It’s wonderful weather these days – grey, but warm and wet and feeling like spring. The snow is almost gone, and the snow that’s left is wet and melting fast when the sun shines.

I saw 3 Eastern Bluebirds – one singing, and two squabbling over the nest boxes. Cardinals and Chickadees have been singing for at least a month. I’ve heard – but not seen – a few Horned Larks in the fields. But there are still plenty of winter birds – I saw a Rough-legged Hawk along the Mississippi River, there are big flocks of Juncos along the edges of the fields, and a Golden Eagle flew over our house.

I finished off the last bit of seeding in Western Field, and then walked down to Big View Prairie. It was warm enough to sit in the sun with no hat or gloves, and with my coat open. The melting snow makes the air moist and hazy.

I also cleaned out the kestrel house near the old farmhouse. It was clearly well used last season – with a thick layer of pellets and a few bird feet. I scraped it all out, and saved some of the pellets to dissect – I like seeing what they eat. The last time I did that I found mostly pieces of Junebugs.

We saw lots of deer running through the woods and in the fields near the house. Here’s one that I startled as it was searching for soybeans in Western field – it was very surprised to see me.