This is the time of year when people share memes about “False Spring,” and other micro-seasons, as one season transitions to another in fits and starts, and coquettish charades.
These were so distant that it was difficult to see the color of the bill. Plus, most of them were curled up like they were sleeping. But I hope to see more.
We've got a good number of the male Red-winged Blackbirds up here now in Ottawa. I've really missed their signature call. I imagine the females will be arriving in the next 2-3 weeks.
Hopefully you get to see more of the Coopers as well!
" ... it surprises many people, who apparently want the seasons to fade like a gradient, barely noticeable, until we wake one morning and everything has changed."
It's all a question of what you feel is normal. I arrived to live in cold Canada almost exactly 27 years ago this week and was struck that first year how, compared to my expectations from a life lived in England, that the change between seasons here was like a switch had been thrown. It was winter and then it wasn't. I have learned over the years since that it is more nuanced than that but the change of seasons still seems to be a very brief moment, four times a year.
Montreal - not. lot further north than you but a good bit further east.
On average the transition here starts about now and is clearly spring by the end of the month, but an English spring runs from January (snowdrops) through to April and hangs on until summer appears. Three weeks compared to three months.
I loved visiting Montreal... in June. I'm much further south now, near Philadelphia. I notice the difference in weather a hundred miles south makes, from New York to Philadelphia. I have heard of the Montreal winters—and recently read Willa Cather's novel Shadows on the Rock, about the founding of Quebec—and I imagine a brief transition to spring is quite welcome there!
It can be cold here, that's true, but warm boots and a city that spends $50M a year on snow clearance makes it all possible ... a few weeks ago we had the biggest snowfall ever on record (link below) but by morning all the main roads were clear to travel on ... another two weeks for the rest. The July it is humid and >30C which is much harder to live with than -20C 🙃. Nice city, nice people. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/montreal-snow-clearing-operation-q-a-1.7461737
Red-winged Blackbird is such a welcome soundtrack this time of year. I think Ruddy might be the most thrilling duck.
These were so distant that it was difficult to see the color of the bill. Plus, most of them were curled up like they were sleeping. But I hope to see more.
We've got a good number of the male Red-winged Blackbirds up here now in Ottawa. I've really missed their signature call. I imagine the females will be arriving in the next 2-3 weeks.
Hopefully you get to see more of the Coopers as well!
You're right, I should have said the males. It took me a while to identify the females as they are neither black nor red-winged!
" ... it surprises many people, who apparently want the seasons to fade like a gradient, barely noticeable, until we wake one morning and everything has changed."
It's all a question of what you feel is normal. I arrived to live in cold Canada almost exactly 27 years ago this week and was struck that first year how, compared to my expectations from a life lived in England, that the change between seasons here was like a switch had been thrown. It was winter and then it wasn't. I have learned over the years since that it is more nuanced than that but the change of seasons still seems to be a very brief moment, four times a year.
Minnesota wasn't like that for me. There was snow on the ground until late April or early May. How far north are you?
Montreal - not. lot further north than you but a good bit further east.
On average the transition here starts about now and is clearly spring by the end of the month, but an English spring runs from January (snowdrops) through to April and hangs on until summer appears. Three weeks compared to three months.
I loved visiting Montreal... in June. I'm much further south now, near Philadelphia. I notice the difference in weather a hundred miles south makes, from New York to Philadelphia. I have heard of the Montreal winters—and recently read Willa Cather's novel Shadows on the Rock, about the founding of Quebec—and I imagine a brief transition to spring is quite welcome there!
It can be cold here, that's true, but warm boots and a city that spends $50M a year on snow clearance makes it all possible ... a few weeks ago we had the biggest snowfall ever on record (link below) but by morning all the main roads were clear to travel on ... another two weeks for the rest. The July it is humid and >30C which is much harder to live with than -20C 🙃. Nice city, nice people. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/montreal-snow-clearing-operation-q-a-1.7461737
Impressive!
"...Or in certain parts of South America where March swims in like a sea otter, and then it slithers out like a giant anaconda."
https://youtu.be/Cb_te9trg9E?si=v51wqTTqQ-4vKivH
Love it! A friend has family in Brazil. Someday we'll visit... He was there for Carnival this year.