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Signs of Spring
We still haven’t seen our first robin yet, though my in-laws have seen several around their house. Today we ventured out for a very muddy walk on a sunny day, and though we saw nary a robin, we saw — and heard — other birds testifying to the inevitability of the changing season.
It was in the 30’s, and there was some sap snow in the afternoon. But its days are numbered.
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Timid Goldfinch
This little goldfinch sat inside the rhododendron for perhaps 20 or 30 minutes yesterday — a long time! It’s just below our thistle sack. Finally s/he got up the courage to rise to the top of the bush, and then flutter up to the seed.
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Morning Glory
This fellow has been singing in the mornings since last Sunday — almost two weeks now. So technically my last post was incorrect; though the sparrow I heard on our walk was my first birdsong heard while out and about, it wasn’t truly the first of the season. That distinction belongs to our back yard songster.
This cardinal is an early riser and begins while it’s still dark out. Here he is, perched high above our feeder, dueling with another cardinal declaring territory elsewhere, making sure everyone knows this is his yard.
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First Birdsong
We seized upon the first sunshine in what seems like ages to go for a walk this morning. As far as sights go, it was mostly about textures and colors in little patches here and there.
These lichens seem to be doing their best to hurry spring along, stretching out toward the sun. 
It’s amazing, the variety of textures growing on this one furry tree foot. Here’s a close-up of the same tree:
There were other small wonders, like this tattooed rock…
or this woodpecker hole (I heard the pileated laughing in the distance)…
or this fallen tree. When I stop and study all the varieties growing here I wonder what it would be like to be small enough to live among them. It’s kind of strange thought, but there it is. There just seems to be such diverse vegetation in such a small area. (The pic will enlarge if you click on it.)
The vernal pool was still iced over and had a layer of snow over it, but in the deeper pond we did actually see a salamander or two. I didn’t envy them.
No beavers, though the lodge is safe and sound. No muskrats. A few deer. Two accipiters; one redtail sailed over. We heard cardinals doing warm-ups, and chickadees singing their spring love songs. And at the pond we heard what I think was a song sparrow singing like he meant business. I didn’t see him, but his song cheered me. It may not sound like much, but the first song of spring means a lot to a color-deprived Northeasterner like myself.
We headed for home after that, assured that all is progressing toward the warmth and color and wakefulness of spring. Just a short wait now.
I played with some of the artistic filters on this pic. -
On the weather
“Don’t you like a rather foggy day in a wood in autumn? You’ll find we shall be perfectly warm sitting in the car.”
Jane said she’d never heard of anyone liking fogs before but she didn’t mind trying. All three got in.
“That’s why Camilla and I got married,” said Denniston as they drove off. “We both like Weather. Not this or that kind of weather, but just Weather. It’s a useful taste if one lives in England.”
“However did you learn to do that, Mr. Denniston?” said Jane. “I don’t think I could ever learn to like rain and snow.”
“It’s the other way round,” said Denniston. “Everyone begins as a child liking Weather. You learn the art of disliking it as you grow up. Haven’t you ever noticed it on a snowy day? The grown-ups are all going about with long faces, but look at the children — and the dogs? They know what snow’s made for.
“I’m sure I hated wet days as a child,” said Jane.
“That’s because the grown-ups kept you in,” said Camilla. “Any child loves the rain if it’s allowed to go out and paddle about in it.”
–C.S. Lewis, That Hideous Strength
This seems like a useful taste where I live, too! Something to work on…
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Wandering Whitetails
There hasn’t been much going on here at Discovering Nature. We’ve been kept inside by sickness and weather. But occasionally the outdoors comes to us, especially in the form of deer — seen here across the street, peering back at me. I’m hoping the increased deer traffic means spring is around the corner — though I have no scientific justification that I know of!
Despite our dog’s bout with lyme disease last year, I like deer. This has been a colder winter, and it’s probably “put a hurtin'” on the fleas and ticks. Last winter was so warm that the ticks were swarming even in early spring.
Another couple of weeks and we’ll be seeing crocuses and robins. Can’t wait!
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Eagle Sighting
This is the closest I’ve gotten to an eagle in the wild. It was fishing, and it really seemed unfazed by my being there. I’d have loved to see it take off, but it was feeling too companionable I guess.
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Hungry Hawk
I appreciated that this hawk sat still for me. I love the way the sun hits its breast in this picture.The others lack the sun but still have the clarity. So what I’ve read is true: not using your zoom lens to its full capacity results in clearer pictures.
This next one I brightened up with Photoshop. I’m never sure whether I like them better or not when I do that. The contrast is better, but somehow they seem a tad too bright.
Always fun to sit beside the road with my camera poking out. I’m sure passing drivers think me strange indeed.Guilty, as charged.
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Hawk Take-off #2
It bothers me that none of these (and none of the hawk photos in my previous post) are “tack sharp.” I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong. I wasn’t able to use a tripod in either case, so that’s part of it. But I’m not sure how I might be able to tweak my camera settings to improve the sharpness even without a tripod.
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Hawk Take-off
Hawks are poetry in motion. This is one of a few we’ve seen lately. More tomorrow.
