Mayes Lake in Spring & Spring Migration
(March, April, May)
by Reese & Louise Partridge
Photo by Skipper Anding
Expected Birds
The first harbingers of spring are the swifts and swallows as early as late February, with Black and White Warblers, Northern Parulas, Yellow Throated Vireos, Yellow Throated Warblers, Prothonotary Warblers and others soon following in late March and early April. Other woodland species during spring migration include American Redstart, Magnolia Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Chestnut sided Warbler, Blue Winged Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, White-eyed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Indigo Bunting and Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Birds that you would expect to see around ponds include Little Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Cattle Egret and Great Egret. Birds lingering through the early part of spring before departing northward include Cedar Waxwing, American Goldfinch and White Throated Sparrow. Many of the birds mentioned under "Summer" will already be present or be arriving during spring and may be seen. Keep in mind that the gates to Mayes Lake are sometimes closed for days at a time in Winter and early Spring due to high water on the Pearl River.
Other Possible Birds
Other possible spring migrants include Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Scarlet Tanager, Baltimore Oriole, and Orchard Oriole. Look for the handful of mulberry trees along the trail that serve as magnets for fruit eaters like orioles, Rose Breasted Grosbeaks, tanagers and Indigo Buntings. Vines also frequently attract migrants. One of the migrant hotspots is the area within 50 yards or so of the narrow strip of land between the lakes near the Nature Trail entrance.
