Ok, I may have spoken too soon.

But technically, spring has arrived and all the signs are here.

But I honestly wasn't expecting this.

Someone always manages to spot me not matter how hard I try to keep out of sight.

It was a busy day at the bird feeder...

And so, as the sun sets on another day, the snow stops, finally.  In the distance I hear the low rumble of thunder.  It seems that the snow has now been replaced by hail.  What next?

I believe it's safe to say...

... that spring has finally arrived in the Poconos.


Although you wouldn't think so with the almost blizzard conditions we are having this Monday morning.  Yes snow, and it was coming down fast and hard when I left home for work this morning.


According to the weather man, we will probably get snow off and on for the rest of the week. 
Oh joy!  Just when we thought it was all over.  I should know better though, I really don't expect the weather to turn over for the good until after Easter.


So what makes me think Spring?


Well, besides the tulips, day lilies and daffodils I see pushing their way up thought the ground, I caught a picture of this couple preparing for the arrival of their chicks.


Here is the mama bird, peeking around the nest at me.

And here they both are.  Mother working on the next and father issuing instructions or asking her what's for dinner.

I had originally caught them at the bird feeder and they both looked at me while I was taking their pictures as if to say, "what are you looking at".

I believe those are a pair of finches.

I also caught some pictures of a few Nuthatchs flying and hopping around on the trees.

And what would the first day of spring be without a picture of a Robin?

I could not make out what this last bird was, so anyone who knows, please feel free to share.





Rare visitors

I used to see them all the time, almost daily.  They would pass thru either very early in the mornings, at mid day or dusk.

Since I'm working during the week, and leave home before sunrise, I don't get to see them unless they're crossing one of the roads I'm on.  But on the weekends, if I was up early enough, all I'd need to do is look out the patio door and wait a little while before seeing them.

Over the past few year, however, they've not stopped by during the day like they used to.  I know they're out there as I can see the tracks they leave during the night.

I can only blame the neighbors as they put up such a racket sometimes and they have the most annoying dog that barks ar anything or nothing.  I can only guess that the noise keeps them away.

But on this day, I just happened to be up early and out of habit, I looked out the patio doors.  Nothing.  No surprise there.

So I walked over to pour a cup of coffee and as I was stirring in the cream, one of the dogs stood up and stared out the door.  Then he looked over at me as if to say, "you need to see this".  So I walked over and looked out and there they were.  I think the dog (Amarok) was as surprised as I was because he kept quite.  His brother (Nanuk) walked over and looked out as well and didn't make a sound.  I asked them both to keep quite and trotted down the hall to grab my camera.

As requested, both Amarok and Nanuk kept perfectly quiet and still so as not to spook them.  I was a little surprised that they were still out there.  I had to be careful thought, because if they spotted me they'd make a dash for the woods before I could get a good shot of any of them.  So instead of coming right up to the door, I hung back in the shadows and got my camera ready and then began taking some pictures.

I think I've been spotted...

...oh yeah, I've been spotted...

They went a little ways back into the woods...

...and seemed to relax again, so I continued taking pictures.....

...until I was spotted again!

and away they went.