The Red-winged Blackbirds are back; it must be Spring!  #Wordless Wednesday  #My stats: 27th annual GBBC (“Great Backyard Bird Count”)

Posted on February 21, 2024 by Linda Schaub


Wordless Wednesday – allow your photo(s) to tell the story.

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About Linda Schaub

This is my first blog and I enjoy writing each post immensely. I started a walking regimen in 2011 and in 2013 I decided to create a blog as a means of memorializing the people, places and things seen on my daily walks. I have always enjoyed people watching, so my blog is peppered with folks I meet or reflections of characters I have known through the years. Often something piques my interest, or evokes a pleasant memory from my memory bank, so this becomes a “slice o’ life” blog post. I respect and appreciate nature and my interactions with Mother Nature’s gifts is also a common theme. Sometimes the most-ordinary items become fodder for points to ponder over and touch upon. I retired in March 2024 after a career in the legal field. I was a legal secretary for almost 45 years, primarily working in downtown Detroit, then working from my home. I graduated from Wayne State University with a degree in Mass Communications (print journalism) in 1978, though I’ve never worked in that field. I would like to think this blog is the writer in me finally emerging!! Walking and writing have met, shaken hands and the creative juices are flowing in Walkin’, Writin’, Wit & Whimsy. I hope you think so too. - Linda Schaub
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58 Responses to The Red-winged Blackbirds are back; it must be Spring!  #Wordless Wednesday  #My stats: 27th annual GBBC (“Great Backyard Bird Count”)

  1. Zazzy's avatar Zazzy says:
    February 21, 2024 at 8:22 am

    I had a big ol’ crow in my tree yesterday. That’s the only bird I’ve seen lately.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Laurie's avatar Laurie says:
    February 21, 2024 at 8:28 am

    I just saw my first red-winged blackbird yesterday on a trip to a nearby lake to see the migrating snow geese and tundra swans. Also saw about 30 eagles!

    You had a good Backyard Bird Count!

    Liked by 2 people

    • Linda Schaub's avatar Linda Schaub says:
      February 21, 2024 at 8:47 pm

      I always feel like it is Spring when I hear the red-winged blackbirds call – sometimes it is so cold, their breath comes from their beak. I’ve only seen males so far. You had a wonderful day with the snow geese and tundra swans and eagles- I am envious of that Laurie. I was excited to see two trumpeter swans fly overhead at the Park yesterday. Did you have your grandsons with you? (I’m thinking you’re home and they may be on Winter Break.)

      I did have a good Backyard Bird Count and I got an e-mail today from e-Bird (where I posted) … they said it was their best BBC yet: “7.7k species and 289k eBird checklists” – good turnout for sure.

      Like

      • Laurie's avatar Laurie says:
        February 21, 2024 at 10:21 pm

        We did not have our grandsons with us – they were in school. They don’t have a winter break!

        Liked by 1 person

      • Linda Schaub's avatar Linda Schaub says:
        February 22, 2024 at 9:00 pm

        We never had winter break back in the day either. I think it is just since they consolidated Lincoln and Washington’s birthdays to make President’s Day, then made it into an entire week. I know your PA grandsons like nature too. I remember you helping them make birdseed and peanut butter pine cones for the the birds.

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Barbara Rodgers's avatar Barbara Rodgers says:
    February 21, 2024 at 9:31 am

    Yay, Spring!!! I haven’t seen a red-winged blackbird yet, lucky you! 🙂 May the sights and sounds of spring fill your heart with joy, my friend. 🐞🌷

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub's avatar Linda Schaub says:
      February 21, 2024 at 8:52 pm

      Yes, it felt good hearing them Barbara. Just seeing the males so far and we still had ice on the Creek this morning; a bit frosty and breath is coming from their beak(s). But it got to 61 degrees today (two degrees from an all-time record). The trees will be budding at this rate!

      Liked by 1 person

  4. dawnkinster's avatar dawnkinster says:
    February 21, 2024 at 12:36 pm

    I’ve been in bed sick since last Thursday, so I haven’t heard them. I’ll try to get out soon. They are a fool proof sign of spring!

    Liked by 1 person

  5. ruthsoaper's avatar ruthsoaper says:
    February 21, 2024 at 1:32 pm

    I haven’t seen or heard any yet but if you’re seeing them it won’t be long. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  6. lindalouslife's avatar lindalouslife says:
    February 21, 2024 at 3:39 pm

    I think red-winged blackbirds are beautiful. Sadly, they are a rare sighting for me.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. rajkkhoja's avatar rajkkhoja says:
    February 21, 2024 at 11:27 pm

    I have had a lot of dove & little sparrow around the building .Sometimes it sounds like. Beautiful you sharing Red winged black Birds. Nice pic capture the 🐦‍⬛ on the tree.
    I like.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub's avatar Linda Schaub says:
      February 22, 2024 at 9:02 pm

      We do have doves and sparrows around here too Raj. If I go into my backyard, there are lots of sparrows flying wildly and cheeping at the same time. It is nice to hear them, especially here on a cold Winter day and you walk outside and they are singing their hearts out.

      Liked by 1 person

  8. indianeskitchen's avatar indianeskitchen says:
    February 22, 2024 at 12:57 am

    Yes they are, along with the robins and vultures! Bring on spring!!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub's avatar Linda Schaub says:
      February 22, 2024 at 9:04 pm

      Yes, I’ve seen several robins – no vultures – yet! The weather can’t make up its mind … “should I be Spring-like today or Winter-like?” Today it was in the 50s – tomorrow blustery and cold again. And, just in time for the weekend, gray and high winds.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. AnnMarie R stevens's avatar AnnMarie R stevens says:
    February 22, 2024 at 1:21 pm

    Miss Linda…………………………………………I know I heard them chattering as I was walking past their old nests by the railroad and I-75 ………………………………….when they make their nests they will circle my head as I pass by………………………………..

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub's avatar Linda Schaub says:
      February 22, 2024 at 9:23 pm

      I think those Red-winged Blackbirds were surprised that it got that cold a few days later and were thinking “we should have stayed away longer!” Be careful walking by their old nests Ann Marie as they will dive bomb you if you get too close to a nest. Last year, there was a dead baby bird on the perimeter path at the Park. As I got closer, a male Red-winged Blackbird started dive-bombing me and getting very close. I think it thought I would step on the body. It was a little eerie and another walker came by and said the same bird did that to them the first time that day they walked around.

      Like

  10. Janis @ RetirementallyChallenged.com's avatar Janis @ RetirementallyChallenged.com says:
    February 22, 2024 at 5:42 pm

    We don’t have those here. I’m waiting for the first signs of the orioles’ annual visit. The females get here first so we won’t see the bright yellow plumage for a while.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub's avatar Linda Schaub says:
      February 22, 2024 at 9:27 pm

      Your orioles probably are waiting for all the rain to stop so they don’t get waterlogged! Do a lot of people put out oriole feeders Janis? Here in Michigan on various birding sites I follow, people follow the hummingbird migration and various oriole sightings and have those respective feeders ready once they enter the state.

      Like

  11. Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog's avatar Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog says:
    February 22, 2024 at 10:34 pm

    Yay! Birds know what future weather patterns will be… so that is a wonderful sign! I watch different bird species and one can tell upcoming weather patterns by observing what they do. 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub's avatar Linda Schaub says:
      February 23, 2024 at 8:52 pm

      I believe that Tom and I’m wondering if those Red-winged Blackbirds wish they had stayed put a while longer. We are having a very frosty Saturday. It was a good Bird Count Day last Friday – this Friday too. Poor Chickadees were getting crowded out of their peanut chips and sunflower seeds by the Juncos this morning!

      Like

  12. Terri Webster Schrandt's avatar Terri Webster Schrandt says:
    February 23, 2024 at 12:51 am

    Wow, you saw an abundance. I really have to go to the sort of local preserve next month! In March we’ll start seeing swallow. For now, much like yours with some Northern flickers along for the show.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub's avatar Linda Schaub says:
      February 23, 2024 at 9:01 pm

      I did have a great Bird Count Day Terri. I could have tallied up a lot this morning as well. They were out in the sunshine and 40 degrees, but tomorrow morning we have real feels of 6 or 7 degrees – yikes! I finally saw a Northern Flicker a year ago, after repeatedly hearing what sounded like a jungle bird to me. I described it to a fellow blogger and they said go to a birding site and look for a Northern Flicker. (I don’t have bird apps.) Sure enough that was what it was! Beautiful plumage!

      Liked by 1 person

      • Terri Webster Schrandt's avatar Terri Webster Schrandt says:
        February 23, 2024 at 9:43 pm

        I’ve managed to capture their red wing feathers on takeoff. Stay warm, it’s coming out way too!

        Liked by 1 person

      • Linda Schaub's avatar Linda Schaub says:
        February 25, 2024 at 6:48 pm

        It is always great to see them Terri. We had a very cold, windy, but sunny, weekend, but now too-warm weather on Tuesday will bring severe weather. It’s way too early for those worries! This weather has been a roller coaster ride for sure and at times I thought it might have been better to have a “normal” Winter (if such exists anymore).

        Liked by 1 person

  13. Shelley@QuaintRevival.com's avatar Shelley@QuaintRevival.com says:
    February 23, 2024 at 6:22 am

    Okay…now I’m curious how the stats program works? Do you log in to the site to share what you saw? That’s fun! I haven’t seen any RWBs yet, but we saw a Robin, so spring will arrive soon! Yay!

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Ally Bean's avatar Ally Bean says:
    February 23, 2024 at 3:12 pm

    Red-wing blackbirds are so dapper, like a well-dressed gentleman with a proper handkerchief in his suit coat pocket.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub's avatar Linda Schaub says:
      February 23, 2024 at 9:26 pm

      Yes, they do don’t they Ally? I follow a group of birder/hobby photographers and some of them have lenses as long as your arm and have already posted some amazing photos of them this Spring flaunting those “epaulets” while they are singing.

      Liked by 1 person

  15. Dave's avatar Dave says:
    February 25, 2024 at 10:23 am

    In our backyard I’m thinking: “The cotton-pickin’ squirrels are back; it must be Spring!” 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub's avatar Linda Schaub says:
      February 25, 2024 at 7:03 pm

      And soon it will be: “The pollen-covered, cotton-pickin’ squirrels are back; it must be Spring!” I have heard in news reports that the pollen in the Southern states is early and bad this year. Bless you in advance if you have allergies!

      Liked by 1 person

  16. singlikewildflowers's avatar singlikewildflowers says:
    February 27, 2024 at 8:17 pm

    We see these birds in the spring and summer and they have distinct songs!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub's avatar Linda Schaub says:
      February 27, 2024 at 8:42 pm

      Yes, they really do Esther – I am always happy to hear their call as it means Spring is on the way! (We had Summer today, a high of 73 degrees, but it will touch off a torrent of bad weather later, then tomorrow we have some snow!) The Red-winged Blackbirds will pack up and return to where they spent the Winter.

      Like

  17. J P's avatar J P says:
    March 10, 2024 at 11:58 pm

    Woo hoo, I got up to one where comments are not closed!!

    When you mention red wings, all I can think of are hockey and work shoes.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub's avatar Linda Schaub says:
      March 11, 2024 at 8:00 pm

      JP, well I resisted forever, but finally had to close comments after 30 days due to all the SPAM. I was getting 100, sometimes 200+ SPAM messages in my junk mail filter per day, so that’s what WordPress recommended I do. Yes, red wings are big in Michigan (even though they are tanking right now) and we had that shoe store nearby as well.

      Liked by 1 person

      • J P's avatar J P says:
        March 11, 2024 at 8:11 pm

        I had set up my account to require me to manually approve each new commenter, and that has kept the spam at bay, though I have taken the time (whether necessary or not) to delete the unapproved comments.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Linda Schaub's avatar Linda Schaub says:
        March 11, 2024 at 8:29 pm

        I was trying to keep the SPAM filter pared down, but it got out of control and I was concerned I would overlook a legitimate comment.

        Liked by 1 person

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