Springing up

I was really quite curious as to how the warmer weather was affecting things in the forest. I took a hike down to the Big Spring in the Valley where I usually can spot the first signs of spring when the Skunk Cabbage emerges.

Years ago, this was an easier hike. But the forest has taken over with briars and weeds. The land has been left 'feral' in the past 15 years. 

Charlie and I found the spring and it took a little bit of looking around but eventually we found Skunk Cabbage plants emerging just and inch or so above the leave debris.

The usual time for Skunk Cabbage to emerge in this

part of the forest is late March to early April.
So this emergence is about 3 weeks

early.

We also found Water Strider running back and forth across the creek. How they walk on the water is amazing!

It is hard to see the Water Strider in this shot, but you can see its shadow quite easily.

In the woods, things are brown and rather dull looking, however this is another time of year that the mosses really do shine. I love seeing them in the early morning or late afternoon sunlight. They are in areas that will be shaded later this year. The mosses will be hidden by the greenery of the briars and trees on this hillside above the Big Spring.

These aren't the 'best' shots of birds, but I did enjoy trying to spot this Junco inside a bush. It was a challenge. Charlie and I had to sit in the hayfield and stay still for a while so the bird would settle down too.

Robins were appearing everywhere and they were able to grab insects and even worms which I found very amazing for this early in March.

The whole reason to go for the hike was to look for Skunk Cabbage and some birds. I didn't do very well on the bird search, but here are some rather odd little birds.

This one was a difficult shot. Not in the way you think though. I put the Lego Bird in a nest that was inside a multiflora rose bush. In the natural world, this is a perfect spot for birds to build nests. No predators or even humans can get at the nest without being stabbed and caught up in all of the thorns!

We discovered more crocus flowers when we got home. So did the baby Lego Birds.

Spring is starting to creep into our area.

I wonder what it will be like? Friday we are supposed to have rain which we need.

For the Birds!

It was a wild colored sunrise and the saying for sailors is an old one.

I think every time now the plumber has been scheduled to come, we have an ice storm or a ground blizzard. If the roads get plowed and he shows up, I hope he has the good sense to walk down our hill unless he thinks he can make it in a two wheel drive van. 

I made it up and down that hill for years with a front wheel drive sedan and snow tires with no problem, but it can be daunting to any vehicle with poor traction even on good days.

2008 Photo. Hubby is clearing the driveway with his skid steer after a storm:

That said, I am enjoying the fact that I don't have to face the hill in winter storms any more. 

If it was really bad, I'd park my vehicle on the ridge and walk up the hill at 2AM to drive to my shift as a Security Officer. I'd then negotiate 30 miles of terrible roads. 

The Subaru was a game changer for me and often I'd make my shifts when those who lived within 3 miles couldn't or wouldn't. 
Go figure.

Today is wicked even in our hollow. The mules have been fed down in the woods and out of the winds.

Yesterday I had a nice hike and exploring day. I even got some practice at 'shooting' birds in the tree near the house.

The bird feeder has added some nice entertainment to the yard. I stood in my summer flower garden and caught a couple of semi decent bird photos. I just adore the color of the cardinal!

I used to think that bird photography was ... um...for the birds...
but two other bloggers I know have made it look fun so I've been practicing!

The sparrow below had such an expression on his face.

I've tried shooting through the window or front door and that sure doesn't help the focus much. I'm not going to try it at all today even though we have had Flickrs, Woodpeckers, and Titmouse trying to get to the feeder. The wind gusts keep blowing them about. They keep getting blown back to the little brush pile I have stacked in the yard from our last wind storm.

This is a Junco, my grandmother used to call them Snow Birds. As a kid I never bothered to learn their real names. Grandma said they'd show up a couple of weeks before the snow was to fly.

Just before the winds changed on the ridge, I as able to find some deer feeding in the wind break between two crop fields. 

Spook?

Spook?

Run!

Stay warm, the winds are supposed to continue after dark and the temperatures are going to drop. We have seen our high today of 12 degrees.

The plumber came! He drove his personal 4X4 because his plumbing van wouldn't get out of his own driveway.

He did super good work and was such a pleasant young man.