It has been warmer this week, double digit temperatures and sunny days. Spring! Here, we measure early spring by the snow on the ground and ice in the harbour. Both are taking a hit this week. The boardwalk is more exposed each day as the snow melts.
More water is showing through the harbour ice every day as the ice melts too. Before long, the ice will be broken up enough so that a strong off shore wind will take the ice out to sea.
People walking the boardwalk have spring in their step as well. Everyone comments about the beautiful weather. We are enjoying every minute of the spring melt.
The birds along the boardwalk appear to be enjoying the warm weather too. Their voices are raised in chorus, the year-round Blue Jays and American Crows are joined by the newly arrived Mourning Doves
and dozens of Song Sparrows.
You can also hear Red-winged Blackbirds but we haven’t seen them yet. A small flock of European Starlings watched the proceedings from a lofty perch above the entire scene.
The stream was partially frozen one day and two American Black Duck were back checking out the area again. They appear anxious to be back home.
The next day, the stream was open and the muskrats were out and about too.
The Red Squirrels are busy as always. They approach walkers, expecting peanuts or other seeds or chase each other around the area.
Before long there will be new members of the community as mating season is on the horizon.
Meanwhile, the forecast is for 30-40 centimetres of snow on Friday. That too will melt!
Update:
The temperature has stayed warm. The snow has been replaced with rain, such that now we have a heavy rainfall warning.
35 comments:
Your forecast sent me to check ours. There could be a few days of flurries in the long range forecast, but it doesn't look like we will be impacted like PEI.
Your shot of the muskrat is my favourite.
Such gorgeous photos and I love seeing all the signs of spring. You'll be biking every day again soon!
double digits...now that could be 10 degrees, and i would not get too excited about that. but you would have a picnic in 10 degrees, i think!! i find walkers are really friendly people, my mom has walked at one of our boardwalks for 35+ years!!
the birds are so pretty, i could live without the starlings. your squirrel is adorable!!
such a thriving beauty of coming spring in your area dear Marie :)
your lovely words and enchanting images made my evening :)
melting season is time of transition indeed and everything seems to uncover and reappear .
birds are delightful and squirrel is breathtakingly cute :)
more grace of lord to your days my friend!
i will be back to read previous posts
The pictures are fabulous... so clear... I have to buy a better camera!
High temperatures and then snow flurries... typical Canadian weather.
I believe the temperature here will be around 20/21 degrees today.
I've always loved the soft coos of mourning doves.
Aw, you have red squirrels! How lovely. And it's true that you can see the difference in people in the spring, when the sun shines.
The bird song must be wonnnnnderful!!!!!
"Miss BB"
🌷🌺🎀🌺🌷
The birds are singing one of their favorite soundtracks, the songs of spring.
I can feel the excitement and anticipation in your words - and loved the photos. Many, many thanks.
That's a lovely parade of spring things! I do like muskrats. We have then locally, and that long v they leave in their wake is thrilling.
Lovely images. Your joy of spring and nature is infectious! I love how you gave me a false sense of spring's arrival, and then added your final sentence. That is a lot of snow, but 'that too will melt'!
Spring with all it's new life and growth is such a wonderful time of year.
It certainly looks like spring! Love the pictures and the sunny outlook. :-)
I didn't realize that the PEI climate was this severe.
I encountered little black squirrels this week, sauntering down a city road as if they owned it.
Hello,
Spring is my favorite time of the year, the birds are singing and the days are longer and warmer. Pretty views of the birds, ducks and the water. Take care, enjoy your day!
Evidence of spring is all around us, Marie. This week we saw three species of butterfly - Compton's Tortoiseshell, Eastern Comma and Mourning Cloak, and a handsome male Eastern Towhee visited our yard. We had our first shot too!
glad to hear about double digit temperature in your island....
look like many animals come out and active again ...wonderful.
What a delightful series of boardwalk captures Marie, spring really is most welcome after a long cold winter. Love all the birds but the wee squirrel is adorable in its quest for food 💙 Happy weekend ✨
Neat photos, you have beautiful scenery on your walks. The rain has reached Vermont. The daffodils, methinks, grew a few inches yesterday.
Great photos Marie. Stay safe.
Hi Marie, Lots of neat critter photos. Thanks for taking us along on your walks. The signs of Spring are encouraging. I loved your comment on my blog that I’m the hummingbird whisperer. That made my day! :-) Have a great weekend.
That red squirrel is just darling...there are some at my daughter's house. We had 70° F weather the other day...today not so much. Kind of chilly to be outside.
First i am amazed by your good and beautiful !So clear and sharp!
I enjoyed your nice post today.The animals birds and so wonderful landscape
Here we also have these change in weather spring and storms and snow
We are all ,heading for our huts on the mountains now to celabrate a quiet Easter tradition(we still have strong lockdown and in the easter it is all shut down for a week so we have to buy food and other things for a week or more since all shops including food are closed)
wish you all good and thanx for sharing great pictures
Birdsong in springtime is the most welcome sound. I love hearing the birds wittering away when I wake up in the morning. The rain will wash a lot of the snow away, I expect. What a fun shot of the muskrat.
Wasn't there an old tune called Muskrat Love? I might not be right about that title though. Have a wonderful weekend.
Always nice signs of spring!
Most enjoyable shots of spring springing. You do take fine photos. We had a record dump of rain today and when I went out to walk to the mailbox, the rain had turned to sleet. Sigh. However, a lot of snow did get away.
We have had mourning doves all year for the past few years. We used only to get them in warm weather. Harbingers of a change in the climate, I think.
However, sleet is typical Ottawa Valley March. The resident robin, who arrived before the snow had cleared the lawn, did not like it either.
One can feel the hope in those two ducks - I'm sure they are happy now the stream is running free.
Stay safe during your heavy rain.
Mxx
What a beautiful area. We are in full blown spring there in Nashville TN. The other day my deck looked like snow on it from the blooms from the Bradford Pear. Hoping you will be seeing that soon.
Spring thaw is something I've never really experienced, having lived in warmer climates all my life. Lots of fun wildlife in your area.
Love all the bird photos.
Coffee is on and stay safe
Post a Comment