I'm sorry; this is long. I simply can't "bird talk" briefly.

I had lots of blessings today, and "just enough" challenges.

- - - - - Sunshine! - - - - -

Sunshine! Glorious sunshine! Sunshine on my shoulders, and on the empty garden beds, and on the formerly chilled and very hungry Purple Martins. Sunshine on the honey bees and the Chickadees.

There was no more rain after about 9 a.m. Sunshine until nearly 9 p.m. I was outside without wearing a fleece jacket. Temps hit the mid-70s. Heaven!

- - - - - The Martins got to eat! - - - - -

The martins were even happier than I. They were gone all day, feeding, and came zooming in, full of vigor, vinegar, and life, about 9 p.m. I saw five; there may have been more. They were chattering and singing and watching me rearrange the feeders on the big tree.

They are so inquisitive. They don't miss a thing when we're working outside.

There's no nest building going on; they're still in survival mode because of the nearly three weeks of very cold-to-freezing, windy, rainy weather.

- - - - - Cheepers by the half-dozen - - - - -

I checked the Chickadee box and saw SIX little heads; all of the eggs hatched! The chicks all gape at the same time, tiny bills snapping. I watched Mr. and Mrs. C. hunting all over the neighbor's dead elm tree for baby food.

- - - - - Tree Swallows - - - - -

Four Tree Swallows came zooming in like fighter pilots. They were absolutely berserk.

They buzzed the gourds, several times.

They buzzed all the nest boxes.

They buzzed me.

They buzzed off.

I'm certain they'll buzz back.

- - - - - Squirrely Squirrels - - - - -

The Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks are out in full force. I had to hang an extra feeder. The squirrels have breached feeder security and they don't like to share. I thought a second BOSS feeder would be best until I can, once again, try to circumvent the squirrels. I have baffles over each feeder, but the squirrels will jump and bounce off of several limbs to jockey into a full feeder.

- - - - - Head Hunter - - - - -

On a more "downer" side. The mysterious head hunter struck again. There were two decapitated Chipping Sparrows in the open bait trap this morning. This time there were feathers everywhere.

I know the Chippies don't eat at night so they're having to be caught after first light and before we're out and about. I leave the access door to the trap open so they can come in and out as they please and eat their seeds in peace.

To prevent more gruesome deaths, I removed the saucer of seed, closed the top door to the trap, and turned it up on end. The Chippys can not get in now so no one should be dead in the morning. Once I'm up, I'll re-bait and set up the open trap in anticipation of actually catching HOSP.

- - - - - Bang your head! - - - - -

While rearranging feeders in the big tree, and using a 10' long telescoping pole to help place them, I dropped a 5' long steel hanging hook onto my head and chin. No big deal, but it hurt, and loosened one of the lens out of my glasses.

Off on Monday to the eye clinic for glasses repairs.

Happy Birding, folks.