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The Daily Bucket - signs of spring [1]
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Date: 2025-02-27
February 2025
Pacific Northwest
Two weeks ago it was winter. Today there are signs of spring all over my neighborhood in the Pacific Northwest. Here are some local phenology observations and spring transitions:
February 7
Three weeks ago on the bay, the Common loons were still in winter plumage.
Note the white face, neck and chest, while its back is a solid black.
February 13
The only freezing weather we had during this mild winter was during the first half of February. After a week and a half of low temps in the 20s, the ponds and even the lake were frozen over, though just barely. Even so, ducks and swans were walking not swimming on our local bodies of water.
Snow on the fields and ice on the lake. A quartet of swans stood on the ice on the far side.
The few swans to winter on the island had been hanging out in the wetland until it froze, and then moved to the lake. When the lake froze they decamped from there too.
My last sighting of swans was a few days ago on Otto’s marsh, which is full up after several days of heavy rainfall.
February 16
Our local loons were well along their molt into breeding plumage by this date. The transition from winter to summer plumage requires a lot of grooming activity.
Compare to its looks a week earlier
The big Canada goose flock is now intermittently breaking up into smaller groups. The geese are getting feisty with each other.
February 26
Most gulls have now molted into breeding plumage. Out on a dock, the Glaucous-winged/Olympics are all white-headed while the Mew gulls are still molting. I find that interesting, in that the GW/Os actually nest later. The Mews (Short-billed) will depart for breeding in April/May and return in July/August with youngsters before the GW/Os have fledged.
The Mews are delightful gulls and I’m happy they live here for most of the year.
GW/O on left, Mew on right
The local Common loons are mostly into breeding plumage now. The bird below is the same as in the title photo. See how the feathers on its back are fully speckled now. With some sunny weather I’ll be able to see if it’s iridescent yet.
The loons will be around here well into April but they won’t be back until October.
I’ve had no plants to report on for months since everything has been dormant. But the earliest native shrubs are beginning to leaf out and their red flowers won’t be far behind.
Red-flowering currant, leafing out on schedule (based on my observations from previous years).
Pseudacris regilla, the Pacific Chorus Frog
What has sealed the onset of spring began two nights ago. The Chorus frogs have begun their chorus. So far it’s fairly modest but it will get loud soon enough. According to my records, late February is typically their time to start singing.
The video below tells the story of what’s going on in the wetlands around me. Their lively persistent concert is iconic of a Pacific Northwest early spring.
🌺
Cloudy and calm in the PNW islands today. Daytime temps in the low 50s, daytime mid 40s. It’s possible we might get some more cold weather but spring is running out the clock.
What’s up in nature in your neighborhood?
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