Salamander Season

We discovered yesterday that we’d completely missed a chapter of spring. It seems early, but there were lots of signs of the season advancing, including salamanders cruising about among the dead leaves in one of our favorite pools.

Eggs had already hatched into plump tadpoles.

Some frogs were floating about. This one’s trying to remain incognito, and she almost succeeded in getting stepped on.

There were various signatures of creatures who were out and about and carving their names on trees.

The wind had left its mark too. This tree had been split in two and turned into a drinking trough.

And this was one of many that had been plucked up by the roots.

We saw some kinglets, and a few geese squabbling endlessly over their own patch of pond. We also saw a new beaver lodge, and lots of signs of the beaver’s activity on trees along the bank:

It was sunny and mild, and the green was just starting to show in the landscape.

On the whole it was a thoroughly enjoyable walk! Even though our winter has been unusually mild, the sight of new growth always marks a welcome change.