In our family the first robin has always been the first sign of spring. My mother always said the first robins would arrive back about Mar. 10th, and she was usually right. This year has been unusually warm for a winter here, so it doesn't surprise me that this one is a little early.
My caregiver took this picture this morning, right on her deck. there were actually two robins, but she only got a picture of one. I'm well aware that robins overwinter in some parts of southern Ontario, but I've never seen one in 50 years of birdwatching, so I'm happy to celebrate this one.
Of course there are other signs of spring around. The days are much longer, and they're brighter during the middle of the day too. Daylight Savings Time here arrives in less than two weeks. It's above freezing the next few days, and the historical average takes us above freezing to stay in just two weeks.
Hope you're celebrating too!
[Picture used with permission]
Say, you don't suppose you could convince that Robin to head south and fly around our front yard do ya. I would sure like to see and hear a Robin right about now.
ReplyDeleteI've seen robins here a time or two this year.
ReplyDeleteI've also seen robins in the middle of winter!!!
I've been seeing lots of robins around here, too! Spring is definitely on the way!!
ReplyDeleteI have seen & heard robins around here this winter which always surprises me. It is the Red-wing Blackbirds that mean spring to me. I can hardly wait for the warmth to come back even though it hasn't been a bad winter really.
ReplyDeleteFairly large flocks of robins have been moving through in the last week -- they're headed your way.
ReplyDeleteHere I've seen robins most winters. We always get them on the Christmas bird count. Messy spring is on it's way. we get a wide variation with the most snow.
ReplyDeleteWe will celebrate too, as Autumn has sneaked its way in, darker mornings, dew quite heavy on the lawn, and bulbs already poking through, probably Grape Hyacinth or bluebells, time will tell if I have guessed either one.Lovely to see an early Robin
ReplyDeleteLovely to see your Robin. For me it's the return of the Chiffchaff that heralds the true start of spring - they are tiny, unobtrusive warblers with a repetitive and unmusical "song". They'll be here in the next week or three. Again there are some that overwinter, but until they sing you don't really notice them.
ReplyDeleteI am happy to see your robin, but I hope for their sale that they don’t come here yet as we are very snow=covered still. However, the recent snowstorm did get mushy, so a change is on the way … slowly.
ReplyDeleteHooray for the robin sighting! I haven't yet seen any here (and don't expect I will for a few weeks). For me spring is here when the pussy willows are out.
ReplyDeleteYay! Mom always said the same thing.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Maebeme, when the poussy willows on the trees bloom, it's spring in the Ridge.
Robins are so common around here in the winter it verges on impossible to know when the first genuine migrant arrives.
ReplyDeleteyeah for Robins!
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