Hobble Bush (Vibernum lantanoides)
Flowering in the arboretum this morning
Magnolia stellata
Almost ready ...
“April hath put a spirit of youth in everything.” ~ William Shakespeare
“Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush” ~ Doug Larson “April hath put a spirit of youth in everything.” ~ William Shakespeare
First Snowdrops of 2017
Despite there still being plenty of snow around, it is pulling back in places. Yesterday, in a small patch at the base of a tree we noticed this Snowdrop bravely standing out from the leaf litter. We got a record shot then but today was time to try to be a bit more artistic. Here are two photos of the first snowdrop of 2017.
Gadwall
Following a tip off from Michel, I visited one of the vernal pools on the Macdonald Farm fields this morning and added a nice pair of Gadwall to the year list with a bonus Killdeer thrown in for nothing. A rather understated but handsome bird, the Gadwall. Couldn't get very close to them but these pictures aren't too band, I think. Sadly, that pool will dry up before long and the farm will be ploughing [...]
The Bird Magnet
The snow is gone, the days are warming up and the birds are slowly getting into spring mode ... so naturally, the pump is back in the Sparroworks pond and the bird-magnet waterfall is operating for another year. Here's one of the first of many users ... cooling off at the end of the day.
A Fine Flurry of Finches
Reports are coming in from all over the west-of-Montreal area of a strong movement of winter finches heading back north this morning - one friend talks of 70 Pine Siskins interering with his photography as they land on his head !! All very exciting. Another friend driving up to Montreal from the US border notes that huge flocks of Siskins are on the move today having over-wintered just south of the border in Vermont and [...]
Returning Sparrow
Early this morning we heard the first White-throated Sparrow of the year and then just after noon one turned up on the feeders. Very smart birds ...