many bad photos. It’s a winter evening pursuit which brings back many vivid memories.
Last year’s May was cool and unfolded slowly. Over the years I have come to expect full leaf-out of deciduous trees any time between the 3rd and the 13th of May. Last year it was the 24th. before I felt it was complete, a full ten days late. While the laggard spring was discouraging to anyone longing for summer to get on with it, it actually resulted in some spectacular birding. The spring waves of neo-tropical migrants, warblers, vireos and the like, continued northwards on a schedule dictated by their internal clocks. It was our treat to enjoy these usually bashful birds cavorting among skimpily dressed trees.
These Scarlet Tanagers were among many that arrived on May 21st. Ordinarily they would have been fairly hard to find; but an exciting treat if you did. But in 2014 they were easy picking. My full page of notes for that same day and place also included: Bay-breasted, Black-throated Blue and Magnolia Warblers, all glorious finds. I had featured Scarlet Tanager as My Bird of the Day just three days earlier, you can read more and indulge in a little more spring by following this link. 