April 22, 2012

Even without rain the water level started to rise this week as soon as a board was replaced in the dam, showing there is still water flowing into Lake Wicwas.  It should continue to come up with rain today and more forecast for tomorrow.  Before the rain started, we were treated to some beautiful June weather in April - the temperature reached 91 degrees this past Monday.  It was rather disorienting yesterday, looking out over the lake with sun shinning, leaves starting to come out on the trees - and Linda taking a quick swim after working in the yard - and thinking that last year, on the same day, there was still ice on the lake.  Last year on April 17 there was a foot of ice in some places, and I was standing on it drilling a hole!  This is what the lake looked like last year on April 22.

April 22, 2011

The world around the lake continues to come alive with the early trees pushing out the first leaves, and the first blooms appearing on the shadbush. 

Red Maple

Downy Serviceberry (Shadbush)

The small wildflowers are becoming more numerous, with violets joining the arbutus. 

Trailing Arbutus

Common Blue Violet

Squirrels are enjoying the fresh fruit on the larger hardwoods.  They scamper high up in the trees, leap boldly from one to another, and climb far out onto the skinny, springy, branches to munch on the swelling buds before they burst into leaf.

Of course, with spring come insects, and the black flies have also made their presence known. 
Ants are also out and crawling around, and although the birds are feasting on the new food source, they are not too proud to take a free hand out from the bird feeders too. 

Downy Woodpecker

One of the treats of warm weather is having the windows open which allows so much more of nature to enter one's life.  For the first time in quite a while we heard a barred owl hooting in the afternoon.  And last night, two of them woke us up calling to each other.  And the ever satisfying treat of hearing the loons call in the middle of the night has returned.  We also heard loud rustling in the dry leaves in the woods one afternoon.  Searching for the source revealed a turkey looking for food amongst the leaves - something we wouldn't have known in cooler weather with the world locked outside.

With the rain this week, I expect there will be even more spring activity in the coming days.