Posted on by Trail Walker

Would you believe?

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A happy red-bellied woodpecker

Barely a week ago, we were shivering inside our house, wrapped in blankets to keep warm, as the temperature plummeted to zero degrees and below. Then the weather prognosticators, that is, the experts that should know, predicted a warming trend. We found it hard to believe, but, sure enough, yesterday and today we experienced a taste of spring! So instead of birding from my kitchen window, I headed to the park for a trail walk. Here are a few pictures I took in Chagrin River Park this afternoon when the temperature peaked in the high sixties.

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Male northern cardinal
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… Found a peanut.
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And so did Mrs. Cardinal.
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They were overjoyed to see walkers back on the trail.
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The chickadees, titmice, and nuthatches came out to join the fun…
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…but the cardinal refused to share his peanuts with the sparrows!

Despite the fact that I left my extra layers at home, including my hat and gloves, I wasn’t feeling cold as I walked past a couple of young deer along the trail, so I paused to snap pictures of one of them before I headed down the river trail to see if there was any truth to the warning that the river was nearing flood stage.

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Today the river is looking pretty quiet, although there is still a coating of ice on the water. Rain is predicted for tomorrow, so who knows what to expect. Hopefully, it won’t be a return to sub-zero temps. I’ve had enough of the arctic climate. Cross your fingers!

See you soon for an update.
Trail Walker

 

8 Replies to “Would you believe?”

  2. These are all such beautiful pictures from your walk Carolyn. The expressions on the birds’ faces – the sheer joy when they find a peanut to enjoy. And I really like these up-close photos of the deer. Sounds like a great walk! Here in SE Michigan we just cleared up all the streets and sidewalks of ice and snow and it is easy to navigate around again and now we are getting a bad ice storm laying down 1/4 inch of ice. I hope not to lose power and am so glad I work from home.

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      1. I am happy to be able to do that Carolyn after decades of taking the bus to downtown Detroit. We did get an ice storm, but more sleet than freezing rain – that was good they said as it kept the thick ice from forming on wires. We had 1/16th inch of ice and many accidents though. I was worried about power outages.

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