The two pair of geese might decide that they came back too early as the pond barely had some open water when it cold enough overnight to create a new ice layer. By afternoon, the geese broke through the thinner ice and one had to belly flop to get back up on the ice. Tonight will be colder yet so the might not thaw enough for their afternoon swim.
Returning Geese Pair
The wind was blowing the new snow today and it has snowed on the poor robin’s tails more than three times so it is time for spring but the forecast doesn’t have any warm temperatures in the coming week.
Spring Won’t Come
I had a pair of geese standing on my snow pile today and not sure why they didn’t like the bare ground instead, but eventually they made their way down to my pond. The pond is still mostly covered by ice although the big patch drifted to one end so there was an open spot. And in that open slice of water, I spotted the first returning duck of the season. The male Hooded Merganser has black head with a large white patch that varies in size when his crest is raised or lowered,
First Duck of Spring
Today’s snow and rain may have made its way inside the one end of this red barn and it may be longing for spring to return with warmer temperatures.
Patch Job Needed
The rain today is helping to melt the snow and filling the streams and rivers, which would add more flow to this old 1870 mill.
Hyde’s Mill
More snow melted over night with the temperature staying above freezing as more birds have returned giving more hints of spring coming. The geese have been flying overhead while the red-winged blackbirds are singing down by my pond, even if the pond still has an ice layer yet. And while it is hard sometimes to spot the killdeer, their call has announced their arrival several days ago. Killdeers will display the broken-wing act when predators get too close to their nest.
Killdeer Returned
Ten years ago, these flowers were blooming for the first day of spring. There is no hint of leaves poking up through the ground where the snow recently melted so no Snow Glories to signal the start of spring this year.
No Spring Flowers
The calendar may say that spring starts tomorrow, but the below freezing foggy morning made the day look wintry with the frosty trees.
Not Spring Yet
With more snow melting today exposing some bare ground, the robins have returned but no worms have emerged from the frozen soil yet for a bird snack.
Returning Robin
This bee is more interested in the white blossom than the green shamrock on this St. Patrick’s Day, although it would be hard even to find a dried plant from last year poking through the snow and definitely no new blossoms for a while.
Shamrock Bee
