Hi Spring

The tiny species tulips and the early Ice Folly daffodils are blooming.

 

 

A rainy day at SERC

The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center is another semi local place that is fun to wander. Yesterday I saw Black and Turkey Vultures, Eastern Bluebirds and heard a Barred Owl.

 

Bursting into bloom

It's a cool morning and the crocus are still tightly coiled. They open and close with the heat.

 

As the afternoon warms up they open up.

 

Now it's dark and I have Ice Folly daffodils that I cut and brought indoors, they will be open by tomorrow in the warm house. That holiday cactus is in bud for the first time since it was given to me. The tiny white blooms are Thai Basil that I brought home after having pho and am trying to root. The other thing waiting for maturity is the under ripe kiwi.

 

First day

 

Audrey Carroll Audubon Sanctuary

http://www.centralmdaudubon.org/sanctuary.htm
 

This was the view where shortly 6 or so Timberdoodles were dancing tonight.

Other signs of spring...
An Eastern Bluebird exploring a blue bird box!
Spring Peepers and Wood Frogs heard in the distance

Also heard ...
White Throated Sparrows
Carolina Chickadees
Carolina Wrens
a Barred Owl
gulls
Canada Geese


Seen ...
Robins
Military tanker plane refueling smaller jets
Venus as a cresant through a spotting scope.

Felt ...
warm breezes
hard breathing (that is a hilly place)
mosquitoes biting (another sign of spring, sigh)

It was a gorgeous evening.

Early evidence of spring!

The snowdrops have been blooming since Feb 18, the crocuses opened March 5.

 

 

 

 

 

Exploring old Sykesville, MD

Yesterday was lovely, dry and around 45 degrees, not windy. Today it is raining and snowing on and off so the timing was good for weekend exploring yesterday...today I think I'll go see Coroline 3D.

After meeting up and having a beer we walked the streets, then the old railroad tracks in Sykesville for a bit. Finally we took a path off to the rocky woods.

In the woods I saw many Carolina Chickadees flitting about and calling to one another and one Carolina Wren pair doing a little dippsy doodle dance to each other. Carolina on My Mind took the place of The Adams Family theme song. Also saw a singled Tufted Titmouse hidden but talking from the undergrowth and crows and vultures flying overhead. Lovely walk...everything was gray/tan/brown/olive but I am firmly into my Spring Fever phase and loved it.