Even though we may get one or two more snowfalls there is now no doubt that spring has arrived at the Fish Pond.



I have been able to make two or three trips to the pond in the last week or so and there are new signs of life everywhere. You can hear songbirds again as they flitter around the edges of the pond and the intermittent tap, tap, tap of woodpeckers as they search the thawing trees for insects. The Squirrels are out in search of fresh food and I even noticed several insects skimming around the waters surface.



Cold crisp mornings like today still mean lots of ducks at the pond. Unfortunately it also means loud, crunchy and slippery snow which when combined with long shadows from the morning sun make it almost impossible to get into my photo blind without causing a mass departure of waterfowl. Something I try never to cause.



I was unhappy that they bolted before I could get into position to get any large group photos but I was happy to see my first Canadian goose of the season mixed in the departing flurry of feathers.



The Bald Eagles are around and very active. The immature I saw sitting in the tree with the mature one is still trying to shadow the elder birds every move. They arrived this morning and perched in a tree over the ponds inlet stream. The mature eagle screamed her displeasure at being followed but the younger bird was not deterred.



After the eagles departed, the young one only about ten feet behind the older, the few ducks that had stayed or returned to the pond ventured out in search of lunch and a nap.



One Merganser made his way to the mouth of the inlet stream to rest but suddenly decided to make a mad dash for cover when the eagles unexpectedly returned to the same perch they had occupied a half hour earlier.



When the young eagle attempted to land on the same branch as the mature one the older bird grabbed a beak full of its feathers. It not only caused the younger bird to find a seat elsewhere but apparently left a bad taste in the older birds beak.



Even though the woods may seem void of color and bland there are many exciting things going on in the springtime forest. The ground uncovered by the retreating snow quickly fills with the activity of animals that I’m sure are far more happy to see the arrival of spring than I will ever be.

Grab a coat and a pair of boots that you don’t mind getting muddy and go exploring. As always, every trip into the great outside world around you is an adventure just waiting to happen.

Have a great one.

Kevin