This is something I've never seen before

This past week here in N.E. Iowa we have see literally thousands of Canadian geese flying north. Probably not that uncommon to some but it is around here. Since my wife and I will not go back to work for several more weeks we have been taking advantage of these abnormally nice winter days to do what we can like trimming trees, raspberries, grape vines, cut back the asparagus tops you name it. This afternoon as we finished our tasks we sat down to contemplate the day and throw some beer down our necks. As we sat there we noticed about 12 Finches at the feeders. They weren't all plumed out yellow yet but starting to turn. they was sure hungry from a long journey from down south. Probably wont see any Robins for at least a month and a half round here. First day we see Turkey vultures in these parts is when we know spring has sprung.

 

Nice picture. I won't have those humming birds here for a while.

 

We have robins here, at least I think they are robins. They were eating crab apples. We have at least 3 ft of snow on the ground.

 

There was an article I kind of remember reading that said that there was a rather large flock of robins (hundreds, thousands?) that didn't bugger off down south and wintered up around here. I'm not sure where that was located, either here in eastern Ontario or Northern NY. I'll take a picture of one of them when the temp warms up and the sun rises.

 

Rhubarb!

 

Well of course the little buggers are shy today and I only saw two all morning. By the time I got out my phone to take a picture, it unceremoniously turned it's back to me. Kind of hard to tell the black back on the mud road. If you squint really hard, and recite an incantation with just the right accent.....

 

Ok, now this is just getting ridiculous. I saw/heard what I thought was a Baltimore Oriole this afternoon in a tree in the neighbor's yard. From that distance it looked reddish and sure sounded like it. That can't be possible, if they are coming back this early, I would suspect that they won't survive. Of course, I am getting a cold so I could be hallucinating. Serves me right for going outside and splitting some of the bigger blocks, should have stayed inside with the curtains drawn. I'll shutup now.

 

Well, gold finches dont winter over here in my neck of the woods. Was nice to see a few back at the feeders all be it some what early. I mean after all, it is Iowas state bird.

 

We have 'em over here in Ohio all winter.

Went out after work, run the weedeater to knock down some dead foliage in the flowerbeds...green shoots poppin up all over...Daffodils I suppose...they'll get froze out I bet. This is at least 3 weeks earlier than I have ever seen 'em before.

 

the Canada geese know where to go for the winter. We have flocks of them all over the place. Goose poop on every public lawn and school yard.

 

We have those flying carp here that never leave, so the annual pilgrimages are on top of that. can get a bit slick on roads around Horicon marsh area. Nother few weeks and it will be mini land mines everywhere. Not that big a deal till the pups go rolling in it. yech.

 

99lbs calls them pooping machines

 

Today's forecast in Pittsburgh:

 

thats pretty easy to get used to!
and I'm ready for a little global warming right now!!

 

Got your snowmobile fix so now you all ready for summer, eh?

 

Yep.
Headed south soon also



If there's not going to be snow, it might as well be warm

 

I agree.. but when you loose 4 and half feet of snow in a week it gets wet muddy and Monday with an expected high of 15 degrees itbwill freeze solid again after over inch of rain