Slowly Sliding Towards Spring
It seems most of the country is experiencing a record breaking heat wave. Not so the north country. With daytime temps in the 30s, overnight temps below freezing, and more snow in the forecast, as we head towards April, March is clearly intent on reinforcing its role as winter’s ally in maintaining its grip.
I had a brief hope the weather might turn when the season’s first hooded merganser appeared on my swamp pond. But those hopes were soon dashed by a mid- March snow storm that carried with it enough unwelcomed OOMPH!! that I found myself reluctantly breaking back out the snowblower.
The ducks and geese didn’t seem to much mind though.
Well, except for this fellow.
Neither did this year’s resident Monroe Wildlife Area turkey flock, which by my best early spring count numbers near forty.
Some of them even adventurous enough to venture out on a newly formed layer of post storm thin ice.
In fact, mid-March ice skating seemed all the rage.
Unless one happened to be a bobcat, who much prefers crossing the Monroe Wildlfe Area’s swamp on a bridge over getting his paws wet.
Unlike this fellow, who’s always up for a late night dip.
In the meantime, as I await warmer spring temperatures and the March blanket of snow once again slowly melts, I spend my days starting the process of splitting next fall’s wood stockpile as I look forward to this year’s spring tree seedlings’ arrival, and of course, take my pups on daily PAW patrols.
As well as each day spreading fresh seed for March’s ever growing contingent of birds.
All the while wondering, when it comes to this spring’s weather…
Just HOOO’S in charge?!
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Until Our Trails Cross Again:
ADKO
About The Author
rdmonroe5
Lifelong NYS resident. Raised in Saranac Lake. Cornell graduate(ROTC). Army veteran, Airborne/Ranger qualified, 10th Mtn Div, stints in Honduras and with JTF VI. 3rd degree Black Belt; 3x cancer survivor; published writer with several featured stories in Adirondack Life Magazine. Residing in Watertown NY with wife Robin & our 3 adult children. Loving Life. Living in the Day I am in.
The geese hitting the ice reminds me of when I hit my front porch! I’ve seen black squirrels and gray squirrels but never a golden squirrel. Trail cameras are great! Thanks for the ride.
Happy Spring? Dick. LOL
I’ll be happy as long as I don’t have to break out the snowblower again. Sure am glad I planned a good early spring contingency stockpile for my woodstove!