Each year I often wonder why I tolerate winter in Rhode Island. It’s cold, grey, wet, and all the birds seem to hide.
But then one day, usually around this time in March, signs of spring just seem to present themselves everywhere I look. These subtle signs remind me how much I enjoy this time of renewal in both my external and internal worlds.
In the last week, I have heard the distinct call of the Red-winged Blackbird and have witnessed both daffodils and tulips emerge from the cold ground. These sounds and sightings bring me so much happiness, wonder, and hope.
I decided to take a walk a walk around Little Creek Preserve (protected and managed by Aquidneck Land Trust) and document some of these sightings so I could share them and bring you some joy too.
View from the observation deck at Little Creek Preserve
A male Northern Cardinal calls out.
A tulip begins to emerge from the ground.
A Red-winged Blackbird in the distance.
Daffodils reach for the south-facing sun.
A Northern Harrier cuts through the sky.
An American Robin sits along a fence.
A House Finch perches in the pines.
An American Goldfinch keeping warm.
Eastern skunk cabbage (one of the first perennials to appear in the spring) creeps out from the mud.
A Mourning Dove through the thicket.
A Common Grackle on the lookout.
Hang in there friends!
Spring is definitely on the way, once again displaying the magic and resilience of Mother Nature.
