Yesterday, around 3:30 I roused myself from semi-retired slumber, slapped the battery in my e-bike, (one of two we gave each other for our 50th anniversary), and headed out to see what the dirt road was like biking around Lake Fairlee. 

As I approached Lake Shore Drive, a large bird flew up directly overhead. It landed on the ridge of a neighbor’s house with no intention of departing. I knew it was a raptor. I pulled out the binoculars and sure enough it was a Merlin. I knew what that probably meant. So, I backtracked on my bike and sure enough, there, on the front yard of a neighbor, was a decapitated Rock Pigeon. The Merlin watched me, waiting patiently for me to leave, which I did. 

As the road turned to dirt, I was encouraged on by its dry smooth surface. On the right is a wetland where I watched a pair of Hooded Mergansers. They were present there several days earlier. I looked up the lake and saw no ice left. Imagine ice out on the first full day of Spring. I remember when the ice had just left on Earth Day, April 22, our daughter, Moriah’s birthday. I startled the  mergansers and they flew north up the lake. 

I continued up Robinson Hill to 5 Corners listening to Cardinals and Chickadees scolding me. I continued downhill past Ohana and suddenly an owl swooped past me. It was gone and I was gone. 

All remained uneventful passing the large meadows on the north end of Quinibeck Road, which in the late spring are full of Bobolinks. As I rounded the north end of the lake I looked up into the tall pines above Treasure Island hoping to catch a glimpse of a Bald Eagle. I was not disappointed. 

Next, I pulled into Camp Aloha Hive where my mother attended camp 100 years ago and where Janet and I were married 50 years ago. I hoped I might see an early Loon. Unfortunately, the lake was rough and I saw nothing but a beautiful lake! 

My hopes rose as I approached the outlet to Middlebrook. There I was rewarded with a number of geese, mallards and a pair of Hooded Mergansers, perhaps my startled pair. 

On my way home, I took a detour on Lake Shore to see if the Merlin had finished its meal. It did not appear to have made much progress. Continuing home, I passed a large flock of Robins feeding on the runway at the airport. I visited some friends at the Post Mills Cemetery and was rewarded with a pair of Bluebirds chortling.  

I returned home to my large flock of Pine Siskins polishing off the morning’s sunflower seed. 

Now, as I  write this I  gaze out at a Cardinal bright and regal against our newly fallen snow.
Such is Spring in Vermont.
Tim


Sent from my iPad

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