I think we are finally here! Spring-Part 3;)
Down the hatch…he/she left me the head…as usual:) A raven picked it up, the dropped it on the upper deck…A little present of a dried-up catfish head. Never a dull moment here;)
Did I mention the ice is gone! Ha! As I sat watching from the house window, the entire shelf sank…just like that! 24° will do that!
It’s always a milestone, saying goodbye to the ice. No eagle/otter squirmishes this year, but look who I heard as it paddled around this end of the lake:) Hopefully its partner will show up soon as well!
Then the sun came out! I don’t know who was happier, the Mewberries or me! “It’s 24.2° and all is good with the cat world!” says Groot!
The chorus of Spring peepers, wood frogs and everything else celebrating Spring’s arrival was music to our ears!
The first Painted Turtles of the year were sunbathing on their favourite log by the mailbox! A Mourning Cloak butterfly fluttered around my head before landing. I startled a Garter Snake sunbathing as I walked down to the lake.
The Turkey Vultures were riding the thermals…”Hello there!” Five were perched in a maple preening, enjoying the glorious thing called sunshine!
I should have gone down to the canoe before sunrise. I have to admit I chickened out that morning. I saw the sunrise, then I saw the -° symbol in front of the temperature and decided to wait until it warmed up to go out, a quick shot through the open door!
The lake is back! The clouds moved in after sunrise but oh my it was a glorious sunrise!
The swan pair disappeared, and I have only seen junior a few times, alone, so I decided to go investigate their nest area from last year…there they were! Making a nest, lining it, a new spot, a bit further away, on a small island under a tree!
She picked a shade tree this Spring! Both male Trumpeter swan (cob) and female (pen) often share nest-sitting, taking turns so one can forage, preen, and stretch. She/he was still poking at the nest so maybe no eggs yet! Last year I didn’t find them until May 1st! I’ll be checking every few days to see how things are going!
I tried sneaking up on this pair in the mailbox swamp, but they wanted nothing to do with me!;) Ring Necked Ducks. Way better than flyers or bills;)
I had Mike drive me up to the Great Blue Heron’s nests to check on them. They were all empty last visit, but we have two moved in! Will keep checking as well, a bit later this year than most but given our weather, not a shock! Hope the other nests get tenants! This heron was busy arranging the sticks. Need to bring the tripod or hip waders to get a bit clearer shot!
Back on the LBB front the feeders are busy! I am taking them down at night so the black bears don’t do that for me! They might be squirrel-proof, but not bear-proof! With the maples in bloom the birds have been eating, picking at the blossoms!
The Woodpeckers have made a truce with the Grackles, they even have been eating together, except for the Red Bellied…not a chance, they say! Ha!
..and the rest of the gang…they have worked it out! Take a number maybe?
The wind is howling today, we have waves! NO canoeing today! Thankfully the last few mornings have been glorious. Rocket woke me up at 5 a.m. on Thursday, Groot took his turn on Friday…the cost for letting me know there is a magnificent sunrise happening, just a few crunchies Müther! Priceless!
…and that’s April so far, who knows what surprises and new arrivals await us! I saw our first dragonflies yesterday while driving back from town! Now to hoof it out there and find out who they are! Barn day tomorrow, hopefully the horses will pose and not be filling their toothless old mouths with delicious fresh grass…nah…they will be eating! I will document their never-ending search for food! Saludos amigos!
