Two little hepatica blossoms emerged but they were closed in the late afternoon when the clouds rolled in. The spring peepers were making their cheerful singing and a frog jumped into the pond, but I haven’t seen any tree frogs yet. Although maybe tomorrow it will be warm enough to release my house guest tree frog back to the great outdoors.
Floating Frog
The sunshine was a little deceiving today as the wind made it feel cold. Maybe the next few warmer days will give a chance for wildflowers to finally emerge and open this spring. In my woods, the first wildflowers to appear are the hepaticas, which range from violet to white color.
Woods First Wildflower
The other night what I thought was a cat on the side of the road, turned out to be an owl but between the darkness and the few seconds before it flew off, I didn’t determine what type of owl it was. This red morph Eastern Screech Owl would not have had the sun getting in his eyes today while it napped during the day.
Owl Nap Time
After the rain, the robins were busily grabbing and eating worms off the lawn this morning. Chipmunks also will eat earthworms (when they aren’t destroying my garden). Today they had more brush piles to hide in as I picked up more branches off the lawn.
Chipmunk Hiding in Brush Pile
While the robins may signal the return of spring, a very small amphibian announce spring in a loud chorus. More hints that spring is here was heard the last couple of days with the ‘Spring peepers’ high-pitched call coming from the pond.
The Peep from Spring Peeper
This country church in Eau Galle, Wisconsin, is celebrating its centennial this year as the brick church was built in 1917.
Saint Henry Church
At least Mother Nature didn’t throw an April Fool’s joke since it was a nice spring day and several species of butterflies were flying around as bird were singing. A Mourning Cloak and Eastern Comma both were playing tag around my cats, but at least they stayed out of the cats pouncing range.
Return of the Butterflies
As March comes to an end, I guess it went out like a lamb once the sun came out later in the day when the bluebirds were singing in the yard. The pond had new visitors today too with a pair of geese camped out all day and a pair of mallards later in the day. I hope the geese move on since they are rather messy and I want room in the pond for when the wood ducks return.
Geese Out
The spring birds weren’t singing today in the damp, cloudy day as it didn’t feel very springlike since there was no sun or bright yellow flowers blooming.
Sunny Spring Flowers
If the field mice haven’t tried to reclaim their squatter rights today, the bluebirds might have a dry place in their birdhouse to spend the night.
Bluebird Claiming House
