Sunshine and Shadbush

In a rare moment of mercy, the weather stopped the rain.  I woke up to sunshine on the water and no wind.  Today even coffee had to wait while I jumped into the kayak and explored the shore of Chase Pond.

The mountain looks down on Wilmot

Uvularia

Cinnamon Fern

Leatherleaf

Shadbush!

Shadbush

Shadbush

Song Sparrow

Sweetgale flowers

Yellow-Rumped Warbler

Feeder Birds

The cold weather has brought the birds to my feeders.  The Orioles especially a glad for my suet as a replacement for the insects that haven't emerged yet.

Female Oriole

Male Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

Female Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

Red-Bellied Woodpecker, Orioles.

White-Breasted Nuthatch

Chipping Sparrow

I am not fond of blue jays hogging the seed

Large hairy woodpecker and smaller downy woodpecker.

Ice Out

Last year at this time my kayak was in the water.  This year it will still be a few days.  On the other hand I heard peepers in the swamp down the road.

A Warm Spring Day's Songs

The sun was shining and the temperature rose up to almost 60F this afternoon.  Almost all of the snow is gone now, leaving just a few traces in shady corners.

Skunk cabbage is in full bloom, phoebes and wood frogs and song sparrows are singing.  There are buds on the arbutus.

The streams are running

Last bits of snow

Skunk cabbage flowers

Buds on the trailing arbutus

End of the Season?

I tried to walk along the Wilmot Greenway to Beaver Pond two days ago, and promptly went into the snow up over my knees.  So, yesterday I went back with my snowshoes.

My footprints from 2 days ago.  I didn't get much further than the sign

The forest was no longer winter-silent.  A chickadee had a whistling conversation with me before I left him alone to claim his territory.  The streams have broken loose and are singing through the woods.





Then the temperature started to climb, and a warm rain fell all night.  The snow is disappearing before my eyes.  This might have been the last time there will be enough snow for snow-shoeing this winter - but then again .....






The only way to get through the woods yesterday.

Going downhill was easy

Heading off towards the beaver pond

Greenway Trail Marker

The Beaver Pond Trail is part of the SRK Greenway
























Winter has released its hold on the brooks.

Going back up the hill was more difficult

And, back up the hill again

Snow season ends, mud season begins

Skiing Low Plain Natural Area on a Snowy Day

I've had my old skis for over 20 years and never really liked them.  I finally went out and bought new back-country skis.  The technology has really changed in 20 years!

We went out into a beautiful fluffy snow to try out the new skis at Low Plain Natural Area, just down the road.  Life is good.

The trail head 

Coming out of the woods near the swamp

Heading out onto the swamp

One of the bird watching blinds - from the other side.

Snow Coming

Went out for a walk on a sunny early spring day, all bright and shiny. By the time i got back home the clouds had moved in. Snow tomorrow!

Tannery Pond

Snow coming!