Bits of Phenology: Spring 2024 (Don't Blink!)

Weeds, Birds, Wind, and a Happy Hound

Outside my office door this morning

This weekend I was pedaling down an alley and spotted my first robin of 2024. I remembered years ago sitting in a summer Spanish class and learning that robins are called primaveras in Spanish. Primavera is also the Spanish word for spring. I've been watching the signs of spring becoming more evident for a few weeks, but the robin cemented the deal in my mind. Spring is here, people!

Patches of green here and there

I've seen several bird changes lately. Lots of cormorants have arrived. They've become much more numerous in our local parks as the Canadian geese have flown away. There were white-crowned sparrows and some unfamiliar larks in the mesquites at Mae Simmons Park on Saturday. Great blue herons are much more numerous this week. The egrets haven't started showing up, but I'm watching for them. Northern shovelers are still hanging out in most of the playa lakes. I'm seeing (and hearing) more mockingbirds, and the starlings are starting to display their breeding plumage. This time of year makes me want bigger lenses and more patience for photography.

The little brown dots on the elms will soon be leaves.

I am spending more time outside, more time riding, and more time picking up trash. Yesterday the jeans got to skip the dryer. The little black Ford never left the house. I am so very thankful for time outside.

Click the pic to see a little Lubbock, Texas breeze.

This morning I did not need a coat or anything to keep my ears warm as I rode to work. It was almost sixty when I left the house this morning. It'll be a little tougher on the ride home - a forecast of 87 and 25 mile per hour winds. (And I'll be smiling the whole way!)

All those little yellow flowers at Mae Simmons

This pic has nothing to do with spring, but Phoebe loves free publicity.

May you be enthralled with the beauty around you, may you be delighted with all the seasonal changes, and may you nap like a hound!

I pray you are joyful and well, and I sincerely thank you for checking in.

Wildlife in Spring

A Burrowing Owl Chick - SPWRC

I keep seeing, hearing, and hearing of a lot more urban wildlife over the last few weeks. (And I love this time of year for that reason.) Most of what I have been seeing has been birds, but I have heard of more foxes and at least two possums this week. In preparation for all this life springing up, here are a few helpful links for how to react when you do run across a critter that may (or may not) need a little help.

How to Support Your Local Wildlife this Spring  Check out the little possum photo!

Baby Birds 101 - South Plains Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

While you are on the SPWRC website (designed by the rocking volunteer Amber Morales), be sure to check out all of the pages. Their mission statement is awesome! Read it and then see if you can help out with your time, with a donation, or with items on their wishlist. This is a group right here in Lubbock that is working hard to leave the place better than they found it.

May you be stunned by natural beauty this spring!

PS. The SPWRC has not yet announced their spring open house date. When they do, I will post it.

Feliz Primavera (un poquito temprano)

Walking to coffee a few minutes ago, I saw my first robin of the year. I really like those round little harbingers of spring. Their busy runnings about seeking bugs and sprinklers.

The Spanish word for robin and for spring is primavera. It must be a Latin term because the Italians seem fond of it too.

Spring in English - a season, coiled metal, water rising up from the ground,

The little robin running about made me happy. 

May water rise up from your dry winter ground!