Spring Birding in the Yard

There was a surprising little push of migrants in the yard yesterday. A Lincoln's Sparrow, which has been around for about a week is still there, but new for the year were three migrants: a "Mountain" White-crowned Sparrow (subspecies oriantha, distinctive for the black supraloral region and darker reddish-orange bill), a Common Yellowthroat, and two Pine Siskins (a pair, the male continually doing his rising "schwreeeeeeee" directed at the female, eventually pursuing her so aggressively they she led them both off). Finally, a Eurasian Collared-Dove announced its presence with its ringing "coo-COOO-coo" while sitting in a tree next to a White-winged Dove. I've seen a couple within a mile of the house, but this was a first for the yard. It's #124. Along with the residents, the wintering Yellow-rumped Warbler, a wandering Bronzed Cowbird and recently-
arrived Black-chinned Hummingbird, I had 25 species of birds in the yard yesterday. Western Kingbird will be arriving any day now.