DUNCANVILLE, TEXAS — Yesterday morning, I birded Cedar Ridge Preserve before work. Not far from the parking lot, I heard a loud repetitive song that I couldn’t quite place. I knew it was a warbler, but which one…?

There’s usually a bit of relearning that takes place each spring, but in this case, it’s been two years since I was here in the spring, so I’m rustier than usual.

Creeping toward the cedars where I heard the sound, I no sooner thought, “Ovenbird!” than the little bird moved and I was able to focus on its orange cap and bold black breast spots. Moments later, I had brief glimpses of the spring’s first Nashville Warbler in an oak.

That afternoon at Joe Pool Lake, things were pretty quiet, but I did have two singing Indigo Buntings and a pair of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers.

This is the fruiting body of an earth star fungus. More in yesterday’s gallery.

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