First sightings - Robins, Narcissus and Bluebirds

American Robin Bill Purcell.  Next.

fronteraaudubon.org

I travel between Zones 6b and 7a several times a week, so I can often predict what's coming for Hampshire County at least one week in advance.

Last week I saw  American Robins (Turdus migratorius) and Daffodils (Narcissus spp.) in the city.  On a long walk on Saturday in Hampshire County I saw the first robin, many daffodil leaves, and another member of the thrush family, Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis).  


This morning along the South Branch, there were robins and bluebirds everywhere.

Daffodils - February, 2012

Eastern Bluebird parents. Paula Apro of Eastford CT. 

First Crocuses

Shoots from bulbs are triggered almost entirely by sustained increase in temperature of the surrounding soil.  So in mild winters like this one, it's likely they will appear earlier this Spring.  We saw daffodil shoots (Narcissus sp.) over the weekend, and we saw our first crocus blooms (Crocus sp.) this morning.


Crocus is a genus of perennials in the iris family with about 80 species. Crocuses are native to Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia, and south to North Africa.  They are successful at nearly all altitudes, and that's one reason why they do well in the mid-Atlantic.

You've probably seen photos of crocuses blooming in the snow, and it sounds like we'll get the chance to see that tomorrow.