A little bit promising

Seems it has been a long time since it has been anything but dark, dreary and wet around here.

this is pretty much what it looks like pretty much every day, including this afternoon. There are pussy willows, so I guess that is a sign...

This morning however was a little more promising...

it wasn't brilliant sunshine but the best we've seen for sometime, which is why we walked this morning rather than at our usual time.

It has been about 5 days since we've been able to say 'the robins are back!'....today was the first day I've managed to get pictures of them

think there must have been close to a hundred American Robin, they seemed to be everywhere!

here is another.....

and another.

Also seen for the first time this season....

European Starlings.  There have been flocks of them around occasionally, but today they were in the trees.  Starling are cavity nesters and nest early so have been expecting to see them.

Here is another sign of spring....the catkins of the alder tree and if you look closely, there are also a couple of Black Cap Chickadee.

The surprise of the day was....

spotting a Brewer's Blackbird.  We've been hearing some Red-wings for a couple of weeks, although not seeing very many but this is the first Brewer's for along time.

Now it is March, hopefully all kinds of things will be showing up - if the weather cooperates.