Thursday, February 18, 2010

Sandhill cranes are back!

I heard my first crane of 2010 on February 16, and saw my first ones the following day. They've been cruising for leftover barley in the field west of our house. This is a definite sign of the coming spring. However, I do remember in the past that I've seen them standing out in a field with snow falling about them in fairly low temperatures, so I don't expect balmy temperatures to come any time soon.
Our snow depth is still at 6.5" in the yard, and one icicle extending downward from the roof is longer than I am tall.
I haven't checked to see if my garlic is popping up through the soil yet.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Quiet in the San Luis Valley

A couple of weeks ago one would have thought spring was on its way. Not the case now; we're blanketed in snow more than 7" deep. Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) of snow in the yard is 1.37". Mountains are getting snow as I type this. Bald eagles have been making more of an appearance in the area. A belted kingfisher has been seen & heard over by the Empire Canal, and the male red-winged blackbirds are making their territorial sounds over in the cattail area in the Rio Grande SWA. Our firewood supply is quickly dwindling, and soon we may have to ration fires. So, yeah, maybe spring really is on its way!