Rain, lots of it, made photography from the car mandatory so we went for a few drives to see how spring was progressing.

White birch leaves are emerging…along with the female catkin.  Soon the drooping male catkin will release it pollen to wind pollinate the female catkins.

Early Saxifrage

Trout lilies close up overnight and in the rain to protect pollen and delicate structures.

Wake Robin about to unfurl … after the rain stops.

Early stage of Acer rubrum blossoming, showing the male pollen-carrying Anthers.:

Unknown roadside flower along Old Still River Road.  I will have to check it out when it blooms.

Marsh Marigold in stream on the road to Boucher’s Pit.

Sandhill Cranes on the same road …

Their feathers are wet, which is surprising to me.  Maybe their feathers are quite different from other waterfowl.

Recipe for Sandhill Crane Nuggets, if you are so inclined.

Female willow catkins …

First wild strawberry blossom …

Flower buds of a wild plum… or a cultivar escapee.

Slowly unfurling …

Woody woodpecker has been at work along Old Still River Road, where these Elm trees died about 5 years ago.

And along Smith Bay Road: More Pileated pecking:

although this looks like the work of a different woodpecker:

Last weekend I went to presentations by the GBBR, Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve.  Worth exploring.