Wake Up. It's Spring!

I can see my tree!  This little spruce has not seen the light of day for months.  It has been covered with snow but three days of good melting temperatures have uncovered it.  There's only another two feet of snow to go!

Prior to leaving home this morning, I was watching the bird action at the backyard feeders.  Even with the warm sun shining, the birds are busy at the backyard feeding stations.  It was quite entertaining to watch a blue jay fighting with a nut that was a bit too big for its beak.  The jay was determined not to let it go; yet the nut was too big to fit into its throat pouch.  It turned its head to the left and then to the right.  It motioned its head up and down to try and swallow the nut.  I was beginning to worry that I would have to perform first aid for choking!  Greedy bird.

 
After I left home, not even two minutes away, some movement caught my eye in the ditch.  I saw two snowshoe hares along the road side.  How lucky I was to see not one but two 'Easter bunnies'.

I traveled the scenic, out of the way routes today and was glad that I did.  The ice has broken up on the North Saskatchewan river.  Large chunks are letting loose and flowing downstream.  There were no birds visible on the river but there were many farm fields where Canada Geese have landed.  Most were in grain fields that had bare patches where they could search for food left over from last year.

On my way home, I drove Highway 15 straight through to Elk Island Park.  Just as I was coming up to the north park gate, I saw some white tailed deer feeding at the top of a hill.  They glanced up but didn't run as I pulled over to watch them.

There were not too many vehicles on the drive through the park.  The bison; both plains and wood were out grazing in the warm sunshine.  They create quite a traffic hazard along the Yellowhead highway when they graze along the fence line.  Many people pull over along the shoulder to take photos of the herds.

I got home to find almost all the ice gone on my driveway.  The snow melted on my rubber stepping stones and the sun unthawed the dirt underneath.  I found that I must now be careful how I step as the rubber tends to slide on the slippery mud!  I think it may be time to trade the winter boots for the rubber boots.

The long range forecast is looking great.  I'm hoping the big melt continues this week.  Everything appears to be awakening from a very long winter nap.  It's about time!