Winter to Summer

The Nor’easter hit the state hard, Sunday-Monday. Many Roads were badly damaged, people lost power, houses on the coast were threatened by higher than usual tides, pounding surf and winds.
In our town the main road in and out has been closed for repairs all week….only local traffic allowed in and out.
Last Sunday we had snow all day then it turned to rain that evening…raining, raining throughout Monday.
Now a week later…we have passed from winter to sudden summer, without the green foliage. In the 70’s today. Two beavers were out this week in the pond and wetlands…nibbling on sticks. The King Fisher is back…he was shrieking between two dead trees yesterday morning. Today I saw two Woodpeckers chasing each other round and round the trunk of a trees. A Mallard duck couple flew in and out this morning, the female quaking behind the male.
Yesterday further down on Rte 31 we thought we saw a Bald Eagle soaring over a field and forest. Things are coming to life again.

April Nor'easter

Yesterday a small group of us from the local congregational church and our Episcopal parish in Newport, stood around trying to keep warm in the Washington town center, as we reflected on climate change. We were just one of over 1300 activities doing Step it Up events on Saturday, asking Washington to Step Up their response to Climate Change and find means to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050.
A huge Nor’easter has blown into the East Coast and up by us it is snowing heavily. We have dug some of the remnants of our winter wood supply out of the mud and ice and the fire is going in the woodstove. We are hunkered down, awaiting the strong winds which are supposed to come later this afternoon and evening.
I am worried about the effects of the late winter on the breeding cycles of the reptiles and birds that make our swamp their home. My husband said that the frogs are getting a little extra sleep this spring.
It's a few hours later since I wrote the first part of this week's weather blog. Now the wind has picked up. Snow is a falling off the trees in clumps the size of fists, pelting the snow covered ground beneath.

Easter Surprise

An April surprise – in time for Easter weekend. Snow again on Wednesday night into early Thursday. We awoke to a white forest, draping tree and road and rock. Spring has disappeared again, but not completely. Birds that had wintered elsewhere have already returned. The forests and wetlands are full of their sound and the flash of their wings.
We have a Wood Duck threesome who like to forage for food by waterfall in the wetlands brook. They are shy, though, so I couldn’t get a good photo of them.
Since the temps haven’t budged above 40 in a few days, and won’t perhaps until the end of the week…we will have to wait for further signs of spring.