Spring? I'm Not So Sure.....

After temperatures yesterday pushed well past 50 degrees, today was certainly a set-back.  Did it make it past 40? I'm not sure.  Even with the bright sunshine, the winds made the day intolerable (in my opinion).  Too damned chilly for this guy who wants spring desperately....

That said, the past week has seen an influx of spring migrants.  Generally speaking, you can set your clock to some of these birds.  They are amazingly consistent with their arrivals in the region. When they get here, you know warmer temps (and grills and spring beers) are coming.    Eastern Meadowlark, Great Egret, and American Woodcock have all returned.   Spring is coming...so say the birds! 

So a few days ago, during a snow squall (grrrr...),  I saw a bird who is hardly  a sign of the spring to come.....

Northern Harriers are kinda peculiar in the bird world as far as southeast Michigan is concerned.  Nesting is few and far between so you basically see them in fall migration, spring migration, or see birds that have over-wintered.

The migration thing is the funny part.  Hawkwatchers joke that the species never seems to stop migrating!  While many bird species have defined (even tight) windows of migration, harriers seem to be the opposite.  You can see them the opening day of your count, the final day of your count or any day in between! For that matter, they are not unusual days or weeks after a count has ended.  Or even before.  Really, they are always migrating....

Catching a glimpse of this bird a few days back didn't really brighten my spirits as far as spring goes.  

Was he hunting the field along the park entrance for the ump-teenth time as a winter resident?

Maybe.

Was he an honest-to-goodness migrant heading north? 

Maybe.

With those questions, know that I could easily have seen this bird hunting the same field in April....or May......or December.....or August.....  

You get the picture.

So, the happy, hunting Harrier is hardly a harbinger of spring in this neck of the woods.   The forecasters are calling for spring, but this fellow is not helping any...

50 degrees by the end of the week. I'm ready...