On Tuesday, Jeannette and I were enjoying temperatures in the low 50’s, and spring migrants. On Wednesday, we were watching ice glaze over the three inches of ice still covering our driveway!

But, let’s talk about Tuesday. A strong southwesterly flow brought mild air to the area, and also propelled a few vanguard migrants. Reports from the southern third of the state commented on the arrival of the earliest spring migrants, led by Red-winged Blackbirds. For me and Jeannette, our first new arrival of the day as a surprising (and likely surprised!) Killdeer calling, and circling, over the still snow-covered Dragon Field in Portland.

Then, Capisic Pond Park produced a total of 18 Red-winged Blackbirds, many of which were singing, and 4 Common Grackles, my first of the spring in Maine. A sharp chip note from the cattails announced an early returning Swamp Sparrow. This is my earliest date of a newly-returning Swampie for Maine (although I have had a few mid-winter birds, including one that overwintered in the “Mercy Woods” of Portland two winters ago. Meanwhile, about 30 American Robins and 60+ European Starlings were working on the still-plentiful crabapple crop here, and a northbound Common Merganser made a low pass over the frozen lake and stream, deciding that the trickle of open water in the marsh was not to her liking.

There were very few gulls around in Old Port – but it was low tide, and most gulls seem to forage out on the mudflats when the water is out, but we did see the male Peregrine Falcon perched in his usual place on the Casco Bay Bridge.

Hopes of some productive seawatching on Thursday were stymied by the ice (and snow, and sleet . . .) accumulation on the roads – assuming I could actually make it to Cape Elizabeth, by the time I got there, I probably would have had to turn around, so I stayed inside, kept an eye on the feeders, and sipped a nice, hot, mug of chai.