Spring Snowstorm of March 23, 2016

We survived the dreaded Spring snowstorm of 3-23-16.  Spring in Wisconsin is interesting to say the least.  One day it can be 70 degrees and sunny and then the next day it can be 20 degrees with snow and blizzard conditions.  I think we get some of those nice days thrown in to give us hope of things to come.  It makes us appreciate the nice days.  It's kind of like life.  We are given challenges so we can appreciate the good times.  Yesterday morning we started the day with light snow.  The temperature was close to freezing (32 degrees F.)  The snow didn't accumulate for much of the day except on the branches and grassy areas.  The snow continued into the night followed by sleet.

The wind was very strong and if it had been colder, the snow would have drifted a lot more.  Instead the snow turned to sleet and put a crust on top of the snow that came down earlier.  We look forward to the snows in December and love having a white Christmas.  The March snows are equally pretty but aren't appreciated as much.

The original prediction was for at least 10 inches of snow, but we only received 3 or 4 inches because of the rain/sleet mixture.  Hopefully it will all be melted by next week.  I did see some fun wildlife though.  Early in the day I saw some big white birds fly over.  At first I was hoping they were whooping cranes.  I had read earlier they were on their way north.  The White River Marsh near our home is the summer home to some of the cranes.  Thinking about it, I was pretty sure that wasn't the case.  When they landed on the pond, it was a pair of swans.

Then out of the corner of my eye, I saw a small brown animal running across the snow near the water's edge.  I grabbed the camera and this is what I saw.

We have seen otters and beaver, but this was different.  I think it was a mink.  It ran across the snow and climbed to the top of a tree.  Then he climbed down and ran somewhere out of sight.  He returned several times during the day.

This is the beaver we saw last week.  See his flat tail.

This is a river otter.  He has a smoother tail and different coloring with a plumper shaped body.

Then last but not least, we saw some male bluebirds looking for something to eat.  I ran outside to give them some mealworms to eat.  I'm not sure if they got any.  The bluejays were all over the worms and can be aggressive at times.  Hopefully the bluebirds got a few.

Overall it was a good day.  We were able to stay home and wait for the roads to be cleared.  I hope those who had to get out stayed safe.  The good thing about spring snowstorms is that the snow doesn't stay around very long.  By this time next week, it will probably be completely gone.  In fact, by the end of today, the sun came out.  Mother Nature keeps us on our toes.

This is 7:00pm on March 24, 2016.  The sky has cleared making it possible to see the full moon.

 

The full moon near the end of March is called the Worm Moon.  This is the time of year when the ground begins to soften and the earthworms appear, inviting the return of robins.  It can also be known as the Sap Moon, because it marks the time when maple sap begins to flow and the annual tapping of maple trees begins.  We have seen many trees have been tapped in our area.  The robins returned a bit early this year so hopefully when the snow melts they will be ready for some fresh earthworms.