Cruel Reversal

I awoke at 5:15 this morning to get ready for my morning swim at the College pool. The digital thermometer told me it was 15 degrees outside. The weatherman told me the windchill was 3 degrees, that it would not get above the mid-20s today, and we should expect 1-3 inches of snow tomorrow. But it was sunny. In the afternoon, I decided to walk out to the reservoir for some signs of spring. I kept my eyes on the skies for soaring turkey vultures, but did not see any. I believe at least some of the several hundred that make New Concord their home are here year round, but they don't seem to spend much time soaring and circling in the winter. I passed the fields with new lambs, and took a few more pictures of them. Once at the reservoir, I circled the lake, keeping my ears and eyes open. The Bluejays were making some noise, but they are always around. I was three quarters of the way around when I heard a familiar "tunk tunk tunk" sound. I stopped to listen and look. Sure enough, I soon saw what I think was a Pileated woodpecker flying deeper into the woods. Then I heard the "tunk tunk tunk" a few more times, and kept searching the tops of the bare trees. Eventually I saw the flashing red crown of another Pileated woodpecker, presumably the mate of the first. I watched and listened for awhile. I didn't have a good enough camera to get a decent picture. The one included here is from another internet site. The woodpeckers weren't the sign of spring I was looking for--they are year round residents. But perhaps their activity signalled they were preparing a new nest for their young. A mother Pileated woodpecked usually lays four eggs, and the eggs hatch in just two weeks. So perhaps there will be a few more around here in the near future.

On the way back into town I encountered the most obvious sign of spring--a half dozen Robins foraging in a farmers field. As I headed back down Shadyside drive, three bluebirds--two males and a female--were occupying fence posts along the road. As I approached, they each took their turns hopscotching over each other to posts further down the road, never letting me get too close before they moved on to the next one. Finally as I neared home I wandered past the stand of conifers where the Turkey Vultures usually roost. A dozen or more were there. After I took a few pictures, most of them decided to move onto different tree, a bit farther away from me. This weekend the temps may rise back into the 50s. It is Spring break at the College, and many of the students are down in Florida. They usually bring spring back with them.