Yesterday I saw some trumpeter swans flying overhead, and maybe with the melting, there might have been some puddles of water but not enough for them to land and swim around in yet so I don’t know where they were headed to.
Trumpeter Swans Return
Yesterday when I was raking snow off my roof, I heard and saw a sandhill crane headed north. It should have been headed back south as there is no bare ground at my place and my pond is still frozen. The crane might have been reading a calendar since seven years ago, they came back to this scene where there was no snow remaining. Otherwise, the female crane might have sent the male (as they mate for life) ahead to find the perfect nesting spot before the spring rush, but locating a good spot under two feet of snow might be tough.
Crane Back Early
Yesterday when I was driving from work, I spotted an owl sitting in a tree which was probably a Barred Owl from the glimpse I had of it. The Barred Owl is twice the size of this little red morph variety of the Eastern Screech-Owl. When I took this picture, this owl was napping in the sun but today it would have been catching snowflakes instead.
Eastern Screech-Owl
Eleven years ago, spring did come early and the white petals of the Bloodroot blossoms carpeted the woods in late March, but with the current depth of snow and the tall snow piles, I will be lucky that I am not mowing around snow piles in May let alone seeing March flowers this year.
Bloodroot White Blossom