Well, not many migrants here yet, but a fair amount of activity in the yard.
The kinglets have mostly come and gone, but I heard a couple yesterday. The
migrating White crowned Sparrows showed up yesterday, but not in high
numbers yet.. The Am. Goldfinches, which usually only pass through the
yard, have been singing as though they are trying to establish territories.
I saw a House Finch pair "getting it on" outside the window this morning.
The House Sparrow colony on the barn has, once again, successfully defended
"their" barn against Starlings looking for nest sites. The House Sparrows
seem to have resolved their internal disputes and settled down to serious
family rearing. Earlier this spring, they would get into a tussel on the
barn and a fighting pair would sometimes tumble to the ground, only
separating just before the dogs got close enough to try to grab one. The
Robins have been having vicious territorial fights as well.

Slightly less prosaic yard notes: Last week, a Mourning Dove spent all
morning carrying twigs into a juniper in the yard. The Gray Partridges have
been unusually noisy and visible in the adjacent fields and brush, sometimes
even strutting across bare fields making their odd squeaky chuckles. A pair
of Ravens were checking out the tall trees in the yard yesterday, but got
agitated when I went outside with the dogs. They seem to have rejected the
yard as a nesting site, to my great disappointment.

Kelly Cassidy
Pullman