I marvel each year at the buds on the trees and wonder as I look at them how they will unfurl and become leaves.
The bottom of the pond is already showing signs of things growing and the soil beneath the water looks rich and ready for the myriad life forms that rely on it.
Birds have begun nesting, as the morning dove below shows. It holds a stick in its beak, one of many it will use to assemble its home for the season.
While the male red-winged blackbird has been here for over a week, the females have just arrived. This flock of females made a constant cacophony, sure to draw the attention of the males.
This dangling left-over from last season always makes me think of native girls who must have used them as earrings and necklaces.
Fish by the scores are swimming about – so early in the season! And in the photo below, you can see what I imagine to be the rich film of whatever it is that floats atop a pond and provides sustenance for the soon-to-hatch bugs of all manner.
The muskrat is luxuriating in the heat of the sun, submerging only when it decides I’m too close to it. It leaves a splash behind but no other sign that it’s below the surface.
Now, before the leaves block my view, I can see into the tangle of branches and take pictures of the birds that are gathering to make their home for the summer.
Below, a fish lazily moves along, as if it were a long summer afternoon. It is remarkable to me that these scenes are all from March 21st.
I’ve come to see the American robin in a whole new way. Because the bird is so common, I’ve never given it much of a look. But it has lovely lines in its tail, a distinctive ring around its eye, and the color if its beak in contrast to its body color is outstanding!
I believe the posture above is one of the distinguishing characteristics of a bird – the swivel of the head fully around.
Notice the eye in the photo above. It has a film over it. I wonder if this is the bird blinking. Is that film the eyelid?
While the reflection of trees in the image above might make you think it’s a mirroring of birches, actually the trees are all grey colored. But the light of the sun – on the trees themselves or on the water’s surface (I’m not sure which) – create this lovely bit of art.
Sometimes the camera captures what I see. Sometimes not. My eyes were drawn to the intertwining trunks of these young trees and the play of light upon them. I hope you can see it as I did.
Happy spring!
SilverLining 