Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Female.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Male.

Tiger Swallowtail downed by last nights heavy rain and hail.  When I first found it the wings were open-now closed.  It did not look too badly damaged and it will probably make it-butterflies are tougher than one would think.

Catbird in apple tree.

Northern(Baltimore) female in our apple tree.

Northern(Baltimore) Oriole in full spring color.

One year old male Oriole-does not have full color yet.

Catbirds also relish the grape jelly.

Oriole in our apple tree.  They love grape jelly, oranges, and apple flowers.

The first Orioles showed up at our place yesterday.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak.  It appears he is eating the orange, but they are only interested in the sunflower seeds below the oranges.

WARBLER MIGRATION IS STARTING

Black and White Warbler.  The Wood Warblers are just arriving in any numbers now.

Black & White Warbler.  Today is the first day that we have seen several species of wood warblers arrive from the tropics and sub-tropics.  Wood Warblers are a family of small, very colorful birds that arrive here in May to nest.  Most are just passing thru, on their way to Northern Minnesota or Canada, but some warblers do nest in S.E. Minnesota.
Today we saw Yellow-rumped, Ovenbird, Black&White, Redstart, Nashville, and Palm Warblers in Forestville St. Park.

WOODLAND WILDFLOWER GUIDE SHEETS(4), I published a few years ago.

H

Plum trees are just beginning to bloom.

First Rose-breasted Grosbeak arrived this morning.  The Hummers and Orioles can't be far behind.

Male Sharp-shinned hawk hunting song birds near our feeders today.  (Male Sharp-shinned and Male Coopers hawks are almost identical except for their tails-never did see the tail on this one so not 100% sure of ID)

Hunting from old fence rail about 30 ft. from the house.