My ears told me before my eyed did that some Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) had returned to my local marshland park. I heard the very distinctive song of the blackbird last summer and fall often enough that it’s embedded in my brain. I am working on a couple of photos of blackbirds on cattails, but thought I’d share this image first.
It’s sort of a silhouette, but the red and yellow portion of the wing are very visible, so it’s probably not a true silhouette. There is something simple and graphic about the image that I like, even though normally important details like the eyes are not visible.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved
Mike Powell 
I’ve been waiting for these birds too. They use the cattail fluff for nesting material and we have plenty of cattails here.
I think that things happen a bit earlier here than in New Hampshire. As it is, I suspect you are still digging out from the snowstorm and we have rain today and a projected high temperature of 60.
Yes-there has been a lot of digging going on!
Really, it’s spring at your house? We’re still adding inches of snow to our ground cover. So jealous. The cardinals and chickadees have started singing, though. Silly birds.
I wouldn’t say it’s spring already, but it seems like we are a whole lot closer than you are. Today’s high is projected for 57 degrees and the highs are expected in the low 50’s all week (then down to the 30’s for next weekend). I am keeping my eyes and ears peeled for the signs of spring. I’m hoping for nesting birds and all kinds of photo ops.