Signs of spring

Melting ice

Yesterday was the first day of spring. The sun was out today and the birds were singing. My mom heard the first Red-winged Blackbird calling from the swamp. I heard a flock of Sandhill Cranes flying by, out of sight. I’m also fairly certain I heard a Brown Creeper, though I wasn’t able to find him, either.

I walked about my parents’ property looking for other signs that it was indeed upon us. For instance, the ice on the little pond, above, was beginning to melt. I checked it for frogs, eggs, or little aquatic invertebrates, but saw no signs of life yet.

The icicles on the eaves of the house are also melting.

Icicle drip

The buds are coming out on the maple trees in the front yard.

Maple buds

I spotted some green grass! Admittedly, this was in a footprint along one of the regularly-traveled paths through the snow, but still. Grass.

Green grass!

But the most conclusive sign that spring is finally here:

The driveway has turned to mud.

Muddy driveway

Author: Seabrooke

Author of Peterson Field Guide to Moths. #WriteOnCon Mastermind. Writer of action/thriller SF/F YA. Story junkie. Nature nut. Tea addict. Mother. Finding happiness in the little things. Twitter: @SeabrookeN / @SeabrookeLeckie

4 thoughts on “Signs of spring”

  1. Looks like Spring is winning :o) All of your photos are great, even the mud driveway, but I just can’t get my eyes off that icicle. I believe it’s the best I’ve ever seen on a blog. BRAVO!

  2. How did you get the drip from the icicle? That’s amazing and beautiful. Yes, mud is the one sure sign of spring in northern latitudes.

  3. Thanks everyone. Mary and Beth, the icicle’s my favourite from that post, too. It was a bit of a challenge, I ended up fiddling with shutter speed and aperture and running off a few dozen shots on rapid-mode before I got one that captured the drip perfectly without being too dark or washed out.

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