19 apr/18

When spring comes, it comes back with a vengeance! Since the start of the month, temperatures have been below normal - barely above 0C in the day, -10 to -20 at night. Past day or so, highs above 10, lows around 0C. The river is higher, ice is breaking up, and the ground is thawing in the sun.
I've seen Compton's Tortoiseshell. I finally got a picture of a Junco after seeing one flash by along the river. Common Goldeney were on the river (where the water is open) and numerous flocks of Canada Geese are flying above. I saw a flock of White Pelicans (maybe 15), but by the time I got the camera up, there they were, gone.
Not seeing a lot of insects - a few flies around the house, and the butterflies I saw a day ago. I've scraped at some leaf litter, and the ground below is still cold, partly frozen. No trees are blooming yet, though I did see some grass emerging today along the south side of the river.
Of course the usual suspects are still around, and it seems as if they are in mating mode.

Posted on April 20, 2018 04:29 PM by mamestraconfigurata