As I watched the snowflakes fall tomorrow, it seemed almost difficult to think that lush green foliage will appear again. Ferns first appear in the fossil record about 360 million years ago and it almost seems like it will take a million days to see them again with the delayed spring this year.
Summertime Ferns
The red-winged blackbirds have been very vocal and they are probably complaining that the pond is still covered in ice where they often build their nests among the cattails. But with nights below freezing, they better not try to lay eggs yet until it warms up to melt the ice and snow.
No Nest in the Cattails Yet
The robins have had their tails snowed on more than the required three times for spring to come. And the deer that I saw in the ditch looked skinny and probably would like to see the snow gone to be able to find something to eat which isn’t buried under the snow. These poor deer are up to their necks in snow!
Up to Their Necks in Snow
Some of the streams are flowing again and I spotted some ducks where there was some open water but I imagine the water was a bit on the chilly side especially where new ice was recovering the ponds.
Finding Open Water
It sure felt like old man winter was blowing some very cold air around today and there was no hint of spring whatsoever especially if a record low temperature might be set tonight.
Blowing Cold Air
I think the birds are tired of the snowy spring too as they been hitting the feeders rather hard and even a turkey was hanging out under the feeder this evening. I haven’t heard the killdeer anymore so it may have headed back south instead of running around on top of the snow. At least sandhill cranes have longer legs to wade through the snow but I think they prefer bare ground to do their walking and dancing.
Sandhill Crane Walk
Sandhill Crane Dance
https://youtu.be/6mQIWYeYLH0&w=640&h=430&rel=0
Just an hour south of my place on Sunday had very little snow and some of the white seen on the water was trumpeter swans, but now those areas also have a new coating of snow too.
Before the Snow
Winter is refusing to release its hold this year as another snow storm drops more of that cold white stuff. I watched items on the lawn, which were emerging from the white layer, get completely covered over again with snow. Those robins have had their tails get covered with snow too many times already so spring should be allowed to come but instead forecast calls for cold and more snow.
Winter Still Here
Winter seems to have rewound and started all over as more snow is falling again today. If the seasons need to rewind, then why not back to autumn where it would be warmer and more colorful.
Rewind to Autumn
Mother Nature played an April Fool’s Day joke on this Easter day when the morning broke on a very cold note and the snow did not disappear overnight. It would have been preferable to see a nice sunrise when the temperature was near normal for April 1 instead of 20 degrees colder. And with more snow predicted in the coming days, the winter joke is continuing for the beginning of April with no hint of spring.
Cold April Morning
