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Wednesday 29 March 2017

Signs of spring

People throughout the Northern Hemisphere are posting colourful spring photos but bulbs with bursts of colour are not springing forth here. My husband and I were anxious to find some signs of the season too, though not the traditional ones. Many places north of the equator are weeks ahead of our progress to spring.

Here, smelt shacks are gone from the bay. 


 


They must be removed from the ice by the end of March. However, usually ice conditions precipitate their removal, not the calendar. A few of the shelters remain along the shore, waiting to be hauled home for another year.


 


Ice in the inner part of the harbour is breaking up. Patches of water are visible now, though the temperatures are below freezing. The March sun has more heat over the longer days and it is melting the ice along the shoreline, though the gray sky and cold mean no melting today.


 


Geese are back. We saw them on the first day of spring. How do they feed when there is so much ice and snow around the island? Yesterday, we heard more than saw the large gaggle as it honked its way across the heavy sky.


 


The outer part of the harbour has open water now. Wind has blown the ice off shore. Four months of ice on the harbour may soon be over.


 


Banks of snow are looking their age too. Melting will be slow, but time will take care of this snow bank, just not this week.


 


Temperatures are below zero during the day and more snow is forecast for the next two days! Bulbs won't erupt through the soil any time soon around here.


We look forward to April!

30 comments:

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Oh wow! It's still a bit like winter there Marie.. the amazing thing is I bet in a week or so this scenario will look completely different.. can't wait to see ☺

DJan said...

Definitely different around here. Our rain turns to snow in the High Country and that won't be melting for awhile yet, but we are green and very wet, with flowers popping up everywhere! :-)

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Still looks pretty darn wintry to me!

Tomoko said...

Wow,more snow is expected! Geese are brave the ice, being able to find food, I am sure!
Happy day to you,Marie.

Anonymous said...

I bet that with your cold winters, you have beautiful summers! Andrea

Shammickite said...

You have lots of snow remaining! No snow here, but possibly some in the forecast for tomorrow, yuck! I just drove home from the southern USA, lots of spring to be seen there. Pictures soon!

Celia said...

Those geese are hardy souls. Wintery as it is, it must be exciting seeing it give way for spring even a wee bit.

Debbie said...

awwww, it still looks so cold but your captures are beautiful!!!

Tabor said...

Yes, it is still cold, but the earth is changing and your spring will be just cusping when the rest of us are complaining that spring has gone.

Marie Smith said...

Sunny days take care of a lot of the snow, PDP.

Marie Smith said...

i think your area is wetter than our area, usually, Jan. Who know these days however?

Marie Smith said...

It is but it will pass soon enough.

Marie Smith said...

I am always surprised with the early arrival of the geese, Tomoko.

Marie Smith said...

We usually have great summers, with a breeze for cooling off, Andrea.

Marie Smith said...

I look forward to the ohotos, Shammickite.

Marie Smith said...

The sun will improve things a lot, Celia.

Marie Smith said...

Thank you, Debbie.

Marie Smith said...

We look forward to the sun, Tabor. It melts the snow and ice quickly when it gets the opportunity.

Elephant's Child said...

Spring works to her own agenda, but it does seem that she is slowly sneaking in to you too.
Love these images. So very much.

Marie Smith said...

Slow and steady progress, Ec. We need the sun!

Rick (Ratty) said...

I remember back a few years ago I was standing by the lake in my favorite nature park. Winter was still there, but the geese returned that day. It was the first sign of the coming spring.

Anonymous said...

It looks so cold in your pictures. I know you are looking forward to spring temps. Fun that you snapped a photo of the geese. I wish you a very nice upcoming weekend. Thanks for the birthday wishes for John.

Marie Smith said...

It was amazing to see them here on the first day of spring, Ratty.

Marie Smith said...

It is cold and gray these days. The sun would help for sure, Mildred!

Anvilcloud said...

Good for you for finding those little signs. I actually see some tiny shoots in our garden -- crocus I presume -- but they will get covered up today.

Marilyn @ MountainTopSpice said...

Wow! You still have a lot of snow! Those snow banks are high! Most all of our snow is gone, except for small patches here and there! This has been a long winter for the island and the northeast in general! Our winter pretty much ended the first of March, and spring has slowly been making gains since. I have tulips in my garden coming up, which I am quite excited about. Hoping that the snow melts for you soon!

Marie Smith said...

Winter's rip is far reaching this year, AC.

Marie Smith said...

Our snow can go quickly when the sun comes out for a few days, SUI.

The Furry Gnome said...

Well now I've finally found a place that is further behind in the seasons than we are!

Marie Smith said...

Lol. True, FG.