Shortly after noon today (March 1), a male Red-winged Blackbird visited the backyard feeding area here in Norwich village. This was was my first 2009 sighting of this species in Norwich. The earliest date of my spring sightings of Red-wings in Norwich was on February 21, 1998, when 4 males were seen. Other years with my earliest Norwich sightings in February were 1997 and 2002, but in most years I haven't encountered one until March. The arrival of Red-wings is a fine sign of impending spring, but I won't put away the snow shovel just yet. George George Clark Norwich, VT **************************************************************** To post messages, send e-mail to: [log in to unmask] Set your e-mail application to PLAIN TEXT ONLY to post messages. To contact the list owner: [log in to unmask] ---------------------------------------------------------------- Web based archives and subscription management are available at: http://listserv.dartmouth.edu/Archives/uv-birders.html ****************************************************************