Hey tweets, chill and gray, the Fill was made beautiful today by the song of birds in spring: chittering Violet-green Swallows as kelly green as an Irish bard; a Greater Yellowlegs tootling its way north; hordes of Pine Siskins chattering amongst themselves while American Goldfinches took life more seriously, chasing each other round and round the bushes; and a first-year male Purple Finch trying out his song for the girls - if I'm any judge, he'll be a hit someday.

In the midst of the symphony, I heard a song I knew I had heard before but could not identify. My voice recognition neurons must have been hibernating, or maybe I couldn't believe my ears at first: It was a Common Yellowthroat singing on territory down near the sloughs along Douglas Road. I don't remember ever seeing one so early before.

Douglas Road is one of my favorite walks at the Fill. It curves off from Clark Road, heading south toward the gravel Dime Lot. It is that curve in the road I like best. I never know what I will see around the bend, but I know it will be good. That sure promise of joy is something I treasure, because I don't always find it on other roads in my life.

Here is a poem for you today:

Long winter made me forget you,
masked bandit of spring.
Your song the sweetest,
your eye brightest,
golden thief stealing my heart away.

- Connie