Wednesday, March 26, 2008

In Search of Spring

Ordinarily, sights of March here in the Northern Hemisphere would include sprouting daffodils, singing robins and light-weight jackets. Robins have been spotted but snow still covers much of the ground where they're usually seen tugging at worms. If you're finding signs of spring, could you please send them my way?

Until then, please enjoy a few of my random photos taken over the month of March. Please click each image to enlarge them.


This starling has been visiting my feeder for the past couple of weeks. We are perplexed by the length of its beak. Both photos were taken through double glass doors.




Perhaps it's not the same bird each time after all. If anyone knows whether some starlings just have beaks this long, can you please let me know?



Through the branches, the sun sets on the pond near my house.



Out walking near the creek on a sunny day. The water reflects the deep blue of the clear sky above.



The snow-covered embankment contrasts sharply against the water's edge.



In the cedar grove, we leave one of many peanuts for the squirrels or birds to find.



Frank and Benny, walking away from the grove. The setting sun shines on the snow and competes with contrails in the sky.



Back at the house, we worked on a colourful summer scene puzzle, once our cold fingers regained their mobility.



Head on over to Frank's blog for some of his beautiful late winter to early spring images. You'll be glad you did.

25 comments:

Tamie said...

I'm in Indiana and we have no signs of Spring either. We got 5 inches of snow on Friday!! AAAAAAAAAck!

Dianne said...

the sun setting on the pond is one of the most amazing sights! what a lovely photo.

I just read the last part of the racoon saga, are you OK with them living under the deck?

I must admit it made me kinda happy to know where they were but I'm not the one who has to deal with it every day.

Frank Baron said...

Are you sure that was me? That guy appears to be a tad stout.

Oh...wait. I just took a closer look.

Not stout at all - more like prosperous-looking.

Thanks for the plug.

:)

Cath said...

Beautiful photos. The beak is possibly long to compensate for having to dig deeper for food? It still has it's winter feathers on so maybe. Or just a mutant!

I love the setting sun one - it looks like the water's on fire at first glance. And excellent photo of the sun in front of you - neat trick to get it without overexposure.

Going to have a look at Frank's now.

Reb said...

Beautiful as always Hilary. Love the sunset on the lake and a great shot into the setting sun too. Pretty puzzle.

the Bag Lady said...

Wow, Hilary, great photos!! Yahoo, the Bag Lady has high-speed now and can actually see the photos!!

That starling is some kind of mutant. We have lots of them around here and never has the Bag Lady seen one with such a long beak!!

Daryl said...

What beautiful photos .. cold but truly beautiful....March is almost over .. wait .. can you hear it? The Fat Lady is about to sing!

Hilary said...

• TKWI, seems like it will never end, eh? Thanks for stopping by. :)

• Thank you, Dianne. For now I'm ok with them living under the deck. I may eat those words somewhere down the road, but like you, I'm happy knowing they're there - though they may no longer be. I haven't heard them in a few days. Thanks for your kind words. :)

• You're welcome, Frank.. you skinny thing, you! ;)

• Thanks so much Cath. I'm thnking mutant too - at least until someone tells me otherwise. ;) Thanks for the visit.

• Thanks very much, Reb. I'm glad you liked them. :)

• Yay and thanks, Baggie! I'm glad you've caught up with the rest of us high-speed bloggers. Now you can see videos and everything - which is a good thing, because I'm planning one for next week. ;)

• Thanks Daryl E. I was only humming! Glad you enjoyed the pics. Thanks for stopping by. :)

Clare2e said...

Though my Audobon Guide says starlings ought to be long-beaked, I'll admit it's longer than the picture or any I've seen at our feeder. However, since their beaks go dark for winter and yellow for summer, maybe it's got extra length while growing in its summer beak : )

Toss down an oyster shell and see if he whittles it to size like a parrot.

Clare2e said...

P.S. What a story with the raccoon family and what a clean-up! I'm happy that they've got a new home and that your shutterbug instincts allowed us to share the saga.

Daryl said...

There's an award for you over at my place .. come and get it!

Jo said...

The setting sun on the pond was so lovely, Hil. I love that you leave peanuts in the trees!

Spring is late for you but maybe that'll just make it more explosive when it sprouts...I can't wait to see those photos!

elasticwaistbandlady said...

Well, we're having to mow our lawn and fight the losing battle against weeds....oh, and also a Mama Mockingbird has taken up residence with her eggs right outside our front window.

Another sign of spring has also happened. People who should NOT be wearing bare midriff shirts and low-rise jeans are back at it after having to cover up for the winter chill. :(

Hilary said...

• Hi Clare2e. Thanks for checking your field guide. Your theory sounds as good as any. ;) I did find this YouTube video which indicates that their beaks can get pretty long.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v92s2MaKdtE Maybe this guy just never tried filing his down. I'm glad you enjoyed the raccoon saga :) Thanks for stopping by.

• Thanks Daryl E! Very kind of you to think of me. :)

• Thanks, Jo. I'm so looking forward to spring photos too.. I'm done with snow. The peanuts (and seed) is Frank's idea. He's got SOME good habits. ;)

• Hi EWBL. Mockingbirds are beautiful and seemingly pretty friendly. Lucky you! And about that other sign of spring.. FINE, I'll tuck it in. ;) Thanks for stopping by. :)

Shammickite said...

It's crazy isn't it?
Almost the end of March and the gigantic snow mountains either side of my driveway still block my view of oncoming cars! My Newfoundland relative says it's just the same in St John's.
We'll probably go from winter to summer in the space of a day... 0C to 25C... Spring will be AWOL.
How are the house repairs coming along?

photowannabe said...

Hilary, I wish I could package up our California sun and blooms to brighten your day. These are lovely snowy pictures but i know you are totally sick of the season now.
It will change soon.

Hilary said...

Hi...I found you through Moo's Moo because I was looking through recent comments and saw my name, but I hadn't commented yet...I am a fellow Hilary...you know how it is, there aren't many of us. Anyways, thinking of moving to Ontario now...beautiful pics.

Hilary said...

• Agreed, ex-S.. it's crazy for sure. It has to warm up eventually though.. perhaps by August?

The house repairs are coming along slowy. Approximately 30% of my ceiling has been removed and a small portion of one wall. It's covered in plastic and is being held there by red tape - figurative and literally. The roof has been patched temporarily. They indicated that the whole process will take about 3 weeks. I'm still uncertain whether or not there will be full coverage. Thanks for checking in. :)

• Thanks so much Photowannabe. We've had lots of sun, it's just not bringing enough heat yet. Thanks for your warm encouragement. :)

• Hiya Zookeeper Hilary! I'm glad you came by for a visit. I'll have to check out my namesake too! Thanks so much for your kind words. :)

Anonymous said...

We just (I think) finished with the last of the surprise freezes here. The weather in our part of Texas has been so strange! Yesterday we planted Morning Glory seeds in the garden. I'm ready to see some color!

david mcmahon said...

That third shot is stunning.

Kappa no He said...

We're finally getting spring here, cherry blossoms!

As always, beautiful pictures!

And "prosperous-looking", I'll have to remember that one Frank.

Hilary said...

• Hi Beav, I hope they bloom beautifully for you. Thanks for dropping by. :)

• Thank you, David. I couldn't resist the colours. :)

• Thanks, Kappa and lucky you! Cherry blossoms are so beautiful. Thanks for the visit. :)

Chica, Cienna, and Cali said...

i spotted a red cardinal on my way to work today and my neighbor says he can see blue jays on his deck eevry now and then..does that mean spring???? :)

i am sure spring's not too far in your part of the world either ...patience is a virtue, Hillary ..so said a wise (wo)man!!!! :)

love your snow pics......so love the sunset reflections in the pond!!!! its like molten gold........beautiful images.

david mcmahon said...

I'm not good with bird pictures. I keept getting marked down as a Beak-grade.

Hilary said...

• Hi Moi. We've been seeing cardinals and blue jays throughout the winter here. Spring sure feels as if it has arrived today. It's a sunny, windy 14C (57F) here presently but it's supposed to be -5C (23F) overnight. I think I'll go out and enjoy it while it's here. Thanks so much for visiting and for your kind words. :)

• David, I'm just wingin' it myself. ;) Thanks for stopping by.