Spring finally arrived the last day of April as the temperature reached 81 and the last of the snow melted in my yard. The south winds blew in a male oriole, dragonflies, butterflies and the female bluebirds. And some flowers finally opened up with one lone daffodil, two hepaticas, and some clumps of snow glories.
Snow Glories Open Up
Many people were enjoying the outdoors on this sunny, warmer Sunday. For some it meant some yard work (at least were the snow has melted), but others may have taken a walk or even a hike. They would have to be extra careful if hiking along some of rivers which are running full or flooding due to the melting snow. It wouldn’t take long for a toy boat to disappear from sight in this fast flowing water.
Rushing Water
The weird spring weather messed up the pussy willows this year as most are still in the cute pussy toes look but one shrub must have thought spring came by the calendar instead of the actual weather as it has reached the bushy, spiky stage already.
Pussy Willow Past Prime
The warmer days allow the cats and kittens to play outside instead of hiding out in the barns, but of course that also means that more stray cats are visiting my place and causing all kinds of trouble like getting locked in my garage and knocking my lumber down as well as creating other messes.
Kitten Playing Inside
Signs that spring has arrived are the return the of the bluebirds (which a pretty male bluebird was singing in my yard this morning), flowers blooming (which I spotted some in town today), and the unique sound of the spring peepers. These tiny frogs make a lot of noise and I heard them singing today in the marshy areas. The spring peeper can produce its own “antifreeze” to help preserve the most essential organs in temperatures below freezing. They can actually freeze up to 70% of their body and their heart stops pumping and seem to be dead but somehow they can wake up and thaw out to join the chorus with the return of spring.
Another Sign of Spring
Spring Peeper Peeping
https://youtu.be/OSEKxiq-C8E&w=640&h=430&rel=0
Yesterday afternoon I cleaned out a bunch of bluebird houses since some bluebirds have returned a few days ago. There was a lot of evidence of winter squatters in the houses but this was the first year that I didn’t have to forcibly evict the rodents from the boxes. Maybe they had cabin fever from the long winter and they all ventured out on the nice day.
Previous Squatter
Even though there was a few patches of ice left on my pond, some ducks finally returned last evening. There were three wood ducks and a pair of mallards all swimming around the pond and the female wood duck entered the wood duck house several times so maybe the weather will stay nice so she can lay some eggs.
Return of the Wood Ducks
Wood Ducks Preening
https://youtu.be/s2zpeiEXqEc&w=640&h=430&rel=0
Although it didn’t quite reach 70 degrees at my place today, it did farther south and down there some crocuses opened up on the first nice warm day. Eventually some wildflowers might poke up in my woods if warmer days continue to melt the snow.
Sign of Spring
As the snow continues to melt, maybe this will be the last Sunday this spring with snow on the ground at sunset.
Last Snowy Sunset
Today the creeks and ditches were filling with water from the melting snow since the temperatures reached the mid fifties. I spotted a kingfisher sitting on the wire above the running water and on a bridge, a young boy was watching the overflowing creek as water draws critters and kids.
Flowing Water
