The day has clouded over but earlier this morning the moon was out and there was a pink sky, (but I didn’t stop to take a picture of the sunrise so I wouldn’t late for church). Each sunrise and sunset is different with changes happening each minute as the sun sets or rises.
Easter Sunday Sunrise
When I was outside one day last week looking for any hint of some wildflower, a pair of ducks were circling to land in my pond but they spotted me and flew off. I didn’t recognize the smaller duck species as each spring I get some temporary visitors on their journey farther north. The next evening they did land in the pond but since it was so windy that day, they stayed hidden behind the long grass so I still couldn’t identify them
A couple of years ago, I did have some visiting Blue-winged Teal ducks stop over on their trek back from their winter stay in South America but since my pond is too small, they ventured elsewhere after a day of resting.
Pair of Blue-winged Teal Ducks
I still haven’t spotted any wildflowers but when it is below freezing this morning again, the flowers are wise not to poke their heads up yet. The only green and growing plant that I have spotted so far is moss. The tall, stalk-like sporophytes were waving in the strong winds above the low, leaf-like gametophytes of the moss. But moss might end up in a chickadee nest as moss is a favorite material for the nest foundation and I did see a chickadee going into a birdhouse this spring already.
Moss Sporophytes
Yesterday the ice layer on Lake Superior broke up and open water appeared again where I was standing for this picture so another sign that spring is coming and the rain last night took the last of my snow pile finally. But with chances of snow in the forecast, it might not be the last of the white stuff this spring yet.
Winter Fading
According to the Farmers’ Almanac, if it thunders on All Fool’s Day, it brings good crops of corn and hay. We could use a good crop season but so far all day the thunderstorms have been staying just to the north, although there is a line of storms heading this direction now. The cropland remains idle after the long winter so hopefully the April Fool’s Day storm will bring a great crop year.
April Fool’s Day Thunder
An English proverb describes typical March weather as “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.” And it looks like March went out like a lamb this year as I was able to open the windows since it warmed to 62 this afternoon. That was preferable to having a snow storm when March goes out like a lion instead.
March Out Like A Lamb
Temperatures slightly above freezing yesterday afternoon melted the ice that fell earlier in the day which was a good thing with the strong winds making the tree branches rattle. So winter days aren’t so lucky when the heavy ice break limbs and power lines. I just don’t know if ice counted as snow for the robin tail for spring to finally come.
Ice Encased Leaf
There wasn’t a colorful Sunday sunrise this morning since it was cloudy and the trees were rattling with ice from the freezing rain overnight. The yard was full of robins this morning but I don’t think ice counts as snow on the robin’s tail so spring might not be here yet.
Sunday Sunrise
My robin is to blame for the predicted snow and sleet tonight since I keep seeing him duck under the pine tree so the snow can’t land on his tail during the brief snow showers, so apparently it has only snowed on the robin twice and not the three times for spring to truly arrive and stay. I might have to stake the robin in the middle of the yard tonight so that the snow can land on his tail and be done with winter. I guess that is why the robin is Wisconsin’s state bird because we have six or more months of winter!
Robin Causing it to Snow
The morning was a crisp 17 degrees so if there had been flowers poking up in between the snow showers, they would be rather stiff. The sun is shining this morning but no colorful flowers to brighten the landscape as in prior years, so I will have to wait a few more weeks for the daffodils and other spring flowers.
Daffodils Dancing
