Robins, grey squirrels, and more snow

Local talk:

Well, so far the woolly bear caterpillars from last fall have been correct. The red band in the middle of a black fuzzy fall caterpillar, according to folk tale, can predict the intensity of the winter.

Last fall, every woolly bear I found had a teeny black head and the rest was entirely red. Yikes!

The snow came in hard and strong the beginning of December, at the rate of three moderate (7-10 inches) storms a week. A few changed to torrential downpours followed by small cold snaps.

In addition to above average precipitation for the winter, we have not yet (knock on wood) had the below zero cold snap. In my 28 years in Maine, I have found it typical that we receive a "cold snap" of 20 below for as long as two weeks. That is not breaking zero F in the daytime, with bitter winds. Last year we had two nights of 25F below-one night Daphne (a goat) had her twins. Brrr! This year we have not gone much below -10F

We had a typical week of January thaw. This year's thaw varied from the last few winters where the temps warmed sufficiently in January and February to cause bulbs to start to emerge (crocus, daffodil, snowdrop, etc) Now the bulbs are below so much snowpack, they won't begin to emerge until the snow has melted-any week now in places.

A large Willow I pass daily has just started to glimmer green. I can now see the emerging buds on the Elm that the squirrels are feasting on-there are not many buds left! One very determined squirrel performed feats of magic while I watched today-trying to reach the most difficult buds. This particular squirrel has developed the technique of just nipping the branch of especially hard to reach buds, stripping the buds and then tossing the twigs wayyyyy down to the ground.

I was just trying to estimate exactly how high those squirrels are in the elm, and I would give a rough estimate of 45-60 feet off the ground. It is eally quite a show to watch their acrobatics in the tree. I was out of my chair with a shout today, sure one was headed for a fall of death, when the squirrel recovered with a flip of tail, and returned to the main trunk to feast on the bud.

And, yeah, we had MORE SNOW today, coming down rather furious for awhile, but it was a spring snow that melted on contact with any wet surface. I found myself gazing at it one point thinking, "aww, isn't it pretty?" No S***.

Easy to say, when I know it is finally winding down*the backslide of winter*promises of black flies and mosquitoes...and robins, there will be worms!

Happy Vernal Equinox!