We didn’t go far today, preferring to look quite intently at spring’s emergence close to home.

First we heard “melodious Robins” and then saw a bedraggled Rose – Breasted Grosbeak  eating the seeds in Aspen catkins:

Red Maples in shade are forming leaves …

These incipient Pin Cherry blossoms seem to like the water:

As do these Black (Rum!) Cherries or maybe  Choke Cherries:  (Hard to tell the difference at this stage.)  Pin, Black, Choke and Sand Cherries are common in this part of the world.

The rain seemed to make this daffy just a bit more engaging:

First Aquilegia canadensis in full bloom that I’ve seen this year:

Streamside Marsh Marigold:

Side by side buddies in the rain …

Nice places for water drops to congregate …

And, when you look very closely, you can appreciate the effect of vegetation on the accumulation of water during a period of rain:

I just got this one before another raindroplet made this drop drop.

Getting a drink from a hazelnut bud …

Hazelnut pistils seem to get re-energized in the water:

I always like to get out in the rain as the water enhances the colours and visual textures of our environment.   Reminds me of licking rocks as a kid.

Alas, still no photos of Warblers, although I did hear them again today.  They seem to be in the evergreens.  Perhaps when the leaves start to form in the deciduous trees they will become more visible.  I hope so.

Perhaps I will get really lucky and see (an photograph) this attractive Ontario bird with strange habits!

But not tomorrow as these migrants are smart enough to avoid the forecast snow.  We non-migrants will scrape our windshields and spin our summer tires in the morning!