Spring migrants

Nature is on the move at Spiritwood!

Today the first V of Canada Geese did a fly-past, honking as they flew overhead. It's a sure sign of spring which Eric and I look forward to every year. Soon there will be hundreds in the farmer's field just south of us.

Eric heard a phoebe a week ago -- and this morning we heard and saw a killdeer flying overhead. (Let's hope it doesn't nest on our driveway again this year!) Redwing blackbirds are calling their "choke-cherreee" sound.

In contrast, northern birds such as the common and hoary redpolls have already left for their northern summer homes. Yesterday, however, I spied a rough-winged hawk -- so not all of our northern visitors have left. Yet...

And although I didn't have my binoculars and couldn't, therefore, tell whether it was a Northern or a Loggerhead (probably the former), three days ago I saw a shrike in our jack pine, in front of our farmhouse. Exciting.

Meanwhile, the pastures are starting to adopt their mottled look, where patches of earth and last year's brown and flattened crop of hay are starting to emerge, like islands in the expanse of white.

Two days ago, we rode Whiskey and Crescent for the first time this year... A long haul of not riding because Whiskey has had a sore leg. All went well for our first all-too-short-ride -- he didn't suffer any setbacks. Bring on the spring days of riding!