Last day of Winter

 Today was the last official day of winter.....

and it wasn't about to go easy!  Wind, rain, hail and some sunshine.....above was the log bay this evening, probably the clearest the skies have been.

yesterday over at Harrison Bay it was pretty much the same, you can see fresh snow on the hills...

Despite how cool it has been, spring is arriving pretty much right on schedule...

the Osoberry (formerly known as Indian Plum) is in full flower in some spots, not quite out in others.

Salmonberries are just starting to bloom in a few spots, but not in others.

There is lots of pairing up with the birds that are around....here a pair of Common Merganser...

here a pair of Canada Geese, although there are still fairly large groups of geese as well, but no where as many as earlier in the winter.

Tree Swallows showed up on the 13th which is actually later than normal, only a few seen so far which is probably a good thing...have been thinking the poor little guys should be wearing parkas it has been so chilly!

large numbers of Robins continue....

and nesting sites are being checked out all over the place....this one by a Northern Flicker.

all of the woodpeckers have been active - this one being a male Downy Woodpecker

and here we have the female member of one of the Pileated Woodpecker pairs in the area.

back on the river, a pair of Common Goldeneye.

With spring arriving tomorrow, we can expect Rufous Hummingbirds anytime.  White-crowned Sparrows should show up soon.  A Yellow-rump Warbler was heard the other day, but none have been spotted yet.....it is definitely a time of change.