Spring is happening

I walked at Big Woods Lake 3 days in a row.  Ice covered most of the lake on my first visit.  Cardinals were singing and Song Sparrows wearing fresh new feathers.  The following afternoon I heard spring Peeper Frogs. On the ice-free part of the lake a Horned Grebe in breeding plumage, and a pair of Hooded Mergansers chasing and courting.  Next day the ice was completely melted off the lake.  Eastern Phoebes sang, and Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers tapped on trees.  At a different park I saw 2 Fox Sparrows, in with the BC Chickadees and Juncos.
    Yesterday we walked at Backbone SP.  Hepatica flowers (above) were blooming during the afternoon.  This pesky cold front has brought rain and wind to delay migration for several days.
not many photos of me in the blog.

 The rock split ravine called the Backbone.