April 7, 2026

It snowed this morning, which was something of a surprise. About an inch. It was cold enough to stick, but it melted by mid-afternoon. Ramps have been growing in their usual patch out by the mailbox. Two nights ago I left our bird feeder out and a bear very gently pulled the (detachable) front of it off to get the suet ball and some sunflower seeds. The noise startled us and the dog at just about 10pm. The dog barked, the bear ran. I walked gingerly outside and retrieved the feeder. Our trail camera recorded about 1.5 seconds of the bear wandering up to our yard from downhill, minutes before this incident. I had seen bear scat during a walk on the other side of the brook a few days ago.

I should go take the feeder in right now, but the snow finally prompted a song sparrow to dare eating at it, and the bird feeder camera got some good photos. May our good luck continue and may indigo buntings return to the yard in 6 weeks. Also on my walks I have seen two pigeons, who have built a nest under the little concrete bridge spanning the brook. I don’t remember seeing pigeons out here before. On today’s walk (I’m trying to walk daily now, eat better, etc.), I heard a flock of cedar waxwings.