April 27, 2025
Spring is here...but whoops!...quick rewind. Last night we were in a full blown snowstorm. Big, fat, soggy flakes were flying by sideways in front of a vicious north wind, that ranted and raved for most of the night. The snow started falling around 4 PM. Tree limbs started to whiten, then the ground began to whiten, and then it got too dark to see. Later the snow turned to rain and could be heard pounding on the metal roof. The reward for enduring that, is that today is a clear sunny day and temperatures are rising into the low double digits, 12C (54ish F) by noon, although the wind is still quite strong. Puddles have formed again where snow-melt puddles had just soaked away.
In the bird department, Ruby-crowned kinglets are here, Northern Flickers are foraging all over the clearing, probing the ground. They are doing the lawn aerating for us!! One took a break in front of 'Bird Cam', and posed.
This morning, we heard the Northern Water Thrush back in the bush. That is the first thrush to arrive. Earlier in the week, we heard the soft 'zee-zee-zee' of the first warbler to arrive, the Yellow-rumped. Whip-poor-wills are here, the first ones heard on Thursday evening at dusk, and the unmistakable 'pweenting' sound of American Woodcocks can be heard at dusk and dawn.
A couple of other shots off of 'Bird Cam',
Dark-eyed junco,White-breasted nuthatch,and one of my friendly little Chickadees. I think he/she is asking me where the ball of nesting material is. I'll get right on that!
Frogs are at full voice now, and there were quite a few sounding off around the pond last night, even though it was snowing and blowing.
Deer have been wandering by trail cameras, some of them looking very lean and scruffy. This past winter was not as easy on the deer herd as the previous winter was. This one seems to have suddenly noticed the camera. Foxy is being less secretive about his/her visibility. Perhaps there are hungry mouths to feed now, and food gathering is a priority. We've seen a fox in daylight several times.One evening last week, we were entertained by something going on in the back yard. As dusk falls, one or the other of us takes a meander out to the back porch to have a look out and see how many deer are grazing in the back yard. On this particular evening, there were two deer just this side of the larger solar
array, near the edge of the gravel pad in front of the garage/shop. The
deer were not grazing heads down as normal, but making little darts forward,
ears alert and front facing, tails swishing, flashes of white in the
dim dusk. There was a small shadow near the ground...foxy was
tormenting the duo. He made little running feints toward the deer,
hunkered down and even rolled over at times, playing like a cat. The deer made quick
little dashes toward him, and he'd dart away, only to come back and
repeat his maneuvers. He was definitely playing, but we aren't sure
if the deer were appreciating his efforts!
It must be great to welcome the birds back, especially when you recognize them by sight and sound.
ReplyDeleteAlways loved the birds, and knew a few of their songs, but moving here has exposed us to so many that you'd never see or hear around populated areas.
DeleteI've never seen a fox play with deer! What fun. The birds in spring are always a happy thing, even if the weather still can't make up its mind!
ReplyDeleteFoxy has a sense of humour! New birds every day, especially as the temperature warms.
DeleteSo far I have only come across two warblers - Pine Warbler and Myrtle Warbler, but others have reported Palm and Black-and-White. Your Northern Waterthrush seems quite early. Ruby-crowned Kinglets are “everywhere,” and Hermit Thrushes here and there. Every day has the potential for new arrivals at this time of year.
ReplyDeleteWe are close to the Atlantic flyway, just sort of 'over the hill' from the main Ottawa Valley. Love living here in the bush! Expecting Bluebirds any moment...one of my favourites!
DeleteWOW, despite the fact that you and I live quite close together as the crow flies, we didn't see that amount of snow! There were a few crazy fat flakes in the air but I don't think they even hit the ground. A couple of weeks ago, when we were heading to Peterborough, there was light drizzly rain south of B.Bay. When we got to Maynooth it was snowing like crazy, but when we dropped down out of the highlands again, just drizzly rain. Amazing what a difference a bit of elevation makes.
ReplyDeleteElevation does make a difference.
DeleteSo lovely to see these photos! I actually saw a turkey here in Montreal a couple of weeks ago...on a college campus front lawn! Thank you so much for sharing the beauty around you.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda. Love to see turkeys, as long as they stay away from my garden!
DeleteIt must be wonderful to hear the Woodcock and Whip-poor-wills, as well as those frogs. All some of my favourite spring memories. We had a fox family make their home in a ravine out back two years recently. We watched the young kits playing in the grass.
ReplyDeleteLove seeing and hearing all the birds and critters, but frog song is the highlight of early spring. Once they start singing, you know that you are on the up-swing. Several summers ago, we had a vixen (her picture is on the side) and two kits who would show up and watch curiously as we went about gardening/mowing/ whatever, around the yard, coming as close as 15 to 20 feet away.
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