They're back! Purple Martin's and other firsts

Today has been a day with a number of firsts of the seasons.....  it started out with our morning walk when saw the first Barn Swallow of the season....no way to get a photo, and then once we got down to the water, could hear a Pied Bill Grebe out there....

Yesterday had been a 'first' sort of day too.  Not that the birds are rare....Canada Geese

but finding a pair of them on the playing field in our complex is....in 22 years I've been here, this is a first.

After lunch we walked over to the park.  Have to go the long route now....

and here is the first bay.....and another first of the season, as we spooked a pair of Wood Ducks.  Again, no chance for a picture....

and then, a bit further along....a familiar call....that is a European Starling on top....but...

but there....on the bottom box...a female Purple Martin!  They are back.  Saw as many as four flying about.  Will be interesting to see how many return and how soon they find their new colony off of Kilby beach.

Water levels haven't really risen too much the last few days, probably due to the unseasonably cool weather that would have slowed any melting.  

Back home....we have the last 'first' of the day....in fact this is the 'first' I've seen here in probably 10 years or so....

a male Calliope Hummingbird!  Not a great photo, but enough to prove it was there.  

Guess I should also post this Bald Eagle photo, one of a pair flying around today.  There was also a pair of Osprey.

Hopefully tomorrow we will get back to Harrison Bay to see what is happening over there.