A Quick, and Exciting Spring On The Vermilon River. A Post To SWF.

The weather went from cold to days of 25 C or 76 F, and spring came with a bang. The snowpak went through a quick melt, raising big time fogs, that the sun did not burn off until the afternoon. All the photos were taken on the upper river showing both the fog and the ice melt. All the photos are reduced in size, so click to enlarge and watch the slide show.

 Some of the snow, of course, remains in the forest, so we're still somewhat restricted in our hikes.

 These photos were all taken on the first day of the quick melt. The fog is so thick that you really have to watch for wildlife.

I almost missed this muskrat who was posed on the end of the ice enjoying his breakfast, He appeared at first as just a brown lump on the ice. I crept up on him and got some great shots, so I'll do a post on muskrats soon. He only left when some people showed up with dogs, and asked me what I was doing. They, the muskrats, have incredible hearing.

He kept diving in, and bringing up more river weed to feast on. You can tell that he's a muskrat from his tail.

And this is a close up of his tail!!

Thinking myself lucky with the muskrat, I was astounded when this beaver showed up about 10 feet away. River beaver will live in dens in the river bank, because the current is too fast to build beaver lodges.

He was feeding on this aspen stick.

Not as good a photo, but it shows the tail which is different from the muskrats,and makes for a fast ID.

This shot is from the next day, but it's the mustelid again on the far side of the river. From his size I'm starting to think he is a fisher as opposed to a Pine Marten.

I caught this photo of the red squirrel right where I had taken the photos of the mustelid  a few days before, so I guess the squirrel survived.

Another spring arrival, the Common Grackle.

The Ring-billed Gulls have returned to the river.

But most exciting is the return of the Robins.

They're just singing their hearts out.

I also saw a few Red-winged Blackbirds in the cattails.

With the clearance of the ice, the geese are on the upper river. If the flood is mild they'll stay ,and if not they'll move to one of the wetlands.

Geese In Flight.

Canada Goose.

These are yearlings and looking to choose mates and settle down. So competition for a mate is high. This guy is not landing, but on the attack to protect his lady.

Here is who he is attacking!! Our hero is on the right side of the photo.

These Hooded Mergansers suddenly materialised out of the fog.

This is the photo that really got me. One warm spell, and the pussy willows are out in some areas. A post to SWF @ http://skyley.blogspot.com/  and Camera Critters @ http://camera-critters.blogspot.com/ and Scenic Sunday @ http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com/