Wednesday

Knock, Knock, Knockin'...

There's a pileated woodpecker down by the back fence who's going to give himself a serious headache. He's been drumming nearly nonstop all morning.

Heading out to the east end to do some more burning.

The Moose are Loose...

Just home from grocery shopping...and saw two huge moose on the railroad tracks just past the old water tower in Lone Butte. I had the camera in the car, but by the time I got it turned on etc, they'd disappeared into the forest.

We haven't seen the little calf recently. I hope he's okay.

The air has been full of birdsong for the last two mornings. The robins are here.

The Birds are on the Wing...but that's absurd...I Always Thought the Wings Were on the Bird

The birds are coming back! Today I saw a blackbird by Horse Lake, and yesterday I saw dozens of robins at the 108 Ranch, and a swallow by Lac ha Hache. Not much at Lone Butte yet, but we're higher and colder than other areas...but it won't be long. I saw mute swans overhead here yesterday. Dori said the hummingbirds will arrive about the time the ice comes off the lakes...around mid to late April.

I've been entertaining myself this afternoon deepening the small ditch we've made across the driveway to deal with the melting snow. Mike cut up a lot of windfalls this morning - I was going to do some burning this afternoon, but the wind has come up in a big way. Maybe tomorrow.

Sitting in a Snowstorm

Ahem. Could someone mention to whomever is responsible for the weather that Spring starts late tonight? It's snowing heavily heavily here, and has been for the last hour or two. That's enough, thanks.

Things have been mild and melty here, for the most part. Yesterday I spent the morning burning logs and stumps, and had planned to continue today, but that's not going to happen.

Here's a pic I took at Lac des Roches last Thursday. It's about a 40 minute drive east from our place.

Very little else to report. We're just waiting for spring now.

The Little Moose

He (she?) was standing motionless in the woods across the street. I took these just a few minutes ago. Not the best photos, but you can't be too fussy, photographing a moose hidden in the forest at dusk.

Of all the moments I've wished I had the camera handy, last night was near the top of the list. Mike left for work around 6:30 and I did gate duty, opening and closing it for him. I was wandering back to the house, stomping on ice at the edge of the driveway, when I heard a vehicle and looked up. It was Mike, backing along the road, frantically waving for me to get in the truck. I did, and just down the road on the north side was a beautiful, leggy juvenile moose, hanging out at the neighbours. We watched him for a few minutes, and as Mike had to get to work, I came home. It was a lovely sight.

I think it may be one of the orphaned twins who hung around last summer. He was at another neighbour's last week...being fed celery through a window!