Nature Connection: Finding Spring In All The Right Places

Spring is such a fickle season here on the Cape. It’s true that some years the herring arrive ahead of the shadbush coming into bloom and the hummingbirds arrive a few days later than we wanted, but mostly, they all show up pretty close to on time. 

The towhees, catbirds and orioles have been arriving steadily this past week, and if you haven’t seen or heard one yet, you will soon. The warblers have begun arriving with the black and white warblers among the first, as they usually are. Keep your eyes and ears open every day now for some of the best days for birdwatching on Cape Cod are upon us.

We recently spent a few days on the Outer Cape walking as many trails as we could and taking in all the sights, scents and vistas that we had time for. It has been a long, sad spring so far in our house, so we were glad to get out and about and remind ourselves that being outside while spring is springing is good for everything that ails us. Being witness to the constant cycling of life helps put everything in perspective, I think.

If you need a boost, get outside and explore areas you are less familiar with. Find new vistas to enjoy, new paths to explore. I’ve lived on the Cape my whole life and I’m old now. I still find new places in every town. It’s great to revisit old favorites, too.

We began our walking tour at Fort Hill in Eastham because it never fails us. We chatted with the rabbits chewing grass on the side of the trails and listened to the red-winged blackbirds and grackles call. We noted that the invasive mustards don’t mind the cold, damp conditions of an early May day and that the bumble bees were out and about.

On the marsh we heard the calls of willets and stopped to watch their antics as they chased each other about. These large shorebirds are common here, often seen walking along the shoreline in their rather drab brown plumage as they search for food. Disrupt them, however, and you will see their flashy black and white wing markings and realize they are not drab at all. Willets nest in marshy areas and right now are establishing territories and pairing up. They are quite vocal and easy to spot and are great birds for kids and beginning birders to get familiar with.

The herring are running in huge numbers, and the birds are stuffing themselves in the marshes, at the runs, and even in the ponds where those fish that make it through the hair-raising gauntlets of predators lay eggs. Anywhere there are herring you will see gulls but also numerous ospreys and, in some areas, bald eagles. Several kinds of herons may also be seen stalking the single-minded fish as they make their way upstream.

In another spot we watched fish crows communing around a boat on a dock. One had found some snacks left behind and the others were happy to get in on the action. This activity entertained us as well as them. Laughing gulls tried to stop by and join the party but were escorted out of the area by two of the crows which then hurried back so as not to lose their places.

The white cedar swamp by Marconi Beach in Wellfleet is a wonderful place to walk at any time of year, but in the spring it is especially fun. The colors of the moss and the rusty water colored by the leaching tannins from the trees give it an other-world feeling and appearance. An agitated nuthatch had a lot to say though we never caught sight of what must have been an intruder. Kinglets called overhead and pine warblers sang as we walked. We got some lovely looks at two male pine warblers that were not happy being in such close proximity, and we left them to their dispute as we continued on our way.

By the dunes we saw and heard multiple male towhees. Perched on shrubs and stunted pines, they were clearly setting up territories so they’d be ready when the females arrived, which should be this week.

Bearberry, a cousin of our cranberry, was in bloom all over and looking spiffy. Lots of bees and hover flies were interested in the flowers, and we saw a painted lady butterfly near one patch. 

Driving along a back road, I spied a long stick or wire in the road and I slowed down to get a better look. Sure enough, it was neither of those things but a large black racer snake which shot across the warm pavement when I came to a stop. Many snakes get run over in spring so be alert, especially early in the day when the warm pavement is inviting to snakes and turtles who relish the warmth after a cold night.

The strangest sighting of our few days of walking trails and beaches was also totally unexpected. I stopped to investigate a rustling of leaves, because, well, it’s what I do. I spotted a shrew, a small relative of mice. This would have been unusual enough, but as I stood there, multiple shrews appeared, all running about in the leaves, making a ruckus, feeding. There were more than a dozen, perhaps 20 of them. I sent a video to a naturalist friend to confirm they were indeed shrews and we agreed it was a very odd sighting. Shrews tend to be solitary, but these guys didn’t seem to mind the company, and we saw no signs of courting or mating.

One never knows what one will find when one heads out on a trail so keep your eyes and ears open. This is a most wonderful time of year. Enjoy it! Before we know it, summer will be here.