It's Almost Like Spring... Almost

What a day! Bright blue sky, temps in the 40s and heading up to 50º F, it almost felt like Spring. Certainly the birds thought so; on my weekly walk in the Dykeman Spring Nature Park there was a veritable avian choir singing away - Cardinals, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Carolina Wrens, Tufted Titmice, and Song Sparrows were the most evident. And the Daffodils that grow along the trail in the wetland are starting to spring up; just the stalks for now, no buds or blooms as yet. But for all that, there was still something of a bite in the air, and the temperature is supposed to go back down to seasonable norms for the rest of the week. Plus there were plenty of signs of continuing Winter along the trail - empty acorn cups and the last of the Winter berries hanging on for dear life. So here are some scenes from today's almost Spring.

This male Cardinal paused in his song to listen for a reply

A male Red-bellied Woodpecker drumming for a mate

I couldn't resist a shot of these empty acorn caps still hanging on the tree

The last of the Bittersweet berries are still hanging on for dear life

Meanwhile, the Daffodils along the nature trail are starting to sprout

A Song Sparrow singing away on a branch over the north duck pond

© 2020 by A. Roy Hilbinger