Robins are back

Yesterday was a fine warm day where the temperature got above 10 degrees. The snow is rapidly melting and the robins have finally returned. The day before yesterday I saw my first robin on the berm.

This is an exciting time of year when each day one or two new insect species make their first appearance after the long winter. Yesterday the flies like the one below were out in force.

Cluster Fly (Genus Pollenia)

Cluster flies overwinter as adults and are the most common fly around in early spring according to one commenter in the bugguide. Their larvae are parasites of earth worms.

Signs of Spring

I saw my first insect yesterday, some sort of flying insect, a midge perhaps. The temperature was hovering around zero and the ground is still snow covered yet the insects are stirring. The birds know spring is around the corner too. I saw my first red-wing blackbirds on the 12th staking out claims in the bushes across the road. I haven't seen a robin yet, perhaps the snow is still too deep. It will take quite some time to melt the snow pack this year. A couple of weeks ago on the 12th when the last warm spell attempted to make a dent in the snow banks, it formed a large puddle over the bike path.