Technically, it's late winter.
Daylight savings time started last Sunday. So not only are the days getting longer, it is getting dark much later thanks to our fiddling with the clock.
Unfortunately, spring is slow to arrive here in Pierre. We've had several winter storms lately and when it is not storming the weather is raw and cloudy. We have had a few days of flirtatious sun but we can tell it's not ready to commit yet. We are due for another storm this coming Monday, I believe.
But still. She approaches. I noticed that there was a bit of golden light left this evening when the clouds cleared so I zipped up and went for a walk around the neighborhood. The temps were in the upper 30's and with no wind it wasn't bad. The snow and ice had melted off the sidewalks, even the unshoveled ones, so the footing was sure.
I heard multiple bird species: mourning doves, robins, finches. Such a difference from the winter silence when you maybe-maybe-hear the contentions of house sparrows on a sunny winter day. I was out of town earlier in the week so I think missed the arrival of more robin waves but they were thicker than I remember.
The robin calls are still mostly peek and tut but as I headed into the house I did hear one singing a true song.
Unfortunately, spring is slow to arrive here in Pierre. We've had several winter storms lately and when it is not storming the weather is raw and cloudy. We have had a few days of flirtatious sun but we can tell it's not ready to commit yet. We are due for another storm this coming Monday, I believe.
But still. She approaches. I noticed that there was a bit of golden light left this evening when the clouds cleared so I zipped up and went for a walk around the neighborhood. The temps were in the upper 30's and with no wind it wasn't bad. The snow and ice had melted off the sidewalks, even the unshoveled ones, so the footing was sure.
I heard multiple bird species: mourning doves, robins, finches. Such a difference from the winter silence when you maybe-maybe-hear the contentions of house sparrows on a sunny winter day. I was out of town earlier in the week so I think missed the arrival of more robin waves but they were thicker than I remember.
The robin calls are still mostly peek and tut but as I headed into the house I did hear one singing a true song.
I snapped a photo of one of the many I saw and heard this evening.
In a month this tree will have leaves and the robin will be invisible. He will, no doubt, be going to town on his song to keep away interlopers and protect his territory. But for now, it is enough just to be in a tree on an early spring evening.
