I saw this gray fox one evening out by our bird feeder and it ran away. I figured it was hunting for an unwary ground-feeding bird. But the next morning it reappeared, and it was eating the bird seed on the ground.

I’ve never heard of a fox doing this. Live and learn!

Someone told me recently that when the maple buds swell, maple syrup season is over. It’s definitely colder this year than it was on the first day of spring last year. I recorded the sights from this date last year at my other blog. Things were definitely further along then!

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!