Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Spring Storm!
Yesterday felt just like an early spring day, the first of the year. A bright blue-sky day, you could feel the heat in the sun, and it was melting the snow in places. One of those late Feb/early March days that make you feel like spring is just around the corner.
On top of that I heard the cardinals calling this morning for the first time, giving their sharp two-tone whistle that is such a distinctive opening note for the spring season. Their bright red colour matches their bright clear whistle, and we'll hear it now from high trees in the woods, for the next several months.
But then .... the snow came back - in fact, it's about the biggest snowstorm we've had all winter, and we're right in the middle of it at the moment. Flurries coming down fast and furious, turning the world white again. Maybe I'll get some good pictures tomorrow.
......... Later, headed out at the peak of the storm to walk the dog. Three or four inches by now, all plastered against the tree trunks and branches, and hanging heavily on the pine, cedar and hemlock. It'll be a winter wonderland tomorrow. These storms are blown through southern Ontario by upper level winds from west to east (southwest to northeast for this one), but at ground level they are circulating in a counter-clockwise direction. This means you may have winds from the east while the storm is coming from the west. Thus the east side of most trees today are plastered with a line of snow from top to bottom.
Four groups of deer wandering, instead of hiding in the swamp; at least 10 or 12, but I may have seen one group twice. And then I heard what distinctly sounded like two SHOTS! Just behind the Edinburgh/Kortright corner. Not what you want to hear in the city.
On top of that I heard the cardinals calling this morning for the first time, giving their sharp two-tone whistle that is such a distinctive opening note for the spring season. Their bright red colour matches their bright clear whistle, and we'll hear it now from high trees in the woods, for the next several months.
But then .... the snow came back - in fact, it's about the biggest snowstorm we've had all winter, and we're right in the middle of it at the moment. Flurries coming down fast and furious, turning the world white again. Maybe I'll get some good pictures tomorrow.
......... Later, headed out at the peak of the storm to walk the dog. Three or four inches by now, all plastered against the tree trunks and branches, and hanging heavily on the pine, cedar and hemlock. It'll be a winter wonderland tomorrow. These storms are blown through southern Ontario by upper level winds from west to east (southwest to northeast for this one), but at ground level they are circulating in a counter-clockwise direction. This means you may have winds from the east while the storm is coming from the west. Thus the east side of most trees today are plastered with a line of snow from top to bottom.
Four groups of deer wandering, instead of hiding in the swamp; at least 10 or 12, but I may have seen one group twice. And then I heard what distinctly sounded like two SHOTS! Just behind the Edinburgh/Kortright corner. Not what you want to hear in the city.
Monday, February 15, 2010
An Owl in the Dark!
Slipped out the door with the dog late last night, and there was an owl, sitting on the very top of a young maple sapling, about 50 feet away - silhouetted against the night sky!!
Crept back in the house immediately to get the camera and binoculars, while the owl sat obligingly and waited for me. Somehow, I managed to get a picture in which it showed up though it was 10 o'clock at night.
There are only four species of owl around here that would have 'ears' like this one did. It was about crow-size, too big to be a Screech Owl, too small to be a Great Horned Owl. We concluded it was a Short-eared Owl, the first I've ever seen. We regularly hear owls in the woods at night, but haven't seen one here before.
Then suddenly it was gone, gliding away on silent wings to the woods. The owls are probably started nesting by now, another sure sign of spring just around the corner.
Crept back in the house immediately to get the camera and binoculars, while the owl sat obligingly and waited for me. Somehow, I managed to get a picture in which it showed up though it was 10 o'clock at night.
There are only four species of owl around here that would have 'ears' like this one did. It was about crow-size, too big to be a Screech Owl, too small to be a Great Horned Owl. We concluded it was a Short-eared Owl, the first I've ever seen. We regularly hear owls in the woods at night, but haven't seen one here before.
Then suddenly it was gone, gliding away on silent wings to the woods. The owls are probably started nesting by now, another sure sign of spring just around the corner.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Mid-February
Walked the loop down by the stonepiles, across the three creeks and out the meadow, then back through the dense cedars this morning. We usually do that in the morning every day, once I'm awake enough to enjoy it.
Three times this week we've encountered deer still resting on the ground from their night's sleep, and each time they just raised their head to look at us. You find the oval depressions in the snow where they have lain down overnight if you wander off the trails in the woods.
Three other deer, no four, were standing by the open stonepile and spotted us coming. For a moment or two we stopped and they just looked at us. Then suddenly they bounded off to the east, white flags flashing - there were seven, three of which we hadn't even seen.
Trails are busy these days with joggers, dog walkers, skiers and families with kids. Occasionally even someone just out for a walk. Met a cross-country skier yesterday who lives at the far northwest corner of the area, and said that he does a 10km loop several times a week.
Three times this week we've encountered deer still resting on the ground from their night's sleep, and each time they just raised their head to look at us. You find the oval depressions in the snow where they have lain down overnight if you wander off the trails in the woods.
Three other deer, no four, were standing by the open stonepile and spotted us coming. For a moment or two we stopped and they just looked at us. Then suddenly they bounded off to the east, white flags flashing - there were seven, three of which we hadn't even seen.
Trails are busy these days with joggers, dog walkers, skiers and families with kids. Occasionally even someone just out for a walk. Met a cross-country skier yesterday who lives at the far northwest corner of the area, and said that he does a 10km loop several times a week.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Early Signs of Spring!
Well, it's still cold, so cold that all the streams are actually frozen over, which happens only rarely. But already there are numerous signs of spring.
Groundhog Day has come and gone, and groundhogs aren't the only ones who poke their nose out to see if spring is here yet. The porcupines have started to appear, grabbing a snack of bark and twigs high in a tree on a sunny day. And you see their tracks now and then, with its queer twisting gait down the trail.
The days are longer too, staying light out til 6 o'clock. For a dog walker trying to squeeze in a walk between work and dinner, that's a bonus.
The chickadees are starting to give their spring mating call now and then, said to sound like 'hambuuurg', going from high 'ham' to low 'buuurg' in a two-part whistle.
On sunny days you can feel the heat of the sun on one side of your body. And it's strong enough to be melting the snow that faces southwest. The bank of grass outside the gate is now mostly bare.
And I must have encountered 30 people on the trails yesterday! Families with little kids, teenagers building a fort, dog walkers and people just out enjoying the trails. Two girls were waving a dry bulrush seedhead, and trying to photograph the seeds as they blew away in the wind. Last week I saw two groups of little kids - day care age, walking or getting a ride on a toboggan out on the trails - 4 or 5 in one, and 8 in the other. My heart rejoices!
Groundhog Day has come and gone, and groundhogs aren't the only ones who poke their nose out to see if spring is here yet. The porcupines have started to appear, grabbing a snack of bark and twigs high in a tree on a sunny day. And you see their tracks now and then, with its queer twisting gait down the trail.
The days are longer too, staying light out til 6 o'clock. For a dog walker trying to squeeze in a walk between work and dinner, that's a bonus.
The chickadees are starting to give their spring mating call now and then, said to sound like 'hambuuurg', going from high 'ham' to low 'buuurg' in a two-part whistle.
On sunny days you can feel the heat of the sun on one side of your body. And it's strong enough to be melting the snow that faces southwest. The bank of grass outside the gate is now mostly bare.
And I must have encountered 30 people on the trails yesterday! Families with little kids, teenagers building a fort, dog walkers and people just out enjoying the trails. Two girls were waving a dry bulrush seedhead, and trying to photograph the seeds as they blew away in the wind. Last week I saw two groups of little kids - day care age, walking or getting a ride on a toboggan out on the trails - 4 or 5 in one, and 8 in the other. My heart rejoices!
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