I saw what looked like a large rock across the field, at the edge of the woods. And then it moved.

This snapping turtle still had mud and plant matter dried onto its shell. But what a beauty. And the tail had magnificent ridge plates, like the merlons in a crenellated castle wall…or like a mythical dragon.

I was pleasantly surprised to see these trumpeter swans on a pond near our farm, when I went for a walk yesterday morning. Excuse the many photos; I watched for half an hour as they glided majestically, filling the air with their worried honking.

Swimming near them were a redhead duck and a pair of ring-necked ducks, also a great pleasure, as I have never seen either of those before.

Another sign of spring: animals losing their thick winter coats. Though this clump of white tail deer hair may have been caught on something so that it came off in one large piece.

These are the flowers of the poplar trees. This week they are mostly fallen to the ground, but last week the trees were thick with these catkins.