It felt a little more like spring today on this first full day of astronomical spring as there were more robins in the yard today even if just a few degrees above freezing and not very sunny. But another spring voice was heard today with the return of the red-winged blackbird (although I didn’t see it, only heard it singing).
Return of the Red-winged
The calendar says it is the start of spring, but with a cloudy day and with temperatures not making it above freezing today, it sure didn’t feel too much like spring. Although I did finally spot one lone robin in my yard today but no chance of spotting any flowers, not even any crocuses next to the house.
Not Spring Yet
Some robins have been spotted in the area, even though I haven’t seen any in my yard yet and I saw a few flocks of geese heading north as well as some cranes. The sandhill cranes won’t find any open ground by me yet so they have to fly to another location if they don’t stand in snow. The earliest Sandhill Crane fossil, estimated to be 2.5 million years old, was unearthed in the Macasphalt Shell Pit in Florida.
Sandhill Crane
The sunset is later now after the daylight saving time change and with the days gaining more daylight hours as spring approaches but winter is hanging on with the snow covered ground which sometimes catches some of the evening colors.
Still Winter Sunset
There wasn’t too much green around today for St. Patrick’s Day. And it was hard to imagine green leaves and red apples when pruning the bare limbs of an apple tree today, especially trying to wade through a snow drift that came up to to my pant pockets to get to the tree.
Long Wait for Apples
Some years there are early wildflowers blooming by the middle of March, but not this year especially since the snow is still way too deep to spot any hepatica blossoms.
Wildflowers Still Missing
There was some water running across the driveway, one sign that there is some snow melting but there wasn’t a lot of melt off yet and I fell in the deep snow today. But a slow melt helps prevent flooding and the water is not rushing like this river.
Rapid Flow
The last couple of sunny days haven’t been warm enough to melt a lot of snow yet but there was some water dripping from the roof like a tiny waterfall. This waterfall doesn’t have a lot of flow in the fall and sounded a lot like the snow falling off my eaves.
Low Flow at Twin Falls
It is a good thing the spring birds haven’t return here yet as they would find everything still buried in snow. Sometimes there doesn’t seem to be more than a sliver of open water before trumpeter swan return before the calendar says it isn’t winter anymore.
Early Trumpeter Swans
There are some areas covered with icy water backing up on the side of the roads where culverts are still frozen. Those same areas are often yellow and green with marsh marigolds in the spring and it is what I rather see than ice.
Seeing Yellow and Green
